Vkrti means 'against Nature' and it represents the disturbance in our Nature (Prakrti) as it pertains to Dosha (Vata, Pitta and Kapha). I think it is important to say that all imbalance happens as a whole to all three dosha but often there are one or two dosha that lead the way. Is your own ecosystem suffering from dryness, heat, heaviness, lightness, stickyness (damp heat) or cold?

Most of us have swapped over to having our main meal in the evening. It didn't always used to be this way. Stopping for lunch, making time for lunch, even having a lunch-hour have become a thing of the past but to the detriment of our health. Learn how Ayurveda explains the importance of our largest mid-day meal and start to make headway back to the correct timing of lunch.

From 2am - 6am we are in 'Vata Dosha time' and from 6am - 10am we are in 'Kapha Dosha time'. When we get up in the morning and what practices we put in place makes a huge difference to our health. During the early morning hours is the time best suited to Moving and Cleansing. What are your preferred practices to get you up and refreshed each morning?

This, slightly longer but still quick, 10 minute Water Element class is great for rejuvinating your energy when you feel that slump in the afternoon hours (2pm - 6pm). This practice works with gate pose and rotates around that pose for full benefits and side body opening. This practice is refreshing and soothing for the nerves. Grab a block for this practice!

Creating Nervous System Resilience Part 6: If you'd like to brainstorm some ideas for how to work with Ayurvedic and Yogic daily and seasonal rituals to create less pain and interrupt chronic symptoms come and join me for this webinar.

Creating Nervous System Resilience Part 5: If you're interested in how your home Yoga and Ayurveda practice can be impacting your health positively you're in the right place. Grab a pen and paper and join me to answer the questions - 'How is Yoga used to create nervous system resilience?' 'How is Ayurveda used to create nervous system resilience?' 'How is Pain Reprocessing Therapy used to create nervous system resilience?'

Creating Nervous System Resilience Part 4: In Webinar four we learn all about the emotions and emotional processing and find out that emotional overwhelm triggers the brain in exactly the same way as an injury would. Could your physical pain have an emotional component? Grab a pen and paper and join me!

Creating Nervous System Resilience Part 3: In Webinar three we'll look at the at the subject of neuroplasticity (which is how the brain can learn and unlearn chronic symptoms. Grab a pen and paper and find out if your symptoms could be neuroplastic as we go through the check-list for neural circuit pain.

Creating Nervous System Resilience Part 2: Webinar Two takes us deeply into the nervous system asking the question 'What does the Nervous System Do? 'What are the different states of the nervous system?' and 'Does our nervous system ever get it wrong?' The answers might surprise you!

Creating Nervous System Resilience Part One: Webinar One takes your through the question 'What is Stress'. Grab a pen and paper and go through this illuminating webinar on how your body may be showing you that it is stressed even though you don't think you suffer from stress.

This video is there for those days when getting out of bed - for whatever reason that happens to be - is an impossibility. But, you are eager to practice. You are able to be with your movement with kindness and compassion and you are ready to breathe your way towards nervous system rest and rejuvination. This 'Earth' practice helps the energy move downwards away from the head helping symptoms such as insomnia, over-thinking, nervousness/anxiety and also helps with elimination of stress and elimination of constipation (a common symptom of vata increase/nervous system distress).

Ayurvedic Tongue Scraping is an ancient practice performed to remove toxins, bacteria, and debris from the tongue, promoting oral hygiene and enhancing taste. In Ayurveda, different metals are believed to offer unique benefits: Copper: Known for its anti-microbial properties, copper tongue scrapers are great for reducing bacteria and improving digestion. Silver: These scrapers are cooling and soothing, making them ideal for individuals with Pitta imbalances. Gold scrapers are believed to boost immunity and enhance overall health, suitable for balancing all doshas. Tongue scraping should be done every morning after brushing your teeth and before drinking water or consuming any food. This practice not only promotes oral health but also stimulates the digestive fire (Agni) and refreshes the senses. A simple yet powerful addition to your daily routine that keeps you feeling fresh and vibrant!

