Avn Arogya is a full-service Ayurvedic hospital, which caters to many people from every age group and from all over the world.

Dr. Varier and his team expertly help those who are sick and imbalanced become well. The hospital offers services ranging from children who are suffering from ADHD, autism and other disorders to adults who are experience degenerative imbalances to those who are at the end stages of their lives.

The facility also offers a full range of Pancha Karma therapies and treatments for those who are seeking balance.

We invite you to learn more about Dr. Varier and Avn Arogya by clicking here

Ayurveda Health Practitioner Course Graduate Marie Gregoire

With our popular Ayurveda Health Practitioner Course starting next month (September 22), we’ve been receiving all kinds of questions from interested applicants. Below, Marie Gregoire—one of our top graduates—answers your questions!

Christine Schrum: How was Shree Ma Ayurveda Institute & Wellness Centre’s AHP course helpful for you, both personally and professionally?

Marie Gregroire: The Ayurveda course taught by Vaidya Gupta is a gift of wisdom. It helps you to find balance in your own life. Through proper diet and lifestyle, acceptance of your body and way of thinking, it gives you and the people around you a sense of fulfillment, as well as the opportunity to accept and love the person you are born to be, by nourishing and developing your complete potential.

CS: Have you pursued a career in Ayurveda? If so, how did the course assist you in achieving your goals?

MG: The course helped me to open my own practice. Vaidya Gupta offers assistance to ensure a professional and quality service to the clients. His generosity, experience, and vast knowledge are an immense privilege for a practitioner who wishes to open their own practice. The structure offered is beneficial and well rounded.

CS: What was the very best thing about the AHP course for you?

MG: Ayurveda means “the knowledge of life.” It literally teaches you the way to live a healthy life. There’s no magical recipe; one has to know one’s self, “know thyself.” It is by knowing your own rhythm, the tastes that make you feel in balance, the oomph that inspires your day, that you find wellness. The best thing that Ayurveda offers you is the keys to live a blissful life, in harmony with yourself, the people around you, and your environment.

CS: What would you tell anyone who is considering taking the course, whether for personal or professional reasons?

MG: They will find contentment and self discipline to live a happy life. The course gives you all the tools.

CS: Have you used Ayurveda to help others? If yes, how so? Any stories to share?

MG: Anxiety, skin problems like eczema, and obesity are all health issues that are now frequent in our western society. Ayurveda offers treatments to help resolves these discomforts. People with anxiety problems often go through sleepless nights; with specific herbs, a proper daily routine, and diet, a person can easily reconnect with a good sleeping pattern. Meditation and knowing and accepting the doshas are all essential to the course of action.

CS: How did you like the teaching style of the AHP course?

MG: The course offers you different ways to put in practice what is taught by Vaidya Gupta. You’ll have the chance to taste different spices and herbs. Also, we test what we learn from our own life and by expressing what we take away from the experience. It’s highly satisfactory.

CS: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

MG: Ayurveda is a must. Everyone should know, or at least be interested in, their own body, mind, and soul. Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, gives you what needed to reach that state of knowing who you are and to blossom. Savour it!

We would like to thank Marie Gregoire for her generous spirit in taking the time to participate in this interview! And if you still have questions about our upcoming Ayurveda Health Practitioner course, we are more than happy to answer them. Simply email info@experiencayurveda.com or read our “Why Should I Become An Ayurveda Health Practitioner? Top 3 FAQs” blog post. You can also leave us feedback below. We look forward to hearing from you!

The Taj Mahal

We are delighted to announce our annual, two-week Intensive Training Program in India for students of Ayurveda! Join us from Feb 9 – Feb 22, 2013 for an expansive, rejuvenating Ayurvedic Immersion experience, along with sightseeing trips and customized Panchakarma treatments in Madurai. Students & participants will have the unique opportunity to receive training and experience Panchakarma treatments in a beautiful, luxurious resort in Madurai, in Tamilnadu. We welcome all Ayurvedic graduates, medical doctors, allied health professionals, yoga teachers, massage therapists and those interested in receiving Panchakarma therapies!

