WHAT
WHAT
What is Ayurveda?
Long ago we all live Ayurvedically, rising and going to bed with the sun, and knowing which herbs and spices to use to heal the body and prevent illness.
Ayurveda, this science of life, originated in ancient India more than 5,000 years ago. Over the centuries, this natural healing system has profoundly influenced many cultures, including the Greek and Chinese. It has prevented countless diseases and offered millions the key to a healthy and balanced physical, mental and spiritual lifestyle. Ayurveda advocates living accordingly with nature and maintaining harmony between body mind and spirit to achieve longevity and a healthy lifestyle. Everything in the universe is composed of the five elements, fire, water, ether (space) air and earth. In Ayurveda, it is believed that each individual is made up of the five elements, air, water, fire, earth, and ether. These are all present in each of us in varying quantities, and this unique make-up called our dosha (Vata, Pitta or Kapha) or constitution, is what accounts for our individual characteristics and differences. Ayurveda teaches us how to make choices that are ideal for our body and mind, according to our dosha.
Ayurvedic lifestyle is tailored to each person’s unique constitution, taking into account individual needs for nutrition, personal hygiene, exercise, and other lifestyle factors. The Ayurvedic healing approach to treatments is based on detox and herbal and spice medicine through the foods we eat.
WHO
WHO
Nirmala’s grandfather, an Arya Samaj Hindu Pandit, and Ayurvedic Scholar began teaching her yoga when she was just two years old and entrusted to her ancient Ayurvedic recipes, techniques, and treatments to heal the body and mind. Nirmala has always carried the deep markings of a staunch Brahmin background. These simple lifestyle practices were further enriched by Nirmala’s personal research in her native South American rainforest & jungles, as well as endless discoveries on her many extensive travels to over 185 countries studying the sciences of holistic health in many indigenous cultures. In her television show Nirmala's Spice World she opens her spice library to reveal ancient food and beauty secrets and the curative Ayurvedic properties of spices for modern living. Nirmala is passionate about many things, and one is teaching the authenticity of her traditions and culture, like her grandfather.
“All that is in the universe you will find in yourself.
You are a miniature of creation.
If you know yourself, you know the whole world”
An indelible imprint—recited by my grandfather from the
Taittiriya Upanishad
FOOD IS MEDICINE
According to Ayurvedic principles- if we can digest our food and have a healthy digestive foundation, we can understand our emotions, thoughts, and experience of our daily lifestyle. This digestive foundation is known as Agni, (fire). If it’s cared for and respected it sustains us with heat, light and vital energy for a prosperous lifestyle. If this path is misguided and becomes too strong- it burns and destroys. If it becomes too weak- it cannot give liveliness required for healthy wellbeing and living.
Insomnia, general fatigue, skin outbreaks, arthritis, bloating, water retention, anxiety, loose bowels, constipation, nausea, heartburn, reflux, PMS, imbalanced emotions, emotional stress, allergies, asthma… the list is endless.
These are the conditions that so many of us feel are just a “normal” part of a lifestyle.
If this is how we are reduced to living then we are cheating ourselves! We need to take responsibility for the fact that we are creating this imbalance- and there is something fundamental in our diet, eating behaviors and current routine and lifestyle that is fueling these ailments.
Ayurveda goes to the root of the issue-it begins in balancing the gut or digestive organs.
Discover the breadth of handcrafted spices, teas, herbs and botanicals that we offer for healthy eating habits and total mind, body wellness.
Add life of style to your years
Do you suffer from sleeplessness, lack of concentration, pain, memory loss, yo-yo diets, constipation, achy joints, and dry skin?
Join us for these limited series as Nirmala takes us on a healing journey with personalized Ayurvedic sessions to each individual's body constitution and the balance of five elements.
Cleanse the body & mind
Nirmala’s Ayurveda detox series is designed to bring about a renewal of lightness in body and mind, and by eliminating you of waste products, toxins and the wrong type of energy whilst nourishing you with specific foods and gentle exercise, you shed weight, discover the fresh energy and boost your immune system.
Its all about the herbs & spices
Our Ayurvedic cooking and beauty sessions are unique for its emphasis on making sure each dish is cooked and spiced to achieve maximum digestibility to avoid the formation of toxins.
Spice-Origin
Madras TURMERIC
Scents, Flavors & Wellness Benefits
Turmeric has been used medicinally for over 5,000 years and is an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine.
This ancient spice, celebrated for centuries as both food and medicine, has resurfaced within the health and nutrition communities thanks to curcumin, the healing substance which supplies its vibrant color.
In Indian culture, the importance of turmeric goes far beyond medicine. The Hindu religion sees turmeric as auspicious and sacred, while for centuries Buddhist robes and threads were dyed with turmeric.
A member of the ginger family, Turmeric is a rhizome from a robust perennial native to Southern Asia.
Fresh turmeric is crunchy; has gingery, citrus aromas and an agreeably earthy flavor with citrus overtones. Dried turmeric has a sophisticated, rich, woody fragrance with floral, citrus and ginger notes. The taste is slightly bitter and sour moderately pungent, warm and musky.
The curcumin in Turmeric has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is thought that cooking with turmeric has an impact on how much curcumin from it our bodies can absorb. Curcumin is lipophilic, which means it binds to fats, and so when we cook with oils, the curcumin binds to the oil and is more easily absorbed by our digestive organs.