Jala Neti means directing water through the nasal cavity. Jala Neti is a traditional Ayurvedic practice involving the use of a neti pot to cleanse the nasal passages with warm saline water. It's performed to clear out mucus, dirt, and other impurities, promoting clear breathing and overall respiratory health. In Ayurveda, Jala Neti is valued for its ability to enhance Prana (life force) flow, prevent respiratory ailments, and improve mental clarity. It's particularly beneficial for those suffering from allergies, sinus issues, or colds. This gentle yet effective practice is a staple in the daily routine (Dinacharya) for maintaining health and well-being.

Everything that you decide to do in Ayurveda (daily routines) should sync up with the Ayurvedic Clock. There is a great Ayurvedic saying 'you are WHEN you eat'. This really is backed up by modern science now too (as is a lot of Ayurveda). But it doesn't stop there according to Ayurveda. When you eat, when you exercise, when you detox, when you do meditation and yoga, when you rest, when you sleep - these are all the powerful questions you should be asking yourself and these are the powerful, timely medicines that Ayurveda will ask you to adjust to in order to activate your natural healing potential.

The real gift of understanding Prakrti and your own Nature is self love. We all have a divine gift of the 20 Guna (qualities), the Panchamahabhuta (Five Elements) and the Tridosha (three dosha). This gift is apparent within our physical, emotional and mental makeup. Although it may trip us up at times, after all, Dosha means 'that which will go wrong', within our inherent doshic blueprint lies something we are in relationship with all of our lives. Our true beloved.

Ushna Pana Chikitsa is a hot water treatment that is taken first thing in the morning (before any other Ayurvedic practices). It is essentially a 'hot water flush' that helps clean and clear our system from the night before in preparation for the day ahead and any other Ayurvedic practices that we might practice after.

Dosha actually translates as 'that which can go wrong'. So, there we have a little clue that, when looking out our own health and symptoms, we need to go to 'dosha'. But, what is dosha anyway? In this short we find out that, like the 'Element' the dosha is simply a bundle of qualities. But unlike an element (which has a bundle of similar qualities held together) a dosha has a combination of opposite qualities that work together to create ACTION within the body. Vata = To Move. Pitta = To Combust and Kapha = To Hug/Hold.

Check out the 'What is Guna?' video first and then apply this to learning about Elements. We are swimming in a sea of 'Elements' all the time. Are you recognising what qualities you are ingesting and digesting all day long? The Five Elements are a wonderful way of symbolising the primary qualities that we bring into our lives each day. Once you understand this, choosing your quality of life becomes easier.

This lovely practice is a great de-stress all by itself but if you have time for a real treat, pair it up with either of the marma massage for the feet practices. Marmas on the feet are activated with both movement and massage and are recommended for painful, cold feet, insomnia, stress/hyperactivity, headaches/migraines, sciatica, poor circulation (especially feet and legs), constipation/gas/wind, cystitis/bladder pain, IBS and emotional overwhelm. The feet are an incredible place to start your healing practices. Enjoy!

Ayurveda has a language all of it's own. I'm not talking about Sanskrit. I'm talking about the language of the body. Ayurveda introduces that subject of 'guna' or 'quality' as a primary mover and shaker of all the concepts that follow it. There are 20 primary qualities and 6 medicinal qualities. Can you reflect on where you find 'heat/pressure' 'cold/dullness' 'heaviness/grouding' 'lightness/uplift' 'lubrication/ease' and 'dryness/friction' in your day to day routines?

This short and concise video introduces the subject of Ayurveda in light of what it means to be a home practitioner of Ayurveda. Simply, it is a way of viewing the World. Have you ever thought that the World around you and within you takes shape primarily via your philosophy of what it is you sense?

Eye exercises are a primary exercise in Ayurveda and Yoga and it isn't just because of our modern view that it helps stimulate the vagus nerve and counteract stress. In Ayurveda, the marma points around the eye are key for creating emotional balance (releasing a wide range of vata, pitta and kapha emotions). In Yoga, you will hear drsti (gaze point) directions to stimulate this marma point. These exercises are also a great tonic for calming the mind, insomnia, nasal congestion, kidney/adrenal stress, anxiety symptoms, eye strain and headaches.