Shopping at an East Indian market.

Here are a few of the highlights of our planned trip:

Sightseeing

• Chennai Sighseeing
• Meenakshi – Pilgrimage & sightseeing
• Rameshwaram – Visit the great temple

Ayurveda Training

• Application of Ayurvedic principles for personal and client health care.
• Ayurvedic health assessment i.e Pulse reading
• Preparation of common herbal formulations and herbal oils
• Panchkarma Therapies: Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Head massage, Pind Swed, Swedana etc.

Experience Ayurvedic massage in India, the land of the Veda.

Personalized Ayurveda Rejuvenation Program A customized rejuvenation program will be designed after health assessment by an Ayurvedic physician and therapies will be chosen from 15 typical ayurveda treatments, including Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Pizichili, Swedana, Udvartan, Facials, Head massage, Pind Swedana, Marmatherapy, Basti etc.

Tuition
Tuition is $2000. We ask that you pay $500.00 as registration before November 4th to secure your spot. For Canadian citizens, the registration fee is $565.00 (Includes HST).

Includes:

• Accommodation
• Delicious Ayurvedic Food (breakfast, lunch, supper, snacks, fruits, bottled water)
• Ayurvedic training
• Ayurvedic therapies
• Domestic car and train travels
• Hotel stays during sightseeing

Does NOT Include:

• International Flight Fare (approximately $1200- $1500)
• Travel Insurance
• Medical Insurance
• Vaccinations (not mandatory, visit – www.cdc.gov)
• Additional, unscheduled sightseeing and travel
• Visa to India

Here’s what some people have to say about the course:

Travelling under the care of Dr. Gupta was a fun and a worry-free experience. His knowledge of India and of westerners’ lifestyle made him the perfect organizer to make sure our trip would be enjoyable and memorable.” -Manon Chartrand

Our trip was well organized, fun and full of discovery. We came back with beautiful memories and experiences. My wife and I look forward to another trip to India with Dr Gupta. -Denis Lafreniere

Mailing Address:
Shree Ma Ayurveda Institute & Wellness Centre Inc. 2596 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K2B 7H8

Tentative Program Schedule:
February 8: Arrival at Madurai, India. Transportation will be available to pick you up and bring you to the hotel. Welcome, refreshments and dinner.
February 9-10: Ayurveda health consultation, customized panchkarma program.
February 16: Sightseeing in Menaxi Temple area
February 22: Visit Rameshwaram Temple

Want to learn more?
Please contact us to learn more about our upcoming trip to India. We can be reached at (613) 422-0936 and info@experienceayurveda.com

Delicious, nutritious stuffed dates.

Sweet, sattvic and delicious, dates are among the most rejuvenating and restorative snacks you can eat. From a nutritional perspective, they’re rich in Vitamins A, B1 and B2, and they’re also high in potassium. From an Ayurvedic perspective, dates increase energy and vitality. They’re a very balancing food to eat, especially when you’re feeling tired and worn out—whether from a long workday or a power workout!

Below, you’ll find Vaidya Gupta’s recipe for “Nourishing Dates.”

Ingredients:
8 to 10 almonds (soaked)
8 Medjool dates
2 tsp crystallized ginger
¼ tsp cardamom powder

Medjool dates are rich in vitamins and potassium.

Method:
Mix the almonds & ginger together in a blender. Pit the dates by making one lengthwise slit. Add the blended mixture in the slit of each date. You can garnish with a single almond.

Benefits:
According to Vaidya Gupta, “This recipe is an excellent energy booster. It’s particularly good for those who have fatigue, those who feel tired after work, and those who have sweet cravings. Best for Vata and Pitta constitution.”

Enjoy! And let us know what you think.

Interested in learning more about Ayurveda? Our Ayurvedic Health Practitioner Course starts this September. We also offer Ayurvedic cooking classes, which will equip you with all the tools you need to cook healthy, balancing meals for your whole family. Email info@experienceayurveda.com for more information, or drop a comment below.

