Wellbeing
Holistic well-being books to have at home
On August 10, 2022 by marghevivianiAre you more interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle instead of buying tons of “not-always-useful” medicines? Then we have similar interests. I love to understand how to be able to improve the health and health of my family members by “listening” the Nature. And here I put all together my favorite holistic well-being books. Some of them I already have and I love them, some of them I just put on my wishlist and I would like to share the same. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. What means Holistic Well-being? Holistic well-being means that your body, mind, spirit, and society are balanced and functioning in harmony with each other. Everything is interconnected: from bed thoughts, you feel bad in the body, or what you do (or don’t do) might affect your thoughts. And I truly believe that every year people aren’t interested anymore to take care only of their bodies. There is more research on how to achieve mind, body, spirit, and social health. The main culture which is concerned with the holistic well-being of human-being is China. There I met the first time about how Chinese medicine treats people. When you go to a simple visit, the doctor first asks you about your social relationships, how you sleep and what you eat, and then understands the symptoms. Later on, I discovered Ayurveda: ancient Indian “knowledge of life” which was founded more than 5,000 years ago. And Chinese Medicine is 3,000 years old, even though is more famous, but my Ayurvedic teacher confirmed that Chinese medicine takes sources from Ayurveda. And it makes a lot of sense. I invite you to find it out by yourself. That’s why I prepared a list of 10 Holistic Well-being books that you can study and apply the knowledge in your life. Go ahead and discover 🙂 List of 10 books about Holistic Well-being 1. Practical Ayurveda by Swami Sivananda This one is my favorite and number one book in holistic wellbeing category. It has a very beautiful design and simple language. In this book, you just find everything you need to generate a healthy lifestyle. Using this modern guide to discover the foods and recipes that are right for you, natural remedies for a variety of common ailments, and the power of yoga, meditation, and massage with Practical Ayurveda. I also wrote one post using this book. Read it here. 2. Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra Deepak Chopra’s Perfect Health is the original guide to applying the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda to everyday life. Perfect Health provides a complete step-by-step program of mind body medicine tailored to individual needs. The result is a total plan, tailor-made for each individual, to reestablish the body’s essential balance with nature; to strengthen the mind body connection; and to use the power of quantum healing to transcend the ordinary limitations of disease and aging—in short, for achieving Perfect Health. 3. The Healing Self by Deepak Chopra and Rudolph E. Tanzi Ph.D. Chopra and Tanzi want to help readers make the best decisions possible when it comes to creating a holistic and transformative health plan for life. In The Healing Self they not only push the boundaries of the intellect to bring readers the newest research and insights on the mind-body, mind-gene, and mind-immunity connections, but they offer a cutting-edge, seven-day action plan, which outlines the key tools everyone needs to develop their own effective and personalized path to self-healing. 4. The Ayurveda cookbook by Mahesh Kumar You should read this guide if 5. The Everyday Ayurveda Guide to Self-Care by Kate O’Donnell Embrace the ancient principles of Ayurveda to become a more integrated, whole, and healthy version of yourself. This detailed guide walks you through the steps of foundational Ayurvedic practices that can be easily integrated into your existing self-care routine–from self-massage, oil pulling, and tongue scraping to breathing practices, meditation exercises, and eating with intention–to uplift your physical health and state of mind. 6. Living Ayurveda by Claire Ragozzino Nourishment comes in many forms—it’s the food you eat, how you breathe and move your body, and the way you establish your daily routine. Living Ayurveda weaves together the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda and Yoga in a modern, accessible way to provide a season-by-season guide for living a vibrantly rich year. Part cookbook, part lifestyle manual, each chapter includes simple vegetarian recipes, seasonal rituals, and self-care practices to cultivate your inner wisdom and feed your body, mind, and spirit. 7. Ayurveda for Women by Emily L. Glaser RN C.Ay Certified Ayurveda practitioner Emily L. Glaser shares her knowledge of this holistic medicine in an accessible way—with guidance on how to integrate Ayurveda on the path toward healing and balanced living. The power of Ayurveda’s timeless wisdom, writes Glaser, can be found in the kitchen and what you put in your body. Every meal is an opportunity to choose food as medicine, and when you do, Ayurvedic cooking can be a powerful approach to taking control of your health while supporting the demands of day-to-day life. 8. The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine by Michael T. Murray and Joseph Pizzorno Murray and Pizzorno present an evidence-based approach to wellness, based on firm scientific findings. This book grounds the reader in the seven major tenets of natural medicine and covers important topics in health care today, including cancer prevention, detoxification, and internal cleansing. Written in an easy-to-follow A–Z format, The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine offers holistic approaches for treating more than 80 common ailments, including diabetes, celiac disease, endometriosis, and more. 9. Encyclopedia of Healing Foods by Michael T. Murray and Joseph Pizzorno Make healthy eating a lifetime habit. Let The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods teach you how to: – design a safe diet– use foods to stimulate the body¹s natural ability to rejuvenate and heal– discover the role that fiber, enzymes, fatty acids, and other dietary components– understand which food prescriptions will help you
