RECIPE - Rashes, chafing, hives and other irritations

If your Pitta (inner fire) is too high, you are likely to experience various uncomfortable skin irritations. To alleviate the discomfort and heal the skin: - Purée 2 Tbsp of fresh cilantro with 1.5 tsp coconut oil. - Add 3 drops of tamanu or neem oil. - Apply and leave on for 3 min. - Remove the paste and help penetrate as much oil as possible. - Repeat as often as needed. - You may double or triple the recipe depending on the surface to cover. This recipe will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days to 1 week.

NOT JUST A FACIAL, A BIOVEDIC FACIAL!

Ahhh … what kind of facial?

Rose powered, fresh herbs,
ghee, mint tea... Yum!

If you are a regular reader, you already know that the term ‘vedic’ comes from the word Ayurveda (science of life), and that ‘bio’ is connected to the notion of organic or pure. ‘Bio’ also refers to the bioenergetic flows that move organically through the body; they are magnetic, plasmic and electric. Thus, a ‘biovedic’ facial is one that marries Ayurvedic and bioenergetic knowledge, techniques, as well as organic/natural ingredients based on your physical needs and the practitioner’s perceptions of your face and body flows.

First, assessing where you’re at
The first step of the facial consists in finding out which element or elements (air, water, fire, earth) are most prevalent in your body and whether or not they are in a state of balance. This is called an assessment of your ‘dosha’ or constitution. It is done by asking questions, reading your face as a map, and taking your pulse. Ingredients for the facial will then be chosen accordingly, and sometimes evaluated through muscle testing to find out what strengthens you and to avoid allergic reactions.

Listening to the messages of your face

Vicky's ultra-sensitive pink nose, cheeks and chin called
for cooling and moistening ingredients. The Pitta
moisturizer and toner fit the bill perfectly.

You will then settle comfortably on a massage table. To establish contact between client and practitioner, we generally start with a short foot massage or with a compress on the face to open the pores. By this point, your body will start communicating through its different flows and information will arise. It may say that there is excess fire on the surface of the skin or extreme dryness in the dermal layers. Certain areas can feel blocked and cold and require a combination of several oils or just one. A facial could focus on the forehead for relaxation and around the nose to improve breathing on a first visit. The next one could center around the facial marmas (Ayurvedic equivalent of acupuncture points) of the lungs and so one.

A facial marma point could reveal that
 the kidneys need to be warmed up.

Following the guidance in the 

moment

The sequence of this process is never predictable, which is where it differs most from other types of facials. Ingredients used may be from the line of Face to Grace products or any combination of fresh and dried flowers and herbs, spices, dairy, oils, hydrosols, essential oils, etc. By staying grounded in the moment and connecting with your body’s reactions, the practitioner could perceive that releasing a knot in your shoulder with a ginger compress would do more to make your skin breathe than any quantity of cleanser. Pimples around the mouth could tell that there is something you are not digesting well. Ultimately, what the practitioner does is to remove obstacle blocking the flow of life in your cells, to strengthen the healthy ones and to ensure that your inner radiance reaches the surface.

Your receptivity and ability to relax, as well as the practitioner’s knowledge, subtle perceptions, creativity and pure intention will ensure you receive a facial that nurtures all layers of your beauty. You will feel it and those around you will notice the results.

If this is the kind of facial care you are looking for, book a appointment now, in person or on Skype, at info@facetograce.com.

FLOW, WATER, RELAXATION, SPA AT THE LAKE

A joyful experience

My friend Christine was relating a joyful experience over dinner last week. She had a massage a few days before which greatly relaxed her. On the way home, she felt radiant and expansive. At a red light she turned her head and saw a cyclist, also stopped at the intersection, who was watching her with great interest. He waved with sparkling eyes and an appreciative smile, then raised his hitchhiker’s thumb. She waved back feeling incredibly alive and attractive. The light turned green and they each went their own way. She was still glowing as she described how rejuvenating the whole experience was.

AMAZING GIFTS HIDE UNDER 'BAD' EMOTIONS

What hides behind emotions? 

The paradoxes life and the human experience bring up don’t cease to amaze me. It seems as though the more I desire something, whether beauty, wholeness, connection or

PEOPLE WATCHING... ELEMENTS AT PLAY

New adepts of Ayurveda
at Encounters of Canada

Do you enjoy watching people or yourself? Consider Ayurveda as a starting point of your observations and you will see a new world unfolding in front of you. I recently had two ideal situations that provided unique vantage points to observe the impact of fire and the other elements in people and their interactions. The first one occurred during a workshop to a group of teenagers, the second one during the journey

to Kannur, India,

PANCHA KARMA IN KANNUR: A HOT EXPERIENCE

Thank you for opening this page today as I invite you on a journey of pancha karma, a fantastic way to clean your body, the temple of your soul.

Feeling great after pancha karma
and a henna treat.

A change of scene

Journeys have the power to

DEAR LAVENDER: HEALER, TEACHER AND FRIEND

Ageless, fragrant, powerful.

Little did I know when I first met you that you would become so important in my life. My grandmother had a sachet of your dried petals in a drawer to ward off the moths from the woolens in her drawer. I didn’t particularly like your smell at the time, and associated you with ‘old’ women. Either Grand-maman didn’t have the words to explain how valuable you are or I didn’t have the ears to listen.

AYURVEDIC HOME SPA GUIDE AND RECIPES

Improve your longevity by taking time to relax.

