Welcome to Niagara Ayurveda…..
Helping clients achi eve natural health and vitality. Specializing in healthy and natural weight loss, balancing hormones, and reducing health problems created by stress…..we offer constitutional analysis, ayurvedic body treatments, seasonal detox and cleansing programs, yoga & meditation classes, ayurvedic nutrition and cooking, and retail products to support you in your journey to wellness. Learn More
It ‘s not necessary to suffer with arthritis pain. There is a natural healing system that can reduce, and often reverse, the symptoms of arthritis and restore harmony and vitality to your health and your life. Why doesn’t your doctor know about it? Why don’t the support groups know about it? Simple, there’s no money in it for them.
As a holistic nurse for 20 years I have been in the trenches of natural health and healing and western conventional medicine. I’m sure if you really stop to think about it, it comes as no surprise that doctors and pharmaceutical companies are making money hand over fist on people suffering with arthritis. So consider this, if “they” announced there was a simple, effective and easy way to reverees arthritis, what do you think would happen to their profits and the patriarchal “reputation”.
Ayurveda is the 5000 year old medical system that comes to us from India and it restores harmony and balance to the body and mind to reverse and prevent chronic illness and pain like arthritis. Treatment is based on your individual body type, or constitution as it is referred to in Ayurveda. The reason why this is so important for treating arthritis is that there are different causes and symptoms for arthritis, based on your body type. Continue reading
Your body is an incredibly intelligent system of information. It is an amazing gift that provides you with tremendous information, if you are willing to listen to and learn its language. Acknowledging its wisdom and looking within your body for answers and insights holds tremendous benefits when it comes to healing pain. Trying to annihilate, push away, or push through the messages and symptoms often creates long term, bigger problems.
When it comes to health and healing the western model of medicine encourages us to eliminate any feelings of discomfort or dis-ease. I find that this is often a great dis-service to the client’s hope of making a complete recovery and reversal of the illness.
According to Ayurveda there are six stages to manifesting an illness. In the early stages there are small and gentle warning signs that there is an imbalance in the system, which if left unchecked could create a permanent, “diagnosed illness”. In these early stages it is fairly simple to take measures to restore balance to the “aggravated” dosha. Incorporating a holistic model is ideal to not only address the physical symptoms but, to delve into the patient’s mental and emotional status for the last several months.
A friend was recently explaining to me the nature of his back pain. He mentioned it was interfering with his activities and his quality of life. He asked me what I could do to help. Continue reading
During vata season, (Fall and early Winter, here in WNY), it’s best for vata and kapha 
types to eat their greens cooked and well seasoned…..save the raw version for the occasional green smoothies, or summertime.
A little splash of lemon and a twist of fresh ground salt and pepper and you’ve gotten nearly all of the six tastes in this one dish
Steamed Greens with Vegan Parmesan
1 head of kale, about 8-10 leaves or other leafy green, like collards, spinach or chard
1/4 cup walnuts
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1) Prepare a pot of water with steamer basket. Place on high heat.
2) Wash the greens. Tear the leaves from the stems. Save the stems for juicing or soup.
3) Coarse chop the leaves into 2-3 inch wide pieces.
4) When water comes to a boil, add greens and cook for 5-10 minutes.
5) Chop walnuts fine on a cutting board or in a food processor. Toss with nutritional yeast.
5) Remove greens from steamer when leaves are tender. Place in a bowl. Top with walnut/yeast mixture and mix well. Serve immediately.
Recipe courtesy of our friends at Responsible eating and living. com
Menopause does not have to be about suffering with discomforts and chronic health problems. It’s all about balance.
How balanced, or overall healthy you and your lifestyle are when you reach menopause largely determines how smooth your 
transition will be. If you are “burning the candle at both ends” in your 30′s and early 40′s, you are more likely to have mood swings, sleep problems and troublesome hot flashes when your hormones start to change. Whereas if you are have healthy lifestyle habits and are managing your stress effectively, you are likely to breeze through menopause without any major problems. Health problems at menopause represent imbalances in the body that were already growing in the body and are unmasked by the stress of shifting hormones.
What You Can Do Now to Get “In Balance”
While eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise provides the foundation of good health for everyone, each woman’s menopause experience is unique. Symptoms vary from woman to woman. Knowing precisely how your body is out of balance can guide you in selecting the key lifestyle changes you should make to relieve your symptoms. Ayurveda describes that the type of symptoms you have depends upon which bodily principle or dosha is “out of balance” in your mind/body system.
There are three bodily principles: movement and flow (vata or airy), heat and metabolism (pitta or firey), and bodily substance (kapha or earthy.) And there are three basic types of imbalances relating to each of the three doshas. Easing your menopause transition can be as simple as “reading” your dosha symptoms and taking measures to get your doshas back in balance. The following symptoms and lifestyle prescriptions are indicated for each of the three dosha imbalances:
Vata Type- Prone To Nervousness: anxiety, panic, mood swings, vaginal dryness, loss of skin tone, feeling cold, irregular periods, insomnia, mild or variable hot flashes, constipation, palpitations, bloating and joints aches and pains.