Ayurveda
Daily routine according to Ayurveda
On August 4, 2022 by marghevivianiToday I would like to share the daily routine I developed during these years. And as one who practices yoga, all those steps are fully recommended by Ayurveda. Read this post about the main aspects of this Indian knowledge of life. Of course, lately, I don’t respect them as when I was single and with no kids, now is way more challenging. But I found out that even if I do at least three practices a day, I already feel much better, healthier, and happier. If you are developing any new daily habits, don’t try to applicate all of them together at the same time. have you heard about the 21-day rule? Well, choosing one habit at a time to try not to skip it during 21 days, is a perfect time to make your habit settled in your daily routine. This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission, with no costs to you. I promote only products I would use myself. Thanks. What I practice everyday 1. Wake up with the Sun Is suggested to wake up in accord with nature by Ayurveda as well as by modern scientific research. And as yoga is a sister of Ayurveda, is says that waking up with first sunlight synchronizes the body’s internal biological clock, increases physical immunity and mental balance, and lifts a person’s spirituality. So most of the practices described in this list must be done in the early morning before or during sunrise. 2. Drink a lot of water during the day Have a glass of hot water early in the morning—it will help activate Agni (digestive fire), lubricate the body, and support bowel movements”. And remember to drink only water during the day, especially when is the hot season you must stay hydrated enough. 3. Clear your bowels It is best to have a daily bowel movement first thing in the morning. The timely and regular elimination of the waste products gives lightness to the body and prevents disease caused by ama (toxins). It must be a natural daily act, without the use of any stimulants such as caffeine for example. 6. Perform oil massage Oil massages are recommended for everyone. The simplest oil to use is sesame oil (good for Vata andKapha). Those with Pitta can use cooling coconut oil. 7. Take a fresh shower or a bath Ayurveda places great importance on cleanliness. Washing the body should be part of everyone’s morning routine. In order to protect your hair and eyes, avoid using very hot water on your head. 4. Clean nasal passages with slightly salty water When your nose is clean you breathe better. You breathe better means your mind is more clear and your prana (life force) can circulate without any blockages. Use a Neti pot to clear excess mucus from your nose and sinuses. Mix 1⁄2 teaspoon salt with 1 cup warmwater, and pour it into one nostril using the pot. When done, blow out the remaining water from eachnostril. If you are a surfer, is ok to skip it 🙂 5. Do a breath work After cleaning your nasal passages is perfect to practice Kapalbhati breath, which is also called lung purification. It will help you to pull out the rest of the water and finish cleaning. Otherwise, you can practice any other breathing technique. Controlling the breath allows prana (life energy) to be stored and released from the solar plexus. This revitalizes the body and mind when performed before, during, and after asanas. Throughout the session, focus on the breath to reduce fatigue and boost oxygen supply. Breath control is important to aid movement and recharge the muscles. 9. Practice yoga al least 15 mins Performing the asanas (yoga poses) keeps the joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other moving parts of the body healthy, increasing circulation and flexibility. They also energize all of the body systems, providing an internally orientated, non-competitive, and meditative exercise routine, while promoting an inner sense of calm. You can start with a few Sun Salutations and try to increase the rounds every day. Or you can contact me for private yoga lesson;) For ones who forgot: I am a certified Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance here you can learn more about my certifications. 8. Meditate Read this post on How to meditate properly or use this Yours App. 10. Practice positive thinking Choose one or two positive affirmations, or use them all. Repeat them three times a day—when you wake, at a convenient time during the day, and before bed. Say them slowly and clearly, with determination, and in a relaxed state of mind, as if talking to a friend. Not expect immediate results. *Do research on your favorite positive affirmations and save them on your phone notes, or write them down in your notebook. The practice of positive thinking goes deeper than using affirmations. The path of raja yoga encourages us to uplift our minds through the practice of positive attitudes toward both ourselves and others. Read more here. 11. Eat consciously Read this post Diet to have more energy. 13. Practice active relaxation Short, active muscle contractions followed by a sudden and complete muscular release will remove many hidden tensions in the body. The easiest way is to practice Savasana. 14. Go to sleep before 10 pm Read the first point. Keeping to a routine Regularity in your daily routine is essential. Getting up, eating, and going to bed at the same time each day will provide an ideal framework for a healthy life and a day full of energy. All of the body’s processes will benefit from this regularity. For example, eating your meals at the same times each day means your agni will know to become active at those times. Feel free to share your own daily routine in comments below. You can ask me any question or follow my Instagram to stay in touch! Yours Marghe
