Interesting website

A web site with Ayurvedic remedies for common ailments. It's interesting to see things we can try to compliment mainstream medicines.

Heal Foods Website

Great website for those interested in how foods effects our overall well being

New Courses

Today more than ever we are seeking ways to reinvent ourselves. We are questioning what is next for us, how we can be happier, healthier and better equipped to manage stress and overcome lifes hurdles. Yet many of us are cash strapped and time poor. Or else we are fearful of parting with our hard earned cash. With this in mind I have written programmes based on my Chopra and Life Skills training that will teach you how to harness the power of intention, manage stress and live a more balanced life. These one day workshops are an introduction to core Chopra Centre teachings as thought in Perfect Health and Primordial Sound Meditation and are ideal for people who want to 'test the waters' first. You will learn basic meditation. Breathing techniques to calm the mind, reduce anxiety and awaken creativity. We will also work on how to reframe your thoughts to bring positive changes into your life. Many people don't know how to use affirmations and the power of positive thinking effectively because they have never been shown how as a result the affirmations become ineffectual.

This is the ideal workshop for anyone who is feeling stuck in a rut, unsure where their life is going or who wants to get a better handle on their relationships and stress levels.

The programme was written for large organisations concerned about employee wellbeing, morale and general health and is available for the first time to the general public this coming August

Liver Cleanse

The liver is the largest detoxifying organ of the body. With all the demands placed on our livers to filter the many toxins we accumulate it's a good idea to periodically do a liver flush or cleanse.
Below are recipes for liver flushes to the different body types. Liver flushes can be done once a week for maintentance. If you know your liver is very congested, it's a good idea to follow up a liver flush with a colon cleanse to remove any excess toxins that were dumped into the colon as a result of the liver flush.

Vata & Kapha
Coriander 1/2 tsp
Ginger, fresh 1/2 tsp
Aloe Vera 3 tbs
Lemon, juiced 1
Olive Oil 2 tbs
Orange, fresh 1
Mix in blender and drink first thing in the morning.

Pitta & Kapha
Coriander 1/2 tsp
Milk Thistle 1/4 tsp
Aloe Vera 3 tbs
Lemon, juiced 1
Olive Oil 2 tbs
Apple, fresh 1
Mix in blender and drink first thing in the morning.

Vata & Pitta
Coriander 1/4 tsp
Ginger, fresh thumb size
Aloe Vera, fresh or gel
2 tbs Olive Oil 2 tbs
Cardamom 1/4 tbs
Bluberries handful
Mix in blender and drink first thing in the morning"

Up Coming Events

For the most up to date information on our Primordial Sound Meditation and Perfect Health - Ayurvedic Lifestyle classes. Please visit www..choprateachers.com/siobhan

Chopra Meditation

I'm delighted to announce, that I have joined the wonderful network of Primordial Sound meditation teachers in Ireland. Certified by Deepak Chopra, I now offer Ayurvedic lifestyle - Perfect Health and Primordial Sound Meditation on either a private or group basis.

PSM is a mantra based meditation developed by Deepak from the ancient Vedic tradition of India. The physical and emotional benefits of regular meditation are profound - including
- Lower blood pressure
- reduced stress
- improved immune system

Private tuition is available on the 1st Friday of each month with a follow up session one week later.

Dates are: Primordial Sound Meditation
January 8th
February 5th
March 5th

(Alternative venue and dates can be arranged on request)

Group Perfect Health Programme:

Howth - January 16th & 17th

Oscailt Dublin City January 31st (part 1) February 6th (part 2)

For further info call :086 8269371 or email info@perfecthealth.ie

Have a happy healthy 2010!

The Chopra Centre

I've just returned from the most amazing week in the Chopra Center California. Having qualified in Ayurvedic Health with the Chopra centre some years ago, I went to add to my qualification by becoming certified in Primordial Sound Meditation and all I can say is... WOW!

