arogya holistic healing Archives | Page 5 of 5

A Closer Look into Waldorf Education

I have always been fascinated by the Waldorf educational system. Waldorf schools offer classical education that integrates experiential and artistic learning, in an environment emphasizing academic excellence, respect for diversity, and reverence for the natural world. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Therese Leaderer and Christina Dixcy, both faculty members at the Housatonic Valley Waldorf School in Newtown, CT. As Waldorf faculty, their mission is to develop each child’s unique capacity to engage meaningfully in the world by inspiring creative thinking, moral sensibility, and passion for learning. Here is some of our conversation about Waldorf education in our modern world.

The Transition of Autumn

As the days darken and our shadows grow, this time of year calls on us to reconnect with the intuitive, receptive, and yielding (yin) aspects of ourselves to balance out the more vigorous and vibrant energies (yang) that permeate in the summer. With its enchanting leaves and crisp winds, autumn serves as a guide for us to shift our attention inward and restore balance within ourselves to sustain our vitality as we prepare for the rooting, resting, and quietude that the world of winter brings.

Farm Fresh Seasonal Sauté

Every week, we’ll be posting a sweet or savory recipe featuring produce from the Westport Farmer’s Market. This week, we’re excited to share a seasonal sauté of bok choy, turnip and dandelion greens, fresh chives with their flowers, and miso. The greens were grown by Sport Hill Farm, one of our favorite small farms located in my hometown of Easton, CT.

In addition to being delicious, this dish is loaded with wholesome nutrients.

Ramps & Kale Pesto

Before the ramps, or wild leeks, season comes to an end, we wanted to share this tasty pesto recipe. Made from ramps and kale, this easy pesto offers a delicious way to dress up quinoa, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, farro, or even a slice of toast. In addition to having a pleasant yet pungent garlicky flavor, ramps are loaded with vitamins A and C, as well the minerals selenium and chromium. Kale is an exceptional source of vitamins K, A, and C. It’s also rich in organosulfur compounds, which have been linked to cancer prevention. You might want to throw some toasted walnuts into the pesto, reinforcing it with nutritious omega-3 fatty acids.

5 Ways to Make your Home a Wellness Sanctuary

Our living space has a tremendous effect upon our mental and physical health and well-being. When people walk into our storefront in Westport, CT, very often they immediately take a big breath in and say, “Wow! it smells so nice in here.” Or as they walk around the store browsing our teas and wellness products they mention how calming the space is. And when clients come out of an acupuncture or massage session, they often linger in our store front to soak up the good vibes and peacefully drink a cup of tea before moving on with their day. Everyday I see people coming in to our store and immediately being uplifted, soothed and reminded to breathe deeply upon entering our peaceful environment. What makes a space healing for your mind and body? And how can you bring these elements into your own life so that you too can make your home a wellness sanctuary?

Wei’s Digestive Spice Blend

One of my favorite spice blends to uplift a pot of noodles or rice is the Japanese spice powder called shichimi togarashi. Being a lover of DIY kitchen projects, I decided to make my own adaptation of this digestive spice blend with an Arogya-touch. Not only does this blend bring an added dimension of flavor and depth to any meal, it also has medicinal value. In Chinese medicine, healthy digestion comes with good stomach-fire. When the stomach-fire is weak, digestion is poor, which also affects other systems of the body including immunity. This well-balanced, anti-inflammatory and flavor-enhancing powder promotes healthy stomach fire, and thus, improves digestion.

Hollyhock Dressing Recipe

I recently returned from a 9-day meditation retreat at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA. It was a wonderful opportunity to tune in, slow down, observe the nature of the mind, and cultivate mindfulness and compassion. Each day involved a schedule of alternating periods of walking and sitting mediation, mediation instruction, qigong, a dharma talk, chores, and three incredible vegetarian meals a day.

Meal times were some of my favorite moments of the day. Not only was every meal delicious, fresh and varied, it was also such a delight to have the time and awareness to eat slowly and mindfully. Taking my time with each bite, chewing thoroughly, and noticing how the food delighted my taste buds and mind made each meal incredibly satisfying and nourishing.

Scrumptious Chai Almonds

I’m a big fan of delicious protein-rich snacks that travel well. With this in mind, I recently created this recipe for roasted chai tea infused almonds. These wholesome nuts have a touch of caffeine and a little sweetness, making them a delightful afternoon pick-me-up.

Plus, they’re easy to prepare and more cost-effective than buying pre-roasted nuts. Additionally, cooking or baking anything from scratch makes it easier to use better ingredients and control just how much sugar and/or salt goes in.

Overnight Raw Muesli Recipe

I recently returned from a trip to central Brazil, far from the rain forest, and days from the beach, in a savannah-like region known for its national park, hundreds of waterfalls and quartz crystal deposits. There’s nothing like escaping the cold of winter to a warm climate! Though it was challenging to leave behind the sun, waterfalls, fresh mangos and papayas, I was able to bring back something that is as easy to enjoy here as it is in Brazil; a recipe called Muesli Viva, or “raw muesli”. It’s a combination of rolled oats, soaked nuts and seeds, rehydrated dried fruit, and whatever seasonal fruits are available. Muesli Viva makes a wonderful breakfast, hearty snack, or healthy dessert. I’ve been enjoying this treat in the mornings and whenever I need a nutritional boost.