Casual
10 Things to Stop using to Save money and the Planet
On July 27, 2022 by marghevivianiAs the one who cares about saving and protecting the Planet, I created a list of a thing that is better to stop paying for. Plus It will not only help to save the environment but also save you a lot of money. Take it as an informational post, and always try to confirm the information by yourself and take your own decisions. I strongly believe that we must be completely aware of why we are doing some of certain things in this world. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. So here is the list: Bottled water More bottled water = more plastic waste. So I don’t need it. In Italy is easy, we get drinking water from the public fountains, and for free! If I wouldn’t have this opportunity I would Invest in a filter machine or buy a bottle with filter, to filter tap water and make it drinkable. There are still few places in the world, where you can drink tap water, but you must be lucky to live there. Cable tv Tv is washing the brain and makes you spend money to wash your brain. So is out of my life. I never had cable TV myself and prefer never have. Instead, we watch paid services like Disney Plus, Netflix, or Amazon Prime, where you can decide what to see. But honestly, after a while, we cancel also all those subscriptions because even there you find limited content. And sometimes I decide to take a break also from smart TV and start reading more books 😉 Disposable dishes and dishcloth, paper towels Another plastic waste. If we talk about the party, I use only washable dishes and napkins. After all we everybody have washing dishes machine and washing machine. The same thing for picnics, I prepare a nice bag with everything I need from the house, but never too much. About paper towels, there is a trick I got from my husband. We save paper towels from the restaurants. I am not joking! Usually, restaurants provide you with these very thick napkins, that you won’t use 100% during your meal, or they give more than you use. And we just save them. I always have in my bag plenty of paper towels and napkins. Haircut, manicure, pedicure I know, this is maybe too much, but we talk here about sustainability, right? So what is wrong with going to the beauty salon? Have you ever noticed how much disposable materials are used while doing your hair colour, or nail polish? Since the pandemic started, a lot! And since that I decided to keep my hair more natural, only using a few products to make them healthy, and maybe natural organic lightening sprays. And manicure I used to do myself since ever. Is not so hard, just need to get used to it. And there is another trick, the less you do a professional manicure, the stronger your nail will become, and the less attention they will need. More over, In Europe I find it as very expensive service. So I also save money! Gym membership Only once did I have a gym membership, but I was not able to use it completely, as I was busy, and living in a big city was more convenient to train at home by myself. There are plenty of Youtube channels where you can train. This will radically save you money as the gym membership usually are yearly, and is easy to lose many days, or months of training because of some personal situations. So this trick doesn’t have much with environment, but for sure save your money. Plastic bags There are still some countries that pack fruits in plastic bags. In Europe, I guess, already all countries use biodegradable bags in every supermarket or local shop. I just keep a few shoppers in the car in case of grocery shopping. This habit not only saves the environment from the excess plastic in nature but also saves you money. Pre-packaged food It’s already many years since I don’t buy pre-packaged foods. I know is super convenient: you buy it already ready, bring it home, warm it up and us ready to consume. When I was living in China it was super normal for everyone, as in a big city with there is no time for cooking. There are even new apartments that don’t consist of a kitchen anymore. But after studying more and traveling in poor countries, I realised that I have to stop doing it. First of all, those foods packaging is made exclusively from plastic, which means like this we create only more unuseful waste. More, there is another thing: food has its vital energy, and this healthy and positive energy keeps only for three hours after being prepared. So, pre-packaged food is also food without any healthy message in it. Take-away food and drinks, coffee Same story, living in China it was normal for me: to buy two-three cups of coffee from Starbucks, and order takeaway food home from the workplace. Now I see that there are many companies start using paper or biodegradable packaging, but they are really few. In Italy is easy, everyone takes coffee at the bar and then goes to work, it’s also a nice habit to slow down for a moment, instead of running to work and drinking your coffee on the way. Only thing I keep taking away is pizza, as is packaged in a paper box. Toys made from plastic Here is not much to say. I even don’t like to see my daughter playing with plastic toys. So all the toys she has are made generally from wood. The only plastic toy she has was presented to her in Bali by a local girl. There, unfortunately, is normal to use only plastic things everywhere.