Although, we were put through the paces with 3 exams - including Sanskrit (and spelling counts!) the week reminded my why I started on this path in the first place. The love and support you receive and give feels safe, natural, detoxifying and most of all rejuvenating; giving you a renewed love of life.

Primordial Sound meditation is incredibly easy to learn and perfect for all those Vatas out there who think they could never meditate!

So,I encourage oyu - find a Primordial Sound teacher in your area - I work from the Howth area and have some city centre appointments also. Other teachers I can recommend are Mary Callahan & Mark Cleary. It's a life long gift to yourself and everyone you come into contact with.

As for the Chopra Center...since I've been back I've been getting comments like - have you lost weight? ...And the best yet from my other half.....You look ten years younger....aaahhhhh.

Namasté
Siobhan

PS: mention a Chopra certified instructor's name when booking a course to automatically recive a discount(:

Green eggs and ham

Green Eggs and Ham - Perfect Vata grounding food, great for breakfast or any time of the day for that matter!

INGREDIENTS
75g pesto
1 egg
75g flour
150ml semi-skimmed milk
oil for frying
5 large thin slices of hamServing Size : Makes 5

Blend or whisk together the pesto, egg, flour and milk to make a batter.
2

Oil a crêpe pan or heavy-based frying pan, wiping away any excess oil with some kitchen paper, and place over a medium heat.
3.
Ladle in approximately 100ml of batter, swirling instantly to gain a paper-thin crêpe.
4.
Once the top becomes dry and the edges lift away, flick it over with a thin rubber or wooden spatula to cook the other side for about 30 seconds.
5.
Layer the pancakes between pieces of baking parchment or greaseproof paper as you go, and when you have finished making them, lay a slice of ham on each one and roll up or fold into triangles – or however you like!

- Nigella Express Cookbook

Opening up to Changes

There's no doubt there's lots of change going on about us. I can be a bit slow to embrace change at times and a typical example of this came up recently. I have a larder cupboard in my kitchen for the last 5 years that has only ever half opened, I never really questioned it, as it was always like that. One day, a friend opened the cupboard and asked 'why doesn't it open fully?' 'I don't know' I replied 'That's just the way it's always been' He asked if I had a screwdriver, which I handed him and low and behold within seconds he had freed up the obstruction, allowing for the first time, the larder to be fully extended. Needless to say, I was delighted.

However, a few weeks later I noticed I was still only half opening the larder. You see, although the obstruction was cleared I had become so conditioned to only being able to open the cupboard half way that even though this whole extra space and ease of use had been opened to me - I hadn't let go of my conditioning that I could only pull the door so far. It's a small analogy but it made me wonder how many metaphorical doors had been opened to me but fear or conditioning stopped me form going through. We are often prisoners of our own negative self talk, thoughts or our belief systems, which can leave us trapped in non nourishing situations, emotions or relationships. It reminds me of the definition of madness - doing the same thing again and again but expecting a different result! So, it was a small tigger but for me every time I open that press it reminds me to 'expand' my beliefs and 'open' up to new possibilities and positive changes because unless we give ourselves permission to do so we may never get off the merry go round of negativity or be able to reach the jam jar(:

Return to Wholeness

Return to Wholeness - Embracing Body, Mind and Spirit an the Face of Cancer written by David Simon MD - medical director, the Chopra Centre for Well Being.

This wonderful book was recommended to me by a friend of mine who had meet many people through his work at the Chopra Centre who had benefited from the wisdom contained in it's pages. Now, some years later I too would recommend it to people who have received a diagnois of cancer.

Dr Simon teaches the value of integrating the best of traditional medicine with Ayurvedic principles to bring you on the path to wellness. The book covers topics such as emotional turmoil, nutritional healing, emotional healing and approaching common cancers from a mind-body perspective.




The book is available from Chopra.com/store or Amazon.co.uk

Mushrooms, Green tea & Breast Cancer

According to a recent study at the University of western Australia eating 9.5 of mushrooms a day can cut your risk of breast cancer by two thirds.