Mark your calendars! On July 6, our Ayurveda Spa Technician Training starts! If you’re interested in pursuing Ayurvedic massage as a career path (or an adjunct to your current career), this course will teach you everything you need to know. Our Ayurveda Spa Technician course will teach you how to perform:

• Abhyanga: a soothing, rejuvenating, full-body massage with warm, herbalized oil
• Shirodhara: calming, cooling, balancing application of warm, herbalized oil to the forehead
• Ayurvedic Head Massage: relaxing head massage to balance the mind and enhance well-being
• Marma Therapy: gentle application of specific marma oils to various points of the body to restore the self-healing process

Upon completion of this course, you’ll be an Ayurveda Spa Technician ready to offer authentic Ayurveda massage treatments with herbal oils that are customized to your clients’ mind-body type and needs. You’ll also be equipped with techniques and treatments you can easily use on yourself to promote health, longevity and overall well-being!

Here’s what one of our many past trainees had to say about the course:

This program provides an excellent atmosphere for the integration of mind, body, spirit for both practitioner and client. Great knowledge, good flow with practice, energy of people. Fantastic therapy. Great “whole” mind, body, spirit experience. Eager for the next courses. Thank you very much for an educational and energetic experience.
—Wendy Lee, Ayurveda Spa Technician Course

Interested in learning more? Contact us for a complimentary Career Consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

With our summer Ayurvedic Health Practitioner course starting on July 21st, we’re receiving lots of queries about the program—what it entails, and what benefits it offers. Below, you’ll find answers to the most common questions about this course, along with the top three reasons you should consider taking it!

Top Three Reasons for Becoming an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner

1. Personal Benefits:
When you study Ayurveda (literally, “the science of life,” in Sanskrit), you’ll learn ancient, all-natural principles that will help you to balance your current state of mind/body health—and prevent imbalances before they arise. The Ayurvedic Health Practitioner course will equip you with easy ways to incorporate the effective wellness techniques of Ayurveda into your daily life.

2. Benefits for Your Family:
Naturally, you’ll want to share your newfound knowledge with your friends and family members! As an Ayurvedic Health Pracitioner, you’ll be able to offer powerful wellness recommendations to those closest to you.
3. Professional Benefits:
Last, but certainly not least, this course will provide you with the tools you need to pursue a deeply fulfilling career in complementary medicine—a rapidly growing industry! Whether you’re looking to break into alternative medicine, or you’re a healthcare practitioner looking to supplement your practice, the Ayurvedic Practitioner Course will open new doors for you.

Ayurvedic Health Practitioner Course FAQs

1. What practical skills will I learn?
Number one: you’ll learn the skill of client assessment. Vaidya Gupta will teach you a wide range of different techniques for client evaluation, including body-type assessment, pulse reading, tongue diagnosis and overall visual health assessment.

Number two: you’ll learn all-natural healing modalities, including balance-restoring recommendations for diet, lifestyle and routine, herbal preparations, and personalized detoxification programs/treatments according to body-type and season.
Number three: you’ll learn valuable public speaking and communication skills, which will enable you to promote your practice and explain the principles of Ayurveda.

2. What happens next? Can I set up my own practice, or will I need to work in an established clinic?
It’s up to you! Upon course completion, some students set up their own practice, while others prefer to work with an established clinic for a time (or permanently). These days, many yoga studios, spas and wellness centres offer Ayurvedic consultations; there are many opportunities to explore! When Vaidya Gupta first arrived in Ottawa, he initially practiced through local massage therapy centres and yoga studios. Then, after he built his network, he started his own clinic.

3. Is there a market for Ayurvedic practitioners?
Absolutely! The field of complementary and alternative medicine is growing rapidly in North America. Yoga, Ayurveda’s sister science, is also becoming increasingly popular. Recently, Ayurvedic treatments were even featured on the Oprah Winfrey network and The Dr. Oz show.

4. What are the course dates and hours?
July 21-22, 2012. Classes meet from 9:30 – 4:30 at Shree Ma Ayurveda Institute and Wellness Centre in Ottawa.