Ayurveda . Food & Recipes
Tips to a healthy fasting
On July 21, 2022 by marghevivianiFasting means giving up solid food in order to eliminate accumulated toxins and cleanse the system. It is a wonderful method of keeping healthy and activating self-healing. Benefits of fasting Fasting gives rest to the stomach, intestines, and digestive organs. It cleanses and rejuvenates the body, removes blockages, relieves Agni (digestive fire), and gives energy. Physically, your system gets an entire overhaul. Fasting will help you to develop strong willpower and enable you to concentrate better: it will also allow you to experience clarity. How to fast I would like to advise you if your body is quite intoxicated, is better to switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet for a month or two before starting to fast. Otherwise, all toxins will exit altogether and make you feel more tired. If you are already following a plant-based diet there are no limits on when to start fasting (from the book of Paul Bregg “Miracle of Fasting”). During a fast, drink plenty of warm water, herbal teas, or light broth. Don’t do strenuous mental or physical work during and fast lasting 24 hours or longer. If you get nauseous, drink water mixed with a little lemon juice. Be careful not to give in to cravings or to overeat. If this happens, the best remedy is to fast again. Try to work on your mental state during your fasting, and try to understand on a deep level why you are doing all this. Repeat inside: “I am doing it for my good, to clean my body and the mind, to feel healthier and happier.” Breaking your fast Break any fast that is longer than a day gradually, over the same duration as the fast. Reintroduce vegetable soup, diluted fruit juice, or coconut water first, three to four times daily for one-quarter of the length of the fast. Then, if your fast was longer than three days, continue with a diet of mainly fruit and cooked vegetables for the next few days. * A fast can vary in length from 16 hours to a few days. Seek the guidance of an expert if you wish to fast for longer than 2-3 days. 16 hours fasting If your lifestyle or constitution doesn’t allow for long fasts, this easy version is highly beneficial, especially when done on a regular basis. Have a light lunch and then skip dinner or breakfast. This ensures a roughly 16-hour period of not eating solid foods. 24 hours fasting During a 24-hour fast, drink warm water, herbal teas, or hot and light vegetable broth. If it is difficult to sustain the fast, you can mix the juice of 2-3 fruits with water, or drink 1-2 glasses of fresh carrot juice with a drop of vegetable oil. Alternatively, try 24-hour fruit fast. Any juicy fruit apart from mangoes will be beneficial. Avoid bananas and grapes. 2-3 days fasting You can fast as long as two or three days on your own, provided you are careful to break the fast slowly by gradually introducing light and soupy foods at the end of the fasting period. (!) Important note: Talk to your doctor before fasting, especially if you have a health condition, or have had one in the past. Do not fast if you have an elevated Vata, or you are pregnant, nursing, or underweight. Did you ever fast? Feel free to leave a comment with your experience below or follow my Instagram to stay in touch! Read also post about Concept of Ayurveda. Always yours, Marghe
Wellbeing
How to start loving life again
On July 18, 2022 by marghevivianiHave you ever felt as if you are living your life for others? As if all the choices and decisions you make are only to make others happy. Or simply there are so many voices in your head, that you lost your own. I’ve been there. I know exactly what is it, but until you live this kind of life you think that all you are doing is correct, and is actually what you want. Until you don’t experience what I experienced one day. That day I felt free of any voices of my parents or teachers or books/courses, I felt like I have found myself just as I am. And I realized that the guy I was dating, was only because my parents liked him, but I didn’t, and the job condition I was accepting until that moment was only destroying my physical and mental health. So here I would like to share a few tricks on how to take your life into your hands, start living it fully, and finally love your life. I also would like to add, that once you start loving your life then you realize that you start attracting completely different quality people. Everyone will feel how much you are full-filled and happy being yourself and living your own live and they will want to stay close to you. I can say that I have passed all of those steps 🙂 Good luck my friend! Read a guide I wrote the guide “Being Whole” to help you feel entire and satisfied of your life. This guide is about harmonising our Physical, Mental and Spiritual health. This will be my last tip to start loving your life again. By reading this guide, you’ll gain a lot of knowledge that you can use to your advantage. Here’s what you will learn: Get the book here. Tips on how to start loving your life again 1. Candle light dinner for 1 Or a lunch doesn’t matter but it must be something special. Either take yourself out to your favorite restaurant or prepare a beautiful dinner at home with candles and some music. Just start with yourself, start treating yourself as a special person. And on that date with yourself, try to live every second with total awareness without thinking but enjoying. 