In another study in China found that women who increased their consumption of mushrooms with regular consumption of green tea saw an even greater benefit with further reduction in risk.

Further studies are needed but tests so far show the fungi has anti-tumour properties and can stimulate the immune system's defences.

Full Moon

Last night saw a beautiful full moon.

In Ayurvedic terms the full moon is Kapha therefore in the few days prior to and including the full moon it is not unusal to have feelings of tiredness - as some of the principles of Kapha are slow, heavy, solid & stable.

Kapha is the Earth principle and is comprised of Water & Earth. Think of the effect the moon has on our oceans. Considering that the human body is anywhere between 55% - 75% water depending on age and body size, is it any wonder that the lunar cycle effects us too!

Pranayama

Believe it or not very few of us are breathing properly!

Place your hand on your belly and chest and take a few slow deep breaths.

If your tummy rises and falls with each inflow and out flow - well done - you're breathing properly. However if your chest rises and falls on inflow and out flow your breathing maybe too sallow.

Balanced Breathing exercises in Ayurveda are a gentle form of balancing breath - moving from one nostril to the other - a technique called Pranayama. Its purpose is to make the respiratory rhythm more regular, which in turn has a soothing effect on the entire nervous system*.

Learn this and other Breathing techniques to ease stress, calm the mind when faced in stressful situations or enliven the body when you need to feel more alert by booking one of our 1 2 1 consultations. Call 086 8269371 or info@perfecthealth.ie

*Italic text is an excerpt from Deepak's book Perfect Health. This and other Chopra Center books are available from Perfect Health Ireland - email info@perfecthealth.ie for more details

Traditional French Toast

I've chosen this recipe from The Chopra center cookbook because it's a perfect breakfast for the Vata season, we are now entering. Vata is made up of the elements Space & Air to to help balance this, amongst other things are foods that are warm and grounding. You could top the toast off with some blueberres, cranberries or nuts to help you get your six tastes in - which is an important part of Ayurvedic nutrition

Traditional French Toast





2 eggs or 4 egg whites


1/2 cup of low fat milk, or soymilk


2 teaspoons cinnamon


1/2 teaspoon ginger powder


1 teaspoon vanilla extract


1 teaspoon ghee*


8 slices whole grain bread





In a medium sized bowl combine eggs, milk spices & vanilla. Whisk the mixture for 1 minute. Heat a griddle or pan to medium heat & place the ghee on the pan. Cut the bread slices & working one at a time dip the bread in the batter, covering both sides then place in the pan. Toast/fry the bread for 2 or 3 minutes each side until golden brown.





*Traditional Ayurvedic clarifed butter. For a link to the chopra center for instructions on how to make Ghee go to : http://www.chopra.com/ghee

Oh No - Does this mean I've to wear Moses Saddles!

I sometimes find it funny when people think to living an Ayurvedic lifestyle involves locking themselves away from 'the real world' to live like a white bearded guru tucked away in a mountain cave.

If I'm being honest when I first started shifting my awareness to find a deeper meaning to my life, my own reaction was similar and I lived in terror of having to swap my skinny high heels for a practical pair of Moses sandles - it was all about the shoes.

The Perfect Health program teaches ways to optimise your health and well being - how much you want to apply to your life is, of course, entirely your choice. Some people, dive head first into it, others - myself included, adapt a few of the principles at a time. For me, the well-being I felt from just making a few small changes to my daily life encouraged me to continue making more awarness based decisions. What a wonderful feeling it is to take control of your own well being. Wasn't it Einstein who said - 'The Definition of Madness - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result' .....

Knowledge is a great thing - applying it to our lives is our own choice. The key is to live a balanced healthy life and for me that continues to include 'having the craic' and plenty of belly laughs - and no I'm not living in a cave in Tibet and yes I still wear the high heels - but perhaps just not every day. It's all about balance - stillettos optional.