This is now one of my favourite practices. Set along to a seasonal soundscape of water flowing (the Winter Element) this practice takes you through a strengthening, nourishing practice. In Winter, Ayurveda recommends keeping Agni kindled (keep that digestive fire burning) BUT also making sure that you nourish your body well because with the Fire being kindled and drawn inwards (natural direction of Prana flow during Winter) - if you aren't nourished well - you are going to deplete your reserves and initiate a Vata Dosha increase (insomnia, anxiety, depletion, bone loss, weakness, dryness (all protective mucous barriers dissolve) and constipation. I love this practice - it is strengthening, warming and it has humming bee breath! Join me and find nourishment and fun with this Winter Flow.

This Ayurvedic ear massage was developed hundreds of years before all the newest research on how stimulating and toning the vagus helps stress conditions and helps our brain learn how to come out of a stress response. In Ayurveda, the ear is another one of the seats of 'Vata Dosha' (mind, brain, nervous system) and traditional marma point massage (and oiling practices) are used to help bring homeostasis to the mind, brain and nervous system. You'll love the effects. Join me for this wonderful ear massage practice!

This is a great practice for the end of a day on the computer/screen time just before you close everything down for the day. Warm your oil or get your face lotion ready. Sit down somewhere quiet where you won't be distracted or interrupted for 15 minutes and begin a de-stress practice that is great for eye strain, general stress, tension headaches and migraines and many Pitta excess symptoms (inflammation, excess pressure (high blood pressure) in the system, acidity (acid reflux, arthritis) and over-heating (feeling irritated, aggravated and like you're in a pressure pot). Give yourself the gift of this practice before bed or at the end of your work schedule.

This guided meditation for those who have just come out of a period of pain/suffering/stress and has three parts or tools. 1) Awakening the body 2) Awakening the breath 3) Awakening the mind. This is also a great meditation practice for the state of 'Freeze' or 'Shutdown' - a state where the nervous system is either in a frozen protected state or when the body/mind is both activated and frozen within the suffering creating a feeling of both urgency and hopelessness. This practice includes sukha (soft) kapalabhati (skull shining breath). If you are not practiced in this, first find the kapalabhati video to listen to.

This is one of three meditations that I have put together for those who are suffering with (neuroplastic/neuropathic) pain, emotional pain and overwhelm - any sort of suffering derived from a nervous system in distress. Pain signaling increases significantly during these times and many chronic sufferers of pain and stress know all too well the little symptoms and/or many triggers to these painful episodes. 'When you know better you do better' as the Maya Angelou quote goes. This meditation gives your brain the chance to learn how to take a new path. Don't be in a hurry. This meditation is just part of the brain's learning a new way forward. Be kind.

This audio is a meditation that I put together for moments of pain and suffering. Sometimes, the pain is habitual, emotional and triggered by fight, flight, freeze nervous system changes - in which case, the best medicine is to help to interrupt the habitual choice of the nervous system and deliver messages of security, safety and calm. For these moments, be kind. There is no way to insist that the body becomes calm - the only way is giving yourself time and space and letting Nature take it's course. Look for the Before and After Suffering Meditations that accompany this.

Pada Abhyanga or Ayurvedic foot massage is used for treating excess Pitta Dosha and is an absolute medicine for inflammation, irritation and all the 'itis' - arthritis, gastritis, cystitis, colitis, gingivitis and other Pitta symptoms such as hot and irritated eyes, feeling toxic (liver overload), acidity, inflammation, irritated skin and is a God-send when you are feeling irritated and aggravated as it is a way of helping reduce pressure in the system. This guided marma massage for the feet can be used for yourself or for a friend/loved one. You'll be guided through one foot - just restart the video to be guided through again for the second foot! Enjoy.

This is a modified chandra namaskara (moon salutation) practice including inversions and breathwork to move energy AND ground and relax. Have your blocks ready for under the hands please and bend the knees whenever you need to take pressure away from the low back. This Water and Earth Element practice is ideal for a daily practice and is worth learning by rote for a wonderful addition to your other practices.

This 4/8 count breath is ideal for part of the package for Pitta related symptoms such as high stress, the feeling of being under a deadline/pressure and pitta insomnia (toss and turn in the midnight hours with a feeling of heat and irritation or getting up and starting to work instead of sleep.