Ayurvedic Tips: Increase warm food and drinks, regular meals, early bedtime, oil massage, meditation, yoga, walking and spices such as fennel and cumin. Decrease caffeine and other stimulants, refined sugar, cold drinks, salads.
Pitta Type- Prone to Hot Temper: anger, irritability, feeling hot, hot flashes, night sweats, heavy periods, excessive bleeding, urinary tract infections, skin rashes and acne.
Ayurvedic Tips: Increase cooling foods, water intake, sweet juicy fruits (grapes, pears, plums, mango, melons, apples,) zucchini, yellow squash, cucumber, organic foods. Go to bed before 10 PM and try to wind down earlier in the evening. Decrease excessive sun and overheating, hot spicy foods, hot drinks and alcohol.
Kapha Type- Prone to Weight Gain: sluggishness, lethargy, weight gain for no reason, fluid retention, yeast infections, lazy, depressed, lacking motivation, slow digestion.
Ayurvedic Tips: Increase exercise, fruits, whole grains, legumes, vegetables, spices such as black pepper, turmeric and ginger. Get up early (by 6AM). Decrease meat, cheese, sugar, cold foods and drinks.
Your Hormonal “Backup System”
Ayurveda describes that your hormonal changes at menopause will be smooth and easy if three factors are in place.
• Your mind/body system (consisting of three doshas) is in “balance.”
• Your diet is wholesome and rich in phytoestrogens.
• Your body is “clean” and uncluttered inside so your hormones and body can “talk” effectively.
Source: Nancy Lonsdorf, MD
You either “LOVE it , or leave it” when it comes to eggnog. I personally love it, but I don’t love all that sugar, dairy, and calories. So I am always experimenting with recipes to find a healthy version that still serves up the flavor and joy of the high fat version.
This smoothie recipe fits the bill for being healthy and balancing during the cold winter months of Vata season.
1/2 Ripe Banana 
3 Medool Dates (pre-soaked for 30 minutes, and pit removed)
2 Tablespoons Sesame Tahini
1 Tablespoon Maca Powder
1 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 C Almond Milk
1 Tablespoon Lucuma powder
Place all ingredients in blender. Pour in almond milk until desired consistency. Enjoy.
“Thou anointist my head with oil… my cup runneth over….”
In Ayurveda, cleansing isn’t just about the colon. The entire mind , body, and spirit are re-aligned, cleansed, pacified, and rejuvenated. With today’s hectic paced lifestyle, it’s vital that we include therapies during cleansing that help to calm the mind, and disengage from the repetitive and often stressful thoughts that can consume our day to day living.
Shirodara, an ancient Ayurvedic treatment, is part of an authentic Ayurveda cleansing program. The benefits are numerous, one of them being that when the energy of the body is not consumed by the mind, it allows more the the clients life force, (prana), to do the work of cleansing the vital oragans.
Read further to discover the benefits of Shirodara and how to get the best therapy treatment for your time and money. Many of the spas that are now offering this treatment in the west are missing the mark with their clients.
Getting daily Shirodara treatments for the duration of a cleanse will provide the most benefits. An alternative to full pancha karma services is to do an at-home ayurveda cleanse and invest your financial resources in the daily Shirodara treatments.
Ayurveda is a comprehensive system of health care and maintenance. Continue reading
How can you benefit from bringing the principles of ayurveda into your daily living ?
When I first experienced the healing power of Ayurveda I was just returning from a 2 
month training at Kripalu Center in Lenox, MA.
I didn’t have any real serious health problems but my menstrual cycle was a little “off”. I went to a women’s health seminar and met a medical doctor that was also an Ayurvedic practitioner. I scheduled an appointment.
I filled out a health “history” before my appointment and we reviewed it when I saw her. This was not like any medical appoinment I had experienced. She was mostly concerned with my daily lifestyle and habits. She did not run any tests or have my blood drawn.
She made a few recommendations for changing foods I ate, recommended an Ayurvedic herbal tablet, a homeopathic remedy and then, I was on my way. She had spent one and one half hours getting to know me, and my habits.
Within a week my menstrual cycle was back on track and has stayed that way for 10+ years, (until menopause). She gave me the tools and awareness, to care for my needs, treatment that was specific to me.
I knew then that this ancient healing system could help bring individuals to health and wellness in a simple yet profound way.
I knew that these tools would be an added benefit to my clients in my holistic healing practice. I knew that I would study this ancient healing and medical system so that I would open an ayurvedic wellness center.
Ayurveda doesn’t just focus on one particular symptom, it is truly a holistic approach, considering the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual conditions of the client .
Here are some of the basics…….
~~the first step to staying in good health is developing awareness for potential causes of disease, so you can avoid them or deal with them intelligently.
~~the second step is taking action to modify causes you can’t avoid or control.
~~the third step is to restore balance once it begins to be lost.
Sounds pretty easy and common sense….doesn’t it?
That’s why I love this system.
In Ayurveda…… the mantra is, ” Like attracts like.”
The main method for restoring balance is to apply the opposite qualities. Here are some simple examples.