2. Meditate Here I don’t talk much. Just do it, and you will see the results %100. You can read this post on How to Meditate. 3. Digital detox I suggest you choose Saturday and Sunday for your digital detox. Just keep your phone and computer off, also no movies and no TV, for one or two entire days. It’s a perfect time to do other things in the house, or just read a book, take care of plants, do sports, cook, or take a bath. or maybe spending time with your loved ones, but without checking your phone all the time. Keep everything off or forget it at home 🙂 4. Silent retreat Another thing to put on your list. You can find plenty of silent retreats or meditations to do, they are also called Vipassana. (Let me know if you want me to prepare for you a list of Silence retreats.) Or you can organize one on your own at home, or outside. The main trick here, as I already said that words many times, is to be aware and conscious of your thoughts and breath. Try to find that silence within yourself, firstly by switching off all the distracting sounds and your speech, then try to find silence in your mind. You can also keep doing the things you are used to doing, but be silent. And spend at least one day like this observing your thoughts and breath. 5. Hit the road alone Organize a trip just on your own. Either go to another city or state or even think of something bigger. Like a trip to Bali 😉 I’ve been traveling alone for many years before I met my husband. It has a special effect: you become much more aware of yourself and the world around you. As you have time just with yourself, and It wouldn’t be boring, you are traveling. There are so many things you would never notice being in the company. Even now, I miss those moments of lonely trips. It’s just a special experience if you start with a clean head without expecting anything. You can also go for Yoga Retreat just on your own and meet new people. I have one post here with the Best Yoga retreats in Italy to do in 2022. 6. Go wild Did you see the movie Wild? If not, go to watch it 🙂 To go wild I don’t mean literally, but depends on how much you are ready. At least stay closer to nature. It can be camping in a wild place, or simply a picnic in the forest or at the beach. But remember to keep that wildness inside, I know everyone loves comfort but to find your inner cave human is also important. After all, we all come from there. 7. Embrace fear Try to remember that is ok to be scared. Either talking to someone, changing your job, or taking a flight. I don’t think many people aren’t scared of anything. Fear is a healthy reaction of our mind and body, thanks to fear we can do the next step. The problem is when your fear takes control of you. But just keep in mind: “Is ok to be scared”. 8. Live your favourite day Write down in your notebook what you love to do the most, and what makes you happy when you do it. And start by planning one day as you would like and let your notes help you. Then you might start living your favorite day every day 🙂 9. Make time for pleasure This is one of the goals of Yoga and Ayurveda called “The Kama” – from Sanskrit
Yoga
How to meditate properly
On July 13, 2022 by marghevivianiEveryone asks this question. But there is no answer on How to meditate PROPERLY. It takes time to get used to it first, and then to train yourself to enter a meditative state. The meditation itself has super easy steps, but you might say, is not easy to practice. The most difficult here is to start 🙂 Just start doing it, today 3 mins, tomorrow 4 mins, until you arrive to 20-30 mins at least. In this post, you will find a complete guide on how to meditate and how to understand your progress. Meditation goes beyond positive thinking. It teaches us that we already have all we need, and that, by creating space and silence within, we can experience the peace and bliss of our true Self. This post contain affiliate links. Means that I can get commission. And it wouldn’t have any extra charge for you. Mental benefits How to meditate Let’s determine how to meditate correctly by your own. It is actually very easy to do if you know the steps. Meditation requires focusing you attention on one object. Practice daily for 20-30 minutes. Find a clean, quiet space (a cluttered or dirty environment will distract the mind) and sit in a comfortable position with your back straight (either in the chair, or in a crossed leg position), then begin. 