This 8 minute left nostril breathing (chandra bhedana pranayama) practice is ideal for your afternoon reflective break. The left nostril breathing helps the parasympathetic nervous system (rest, digest) to come online literally giving you more breathing space, after which, you might even find your day feels a little different. Time for reflection, slowing down and supporting your nervous system this afternoon with a big smile.

This daily check in is a meditation on the ten pairs of 'guna' of Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda gives importance to providing balance via using 'counter qualities' to anything imbalanced AND to a daily self-care routine. This video is the lead into both. Don't expect to get it right away. This is a subtle practice of diving into the interior sensations and geography of the body, mind and emotions - often untravelled. Each day you will find new connections and new translations for the qualities (guna) that lead you. Enjoy!

The benefits of kapalabhati pranayama also include energizing your nerves, gaining control over your mental strength and detoxifying your skin BUT a stimulating breath is not for everyone and it is not to be used without regard. Please check with your yoga practitioner if/when and how much repetition is right for you.

Please use your own lit candle for this practice (do not gaze at the screen) Trataka is both an Ayurvedic and Yogic technique for cleansing the eyes. In Ayurveda, candle gazing is used for getting rid of excess irritation in the mind and the body and as part of a package of treatments for eye conditions and migraines and for relieving the symptoms of increased Pitta Dosha. In Yoga, candle gazing meditation is used for enhancing intuition and developing healthy Manipura chakra.

Marma include all the seven primary Chakra and another 101 smaller 'chakra'. These are described in Ayurveda as vulnerable points. The points used here are beneficial for a wide range of health issues including anxiety symptoms. Marma point massage is always given as just a small part of a larger treatment package. Please consult your Ayurvedic practitioner for a treatment package to suit your symptoms and always alert your GP to any undiagnosed symptoms.

A 5 minute home practice to help bring energy inwards easing a lack of Prana and to reduce any excess heat and heaviness (PittaKapha Increase).

A 5 minute home practice using the qualities of the Fire and Water Element to help to nourish the digestive spaces within the body and help disperse any 'coldness' accumulating due to increased VataKapha Dosha.

A 5 minute home practice to help reduce pressure and empty the 'pot o' stress' that we all tend to overfill.

This 4/8 count breath is ideal for part of the package for Pitta related symptoms such as high stress, the feeling of being under a deadline/pressure and pitta insomnia (toss and turn in the midnight hours with a feeling of heat and irritation or getting up and starting to work instead of sleep.

Find 2 blocks for your practice and join me for a stress busting warrior (pose) lead practice designed to release stress, tension and overwhelm!

CONTRAINDICATIONS: If you have limited range of movement through the hips and knees this class may not suit you.

This practice uses the crow pose shape (Bakasana) and is a strong practice. Use an alternative practice if this is not for you:)

If you're joining me, grab 2 blocks for your practice.

A 5 minute home practice to soothe and ground using the side saddle pose. Find yourself a block and a blanket and we'll begin.

A slightly longer than 5 (8 minute) home practice NOTE: If you're short on time - just do the beginning of the practice with the block squeeze. It's worth it just for the strengthening effects! You'll need 1 block.

A calming and soothing practice for healing an excess of nervous energy.

An Ayurvedic marma point massage to the neck is a delight. Almost everyone will feel stress symptoms within the neck at some point or another and many neck problems are actually stress related. This marma point massage helps to balance Vata dosha (mind, nervous system and brain), getting to the root cause of the tightness and discomfort.

In Ayurveda, massage of the hands is given as part of the package for all Vata related symptoms including insomnia, general dryness and coldness in the body and to improve mental health.

This 13 minute marma point massage for digestion is called Nabhi Abhyanga and can help to ease bloating, indigestion, acid reflux and mis-digestion due to stress. Nabhi is one of the key marmas used and it is centred within a 'hub' or 'chakra' of important marma points for emotional health aswell. Please note: This massage is contraindicated during pregnancy and during any acute digestive flare ups or when there is pain upon pressing the gut or acute gastrointestinal pain. You won't need oil for this massage and you won't be pressing hard into these areas. A light, kind, compassionate touch is sufficient to activate all the healing effects of this marma point massage.