5. Is Ayurvedic knowledge difficult to learn?
Not at all. The principles of Ayurveda are actually quite easy to understand for people of all walks of life. Moreover, Vaidya Gupta offers a very practical, hands-on curriculum, so you learn to apply each principle right after you learn the theory behind it. This technique makes learning very personal, as opposed to conceptual.

Have a question that’s not listed here? Leave it below in our Comments section or Contact Us.

Ceramic Neti Pots: Now available at Shree Ma Ayurveda Institute!

Do you sneeze more than 5 times a day? Are you the kind of person who goes through a box of Kleenex faster than your friends can say Gesundheit? If so, chances are you’d benefit from a Neti Pot.

The Neti Pot is a cute little teapot that you fill up with warm, salty water to gently rinse your sinuses clear of dust, pollen and other irritants. Practitioners of yoga and Ayurveda have used the Neti Pot for ages, and it’s recently become popular with physicians, celebs and people of all walks of life. Here’s what Dr. Oz has to say about it:

It’s actually filling up those little nooks and crannies that you have and allowing your body to evacuate that stuff so you can actually begin to function normally.

Oprah’s a huge fan of the Neti Pot, as well—as are many Harpo staff members. One Harpo staffer by the name of Rachel was a lifelong allergy sufferer before she tried the Neti Pot:

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it’s been life-changing for me. I can breathe at night. I’m not blowing my nose, you know, 30 times a day, which is my normal state of being for the last couple years.

Why is the Neti Pot so effective? Your nasal passages are lined with a thin layer of mucus that is one of your first lines of defense against disease. A nasal wash keeps this layer of mucus moist, clean and healthy. It’s as easy as brushing your teeth!

Not all Neti Pots are created equal, however. There are many plastic versions on the market, but at Shree Ma, we offer the Original Neti Pot—made with lead-free ceramic and food-grade glaze. We’ll also tell you everything you need to know about how to use it and how to create the perfect saline mix for your rinse (Note: use ONLY purified water when preparing your nasal rinse.). Contact us for your Neti Pot today, and enjoy a sniffle-free summer!

If you’ve ever eaten at an authentic East Indian restaurant, chances are you’ve had a mango lassi before. Cool, sweet and summery, mango lassis not only taste delicious, they’re a wonderful post-meal digestive aid. Similar in consistency to milkshakes, lassis are made with yogurt instead of milk, so they’re packed with probiotic goodness.

From the Ayurvedic perspective, lassi is a drink that is generally good for all the doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. (Learn more about the doshas or contact us for a consultation.) Moreover, mixing water with yogurt makes it more easily digestible for all body types.

I recently tried an amazing Mango-Date Lassi from the Heaven’s Banquet cookbook by Miriam Hospodar (an excellent resource for the aspiring Ayurvedic chef). The recipe is super easy as well. Simply combine the following ingredients in a blender or food processor, sweetening to taste:

1 cup (250 ml) yogurt
2-5 cups (500 ml – 1.2 l) water
1 mango, peeled and pitted
4 soft dates
1-2 pinches of ground cardamon
Raw sugar or honey to taste

Easy, right? Give it a try and let us know your thoughts!

Mango lassi is the most well-known type of lassi, but there are others as well, including: sweet lassi (with rosewater), salt lassi (excellent for digestion), mint lassi and more. What’s the most beneficial type of lassi? It depends on your mind-body type and current state of health! Visit us at Shree Ma Ayurveda Institute, and Vaidya Gupta will prescribe an ideal diet for your constitution.

A note about lassis: while they’re good for all doshas, you should generally avoid dairy (including lassi) during periods when you’re overly congested (e.g., if you have a cold or sinus infection).

Fresh figs (like these) are just as delicious as dried ones—though dried figs are much easier to come by in Canadian grocery stores.

Though often overlooked in the dried fruits aisle, figs offer some pretty sweet health benefits—both from a nutritional and Ayurvedic perspective.