1. Focus on your breath. Start with a few deep and slow breaths to trigger a relaxation response in your nervous system. 2. Focus on your third eye or the centre of your chest (area of your heart), to ground your mind and start channelling its energy. 3. Slow your breathing to a minimum, inhale and exhale silently for 3-4 seconds. Try to make your exhalation longer than inhalation. Clearly instruct your mind to slow down and relax. 4. Focus your chosen point of concentration. This should be one of the following subjects: 5. Finish your meditation session on a feeling of gratefulness and/or a short prayer for the world. The best for it to take you hands in Anjali mudra (closed palms together close to your heart center). Your progress is not necessarily measured by the your success in focusing your mind, or by whether you have special experience during your meditation practice. You will know that you are on the right track mainly by the way you feel the rest of the day: Do not force the mind to meditate. Understand the mind first; study three gunas*. Only then will meditation be smooth and easy. Swami Sivananda My favourite meditation app Honestly, I was never using any apps for meditations, because all I was founding were quite expensive. One I wanted to sigh-up is from Deepak Chopra, but they ask for a very high price that I think is unreasonable. And just not long time ago I found out this one Yours App and I fell in love. It has a very beautiful and minimalistic interface, plus for a small subscription fee you get not only daily meditations, but also yoga and life-coaching sessions. There are also many other features that make this app even more valuable. You can check it by clicking this link. Hope you find it as useful as I found 🙂 Hope this post was useful for you. Please feel free to share your meditation experience or any questions in the comments below or contact me straight here. Subscribe for newsletter to be updated about new posts or follow me on my Instagram to stay in touch! Yours Marghe
Food & Recipes
Best vegan and vegetarian cooking holidays for 2024
On July 11, 2022 by marghevivianiStraight after my post about Why to consider vegetarianism. I would like to share The Best Cooking Holidays in Europe for this 2022 year based on vegetarian and vegan diet. After a big research I can even say that this list is the best in the whole world. So go ahead and check what I have prepared for you. This post contain affiliate links. Means that I can get commission. And it wouldn’t have any extra charge for you. Here is the list of the best vegetarian and vegan cooking holidays: 1. Vegetarian Cooking Holidays in Italy – 6 days What to expect: Price for 2 persons starts from €2,200 Next available dates: This vacation is available all year round, you can decide yourself when to participate. 2. Gaia Gourmet Plant-Based Culinary Training Immersion and Certification in Northern Italy – 21 day What to expect: Price for 1 person starts from €3,744 Next available dates: September 24, 2022 3. Gaia Gourmet Plant-Based Culinary Training Immersion and Certification in South of France – 21 day What to expect: Price for 1 person starts from Next available dates: August 28, 2022 4. Plant-Based Gaia Gourmet Culinary Training Immersion and Certification in Barcelona, Spain – 21 days What to expect: Price for 1 person starts: €3,744 Next available dates: October 23, 2022 5. Vegan Cooking Course in London, UK – 6 days What to expect: Price for 1 person starts from €1,503 Next available dates: October 10, 2022 & November 28, 2022 6. Traditional Vegan or Vegetarian Holiday with Cooking Classes on Island of Syros, Greece – 4 days What to expect: Price for 1 person start from €650 Next available dates: This vacation is available all year round, you can decide yourself when to participate. 7. Yoga of Eating: Garden-to-Table Regenerative Retreat in Ericeira, Portugal – 4 days What to expect: Price for 1 person starts from €420 Next available dates: August 31, 2022 8. Olive Harvest Holiday with Cooking, Meditation, and Hiking on the Beautiful Island of Rab, Croatia – 8 days What to expect: Price for one person starts from €850 Next available dates: October 22, 2022 There is another post might be interested for you BEST YOGA RETREATS IN ITALY FOR 2022. Subscribe for newsletter to be updated or follow my Instagram to stay in touch! Yours, Marghe
Food & Recipes
Why being vegetarian or vegan is good?