If you are cold have some hot soup or take something warm to drink. Not the time for an iced latte. If you are agitated or upset, sit down and do some deep breathing or meditation, even if it’s only 3-5 minutes. If your Pitta (dosha) is feeling provoked and you’re feeling hot under the collar, taking a swim, cool shower, or eating some sweet and cooling fruit can help.
This principle falls in the category of K.I.S.S….(keep it simple).
It is such a simple approach that we often overlook it, but it is extremely powerful and effective.
If you apply this approach (and the others presented here in the coming months) you can quickly and effortlessly restore harmony and balance to the mind and body.
At Niagara Ayurveda Wellness Clinic and Spa we lay a foundation for you to prevent illness, and also take a look at correcting imbalances.
If you want to know how to heal your specific health issues and get support while making change be sure to schedule a complimentary health assessment.
Prescription medications can be beneficial and they can save your life, but I am an advocate of pharmaceutical therapies only as a third line of defense, when natural therapies and herbal regimes have failed to restore balance to the body and mind.
One perfect example is heart disease. There is no reason to fear heart disease when one implements some easy and natural lifestyle habits to keep the lymphatic circulation and blood vessels healthy and flowing clean and free. Green tea is a offers numerous benefits to prevent heart disease,
Unfortunately, many times consumers mistake prevention and reversal. Drinking green tea can help to prevent heart disease, yet, I believe it is difficult to reverse a long standing imbalance of heart disease with this therapy. Other measures may need to be taken in addition to drinking the tea in order to reverse the plaque and toxins that have built up over time.
But studies show it is effective at lowering “Bad” Cholosterol:
The results seem clear, green tea helps lower levels of “bad” cholesterol. Researches analyzed 14 papers published over the prior 3 decades and concluded that these cholestorel lowering effects were found in all the studies.
LDL’s can build up in arteries and form the hard plaque that cause heart and other cardiovascular diseases. Cholesterol is the most common casues of these plaques. Reducing your LDL’s by 1% can lower heart attack risk by 3%.
The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2011, is titled: Green Tea Intake Lowers Fasting Serum Total and LDL Cholesterol in Adults: A Meta-Analysis of 14 Randomized Control Trials.
According to researchers green tea’s ability to significantly reduce lipids appears to be independent of health status and whether the tea is taken as a liquid or as a supplement.
Green teas, which are not oxidized, contain antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and flavonoid-like polyphenol compounds including catechins derived from the tea plant.
Researchers identified 1,136 adults in 14 studies of three weeks to three months in length, eliminating influences including dose, the year the research was done and participant’s health.
Tea uniformly reduced total cholesterol but was found to have no effect on HDL (so-called good cholesterol). Studies have shown that individuals who consume two cups of green tea per day have lower plasma total cholesterol levels. Their risk of death from cardiovascular disease is reduced by 22 to 33 percent.
Source: The Whistling Kettle. com
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2011 and Green Tea Health News.
They offer the benefits of powerful antioxidants, omega oils and essential fatty acids. For some flavorful variations you can add orange zest or lemon, lavender, or peppermint essential oils. I sometimes stick a few goji berries on top.
The rich moisturizing oils from the nuts are perfect for providing balance to Vata types at this time of year. Kapha types may want to add a little powdered ginger to the mixture
A special thank you to Meg Wolff for this amazing recipe!
12-18 servings
2) Run second set of Brazil nuts, walnuts, dates and apricots through the food processor until evenly chopped.
3) Add remaining ingredients. Process until combined.
4) Roll into balls, then roll in the coating mix.
How Ghee is Made in India and America
Ghee is the most refined end product of milk. (When you make Ghee, you are concentrating the quality of the milk you started with. This includes, antibiotics, hormones (rGBH), chemical pesticides, etc. For this reason, always use the best milk/butter you can find.) When you milk a cow, you get whole milk. If you let this milk sit for a while, cream rises to the top. If you skim off the cream and then churn it, after a while and all of a sudden, the fat globules will begin to stick to each other and form butter. What is left over is buttermilk.
In America today, very little butter is churned the old fashioned way. Most modern dairies, even many “organic” ones, no longer churn their cream to make butter. In a typical dairy in America, the cream is now pushed (extruded) through a fine mesh screen in which the heavier and larger molecules of butter are held on one side of the screen while the smaller molecules of buttermilk pass on through. I recently asked an Ayurvedic Teacher-Vaidya about what difference this makes. He said that butter made without churning is lacking in a quality of Fire-Agni. He even went further in his consideration of difference; the home-based Indian culture churns their cream with a hand churn, rolling it back and forth between their hands. This back and forth action, he said, imparts a particular balancing quality to the Ghee- instead of the one way churning of a gear driven churn.
As pointed out above, most of the butter made in America today is not even churned. When we consider the process of butter and Ghee making at this level, we are in the realm of subtlety, but it is in exactly this realm (the subtle) that what is pure and purifying, (sattvic, it is called in Ayurveda), is found.
There is one very important difference in the way Ghee was and is made in India. The Indians start out with milk from a cow, just like in America. But, they do not Continue reading