Packed with natural sugars, vitamins and minerals, these jewel-shaped beauties make a satisfying post-yoga pick-me-up, whether fresh or dried. Figs are also rich in iron—a powerful blood-builder—and potassium, which can help reduce blood-pressure levels. Ounce for ounce, figs contain more calcium than milk: an impressive 250 mg of calcium per 100g, compared to 118 mg for whole milk. They’re are also high in natural fiber, which helps sweeps your digestive tract clean and can aid in weight loss.

From the standpoint of Ayurveda, the ancient healing system of East India, figs are one of the few foods that are naturally sattvic, or said to promote health, vitality, strength and tranquility. Ayurveda also views figs as rasayanas, whole-body tonics that nourish the mind and body, fostering mental poise on and off the yoga mat (or whichever type of exercise you love!). Shree Ma’s Vaidya Gupta often prescribes figs to patients he sees, depending on their body-mind constitution and health needs/goals.

3 Easy Ways to Incorporate Figs into Your Diet:

1. Enjoy a few as a standalone snack.
2. Chop them up and add to your morning granola/oatmeal at breakfast time.
3. Blend them up in a smoothie for a kick of extra energy throughout the day.

Digestion a little sluggish? If so, soak two dried Mission figs (the black kind you can find in supermarkets) in a cup of water overnight. In the morning, eat the soaked figs with your breakfast and drink the water. Figs are a wonderful digestive tonic that can help you stay regular.

Questions? Drop us a line. Got a fig recipe to share? Feel free to mention it in the comments section, below! Interested in a consultation with Vaidya Gupta? Contact us!

Have you ever wondered how some people can pig out and stay slim? Or why some folks love hot weather while others wilt like flowers in the heat? Ayurveda has an easy answer for these questions: your preferences and tendencies are determined by your mind-body type (also known as your dosha).

The Three Ayurvedic Mind-Body Types

No two individuals are alike, and according to Ayurveda, everyone under the sun has distinct physiological and psychological traits that determine their constitution, or mind-body type. Based on those traits, you can easily determine the foods and routine that will suit your body, mind and health goals best.

The three mind-body types, or doshas, are comprised of the five senses and earthly elements, and are as follows:

Vata
Vata is the element of space, air, hearing and touch. It is quick, light, cold and dry; it governs movement and bodily functions concerned with movement. People with a lot of vata in their mind-body type tend to be thin, quick-moving, quick to learn and quick to forget. They tend, also, to have dry skin and to worry.

Pitta
Pitta is the element of fire, sight and taste. It governs bodily functions concerned with metabolism, heat and energy. People with lots of pitta in their system tend to have a moderate, athletic build, ferocious appetites and an aversion to hot weather. They are sharp, intelligent people, though they do have a tendency towards irritability.

Kapha
Kapha is the element of water, earth and smell. It governs the physical structures and fluids of the body. Kapha types have solid, heavier builds, smooth skin, thick hair, and a tranquil, steady personality. They are fantastic sleepers and are slow and methodical in all they do.

As you read through these types, you no doubt resonated with some of the descriptions more than others. Did one dosha type seem to describe you more than others? Or perhaps you felt you were a combination of two, or even three? We all have a little bit of all three doshas functioning in our physiology. Moreover, while your basic body-type (prakriti) stays generally the same, your day-to-day changes and imbalances (vikriti) are constantly in flux. Knowing your prakriti and vikriti is the first step toward determining the best foods, herbs, exercise and routine to improve your health and well-being.

So how do you determine your prakriti and vikriti? The best way is to have your pulse read by an Ayurvedic practitioner! At Shree Ma Ayurveda Institute, Vaidya Hemant Gupta will take your pulse and interview you for an overall picture of your current state of health. (Out-of-towners, take note: Vaidya can assess your constitution via Skype!) Based on that information, he will design a personal program of diet, herbal formulas, exercise and routine to help restore balance and prevent future imbalances from arising.

Too book your consultation, please email info@experienceayurveda.com or call 613.422.0936

Questions or comments? Leave them right here! We’re always happy to hear from you.