On July 6, 2022 by marghevivianiFirst of all, I would like to say that nobody can say is “good” or “bad” to be vegetarian or vegan. We don’t divide people on good or bad only by their diet or lifestyle. Anyone is free to live the life he or she desires. And in this post, I simply explain why to consider a vegetarian or vegan diet. From the point of health and environment and yoga. Take this post as informational, but not as convincing. I am not here to change the mind of anybody, I am here to share and serve you on the path you chose. Alrighty? Let’s begin then 😉 The Yogic diet is based on Sattvic foods, which means is Lacto-vegetarian. I add “Lacto-” as Ayurveda says that dairy product produced from the milk of happy animals has only a good impact on our health. Here is up to you, whether to eat diaries or not. In my family, we drink only plant milk, but we do love cheeses. When there is a question about which cheese to buy, we choose the one made from sheep’s milk. As we know, that sheep can produce milk only if they stay free and happy. And in this post, I want to explain why is good to choose a vegetarian or vegan diet. Why be a vegetarian? Maintaining a happy and healthy mind and body relies on eating fresh, nourishing food. A well-balanced vegetarian diet consisting of grains, vegetables, fruit, herbs, milk, ghee, and vegetable oils provides all the nourishment required. Vegetarianism has a positive impact on both the health of the individual and the world. To increase Sattva To increase Sattva and enhance spiritual growth. Meat, poultry, fish, and egg are considered rajstic and tamastic (read this post about Sattva, Rajas and Tamas). For nourishment The further away from original source of energy – the sun – you food is, the less nourishing it is. Plant-based foods are lighter and easier to digest than meat, which is a burden on the digestive tract. Through compassion Compassion, or non-violence, towards all living beings is an important part of Ayurveda. This includes animals (see this post about Yoga Paths). For good health According to scientific evidence, those with a balanced vegetarian diet have fewer chronic diseases – most notably, they have lower cholesterol, are less obese, and have lower risk of heart diseases. But also, eating meat increases risk of cancer, and one cup of legumes per day decreases this risk. To feed the world The growing human population is putting pressure on the planet’s resources. The Earth can provide enough food for everyone – if we all eat a vegetarian diet. Just think of this, 71% of land in EU is used to grow the food for animal which will be killed – according to the report of Greenpeace of 12 February 2019. To protect the Earth A vegetarian diet reduces the negative environmental impact of meat production, such as greenhouse gas emissions, water wastage, and water pollution. I won’t go far, in place where I live in Tuscany, we have house in the country side. Not far from us there is a pig factory. So few years ago people in this area could drink tap water. Now you can’t do it anymore. Guess why? These are six reasons why being vegetarian or vegan is good. Choose wisely Fresh, ripe fruits are the best choices for sattvic diet. Try to avoid tinned food and frozen food. Meals should be freshly prepared, not processed. Wherever is possible, aim to: Modern food production Milk and butter contain the impressions of the animals they come from: the quality of their feed and their living conditions, invest in the best you can afford. Hight-quality products come from animals that enjoy the following living conditions: May you all attain perfect health, longevity, and peace by living on a vegetarian diet, which is helpful for meditation and healthy living. Swami Sivananda If you would like to learn more about plant-based diet, I have written a guide exactly for this occasion. It called Plant-based Eating: A beginners guide to optimal health, sustainable weight loss and increased energy. With the help of this guide, you will be ready to step into the world of plant-based eating in no time and set yourself up for success. The cost of the book is only $7. You can buy it here. Enjoy! Feel free to share your questions or thoughts in comments below or contact me here. Stay healthy and happy! Lets also stay in touch in Instagram. Yours, Marghe
Casual
Have you heard about Ayurveda?