Whether you have been enjoying winter sports over the past few days or are stiff from shovelling the driveway, you may be experiencing dry hands, face, legs and hair. Or you feel you need to replenish? Or your holiday was soooo fulfilling you want to offer something luxurious to someone special? Think home spa.

Home spas are fun and much less expensive. Although they require a bit of preparation, you have total control over the textures and aromas used. Below are suggested ingredients but feel free to add or switch ingredients. For example, you could add cucumber slices over your eyes while resting.

RECIPES AGAINST NASAL CONGESTION, WATER RETENTION AND SLUGGISH DIGESTION

The past few weeks have been quite wet and increasingly cold, weather likely to

bring your kapha element out of balance. This disbalance may show up as nasal  congestion, water retention or sluggish digestion, especially for people with a Kapha constitution.

Here are 3 quick, luxurious recipes to set things right:

Nasal congestion: 

- fill the bowl part of your diffuser with rose water or plain water

- add 2 drops each of black pepper or eucalyptus, turmeric and lime or orange essential oil.

- before bed, replace lime by valerian or St. John’s wort essential oil

Sluggish digestion: 

- in one tablespoon of sesame oil

- add 2 drops each of cumin, anis, fennel and cardamom essential oils
- massage the stomach area

Water retention:

- in 1/4 cup of brahmi or sesame oil

- add 2 each of the following essential oils: black pepper, juniperberry, rose, and coriander

- massage your body vigorously, especially in the ankles, knees, thighs, belly, buttocks, and watery area in the upper arms


To enhance this massage mix 40 drops of dandelion tincture in a full glass of water 30 minutes ahead of time. Drink heartily 30 minutes ahead of time.

BEAUTY TIP FOR THE KAPHA WOMAN

To feel sexy before a party, mix:

- in 1/4 tsp of sesame oil.

- 1 drop of pepper and rose or jasmin essential oil

Use as perfume behind the ear, between the breasts, at the wrists and in the groin. (If you have sensitive skin, replace the black pepper essential oil by ginger.)

Everyone will want to know your secret. 
Can be used by kapha men too.

EMOTIONS LIVE IN OUR CHAKRAS, IN BALANCE... OR NOT

One day this past spring Bhuvaneswari, my spiritual teacher, gave me an assignment: «Make emotions chakra creams.» That was the extent of her guidance. It took a while to get started. In retrospect, I realize I had all the knowledge, experience and tools to do it. Intuition, logic, creativity and staying grounded would do the rest.

Chakras and their needs

Chakras are energy centers in the shape of vortex of different sizes,  though not visible to the physical eye. They are considered as organs and, as such, need to be cleaned, moistened, toned and realigned back into shape. This can be done several ways, including with music, energy work, etc.

BEAUTY TIP AND RECIPE WITH PATCHOULI

I visited a new friend yesterday with whom I share a passion for aromatherapy. She gave me a bottle of patchouli essential oil, which I knew of but had never used. She said that it is like a good wine, meaning that it improves with age. I tried it last night and its scent and texture are very soothing. I thank her for inspiring the recipe and beauty tip below.

RECIPE: Cuts, wounds and scars mix 

Patchouli essential oil has the reputation of healing cuts and wounds, and speeding up the fading of their scars, as well as being effective to help marks left by boils and acne disappear.

In a small bottle, mix:

3 drops of patchouli e.o.

½ teaspoon of neem oil

3 tablespoon of ghee

Clean the affected zone, then apply the oil mix and help it penetrate well.

BEAUTY TIP: Calming insomnia

Insomnia is a Vata condition that affects many people, especially during the fall (Vata) season.

Putting 6 to 8 drops of patchouli essential oil, a sedative among many other things, in your diffuser will help alleviate or eradicate that condition. And look how synchronicity works: it also is a tonic for the liver and had started a liver cleanse that day!

BEAUTY TIP - YOUR HANDS AFTER GARDENING

After gardening for a few hours, your hands and nails are likely stained and dried out. Wash off the surface dirt with a mild soap, then friction generously with olive oil. Make sure oil goes under the nails too. The dirt lodged more deeply will come off. Then clean around and under the nails. Then friction with freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice and give a quick rub to your nails with Vit. E. Your hands will get back their vitality.

If you have blisters, there's use a lavender, calendula and yarrow maceration. For details, see article on macerations in previous entry.

RECIPE: Massage oil for stiff joints and muscles

Whether you are stiff and sore from biking in the Gatineaus, gardening for hours or simply because of advance of the Vata (fall) season, here is a simple recipe to help ease the discomfort. First, add ¼ cup of Epsom salt to your bath, then prepare the following mix for a deep tissue massage.

Ingredients:

¼ or ½ cup sesame oil

3 drops each of the following essential oils:

vetiver: relieves spasms, is overall calming and stimulates blood circulation

ginger: warming and reduces pain

birch or wintergreen: anti-inflammatory and supports bone function

turmeric: anti-inflammatory and boosts the immune system

And if you tend to retain water, add 3 drops of orange essential oil.

You'll feel great.

24 Oils to the rescue for fall-winter skin care

Unless you are going though puberty, have a Kapha constitution or live in the Southern hemisphere, your skin likely has started feeling dryer than it has over the last months.

"Natural my dear Ms. Watson, it`s Vata season!" And who says Vata, says dry, cold and light. So let`s call carrier oils to the rescue to lubricate the whole body, whether in your food, in massage oil or in skin care products.