On July 4, 2022 by marghevivianiToday I would like to introduce to you Ayurveda – ancient Indian medical science. You will find me talking a lot about it in future posts. I discovered Ayurveda when I was 19, at the same moment when I started practicing yoga, as I found after this two go ever together. At that period I was suffering from very bad skin problems, such as eczema and psoriasis. I visited all the best dermatologists in my city, and each of them was making me a new diagnosis and giving me a new medicine. But no one was working, but only calming my symptoms. And I tried to dig deeper to find a real problem inside of my body, as the skin is a mirror of what is going on inside of you. Here, Ayurveda helped me to never again see these skin troubles, and I use Ayurveda in everyday life since then. In this post I use help of one of my favourite book Practical Ayurveda by Swami Sivananda. Read also Sattvic diet and what is Sattva. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Meaning of Ayurveda Ayurveda from Sanskrit means “science of life” and is comprised of a vast body of information about healthy living and treating disease. It covers areas of medicine that range from psychology to surgery, and pediatrics to geriatrics. Originally passed on through word of mouth, Ayurvedic knowledge was eventually written down in the ancient Indian language Sanskrit. Charaka, Sushruta, and Vagbhata are the authors of the three main classical Ayurvedic scriptures. Ayurveda and yoga Ayurveda and yoga are two sisters sciences that both come from the same philosophy. However, Ayurveda focuses primarily on the goal of dharma (living the right way), while yoga focuses primarily on the goal of moksha (enlightenment). Both are practical systems with a holistic perspective – people are seen as beings with a unified body, mind, and consciousness. Ayurveda is the knowledge of happy and unhappy, a good and a bad life, and that which contributes to those four aspects.” Charaka Ayurveda and the body There are four aspects of the body that need to be kept in balance in order to maintain good health – these are the doshas, the dhatus, malas, and agni. Doshas (energies) The three doshas are energies present within the body and mind. Maintaining the balance of each dosha allows the body systems to work effectively. Malas (waste) The body’s excretions – urine, stool and sweat – are called malas. passing them in a timely manner helps keep the body balanced, as otherwise they build up and can cause disease. Dhatus (tissues) The seven dhatus are the tissues that make up the body’s physical form. Healthy dhatus allow the body to produce ojas, a form of energy that helps the body support prana (vital energy) and protects the tissues from damage. Agni (fire) The main form of agni is the body’s digestive fire. Healthy agni allows food to be digested so that strong tissues can be formed. It also prevents the build-up of ama, undigested food that acts as a toxin and leads to disease. The three Doshas The doshas are energies that pervade the body and mind, each with different functions. All of the doshas can be found in everybody, but different people have more of some doshas that others – this determines a person’s constitution. Vata dosha – wind & ether The vata constitution is predominantly characterised by movement. The vata mind is sensitive and creative. This leads to a slender build and active body functions, such as quick speech. The Vata mind The Vata body Pitta dosha – fire & water Clarity and heat characterise the pitta mind and body. This leads to an ambitious mind with a sharp intellect, and an athletic build with intense body functions, such as an active metabolism. The Pitta mind The Pitta body Kapha Dosha – earth & water The Kapha mind The Kapha body Here you can take your Dosha quiz to find out which dosha you have predominated. I also suggest you to read SATTVIC DIET AND WHAT IS SATTVA. Please let me know in the comments below which Dosha you are, I am curious to know 🙂 Me for example Vata and my husband is Pitta. In next posts I will talk more about each dosha and its recommendations. I have to stop for today 😉 Let’s stay in touch! Follow up my Instagram here and feel free to ask me any question. Yours Marghe
Casual
Holiday music playlist
On July 1, 2022 by marghevivianiHey, are you already and a summer mood? Ether you already started your vacation or still expecting one I would like to share my favorite Holiday Music Playlist of 2022. For me, with music, life becomes more special, more magical. This playlist is great to listen to in the car on the way to the sea, or just in your earphones laying on the beach. Wish you to enjoy your summer and find yourself completely fulfilled at the end of this season! Let me know if you liked it or not, or feel free to share you favourite holiday music playlist with me 🙂 Leave comment below or contact me here. You might be interested to read: BEST YOGA RETREATS IN ITALY FOR 2022 SATTVIC DIET AND WHAT IS SATTVA BENEFITS OF YOGA. AND WHY PEOPLE DO YOGA? To follow my Instargam click here. Yours Marghe