I often get asked where the name Vada (pronounced "vey-d-ah") comes from. I originally fell in love with the name Vada when I was a child, thanks to the super sassy character in the 90's movie "My Girl." When I started making products, I simply went by "HandmadebyJ." My products have always been Ayurveda inspired. When my business became a corporation, I wanted it to be feminine, fun, elegant - yet simple, and made from using pure, sustainable ingredients. Since I have a background with many Ayurveda courses under my belt, I wanted to incorporate Ayurveda somehow into the name. Enter Vada. To me, having "beauty" in the name does not necessarily mean make up products, but it is about the beautiful things in life. Things that are beautiful for our body, mind and soul. So there you have it, Vada Beauty.
Now, what exactly is Ayurveda? I am constantly educating my family and friends on this, as this is something that I find many people are not familiar with.
Over 3000 years ago, Ayurveda was developed in India. It is an ancient system of whole body healing and care. AKA holistic. In the Ayurveda practice, it is believed that everything is connected. Body, mind and soul.
Everyone has a "dosha", which are energies that make up a person. Each dosha (Vata, Kapha or Pitta) has basic elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth. The two most dominant elements in your body correspond to a dosha.
Ayurveda takes a holistic approach, but also combines traditional medicines and practices to balance your dosha and live a healthy life.
Eating a Ayurveda diet consists of eating colorful, flavorful foods that boost your immunity and health. Pure oils, spices and herbs play a huge role in recipes. For each meal, try to incorporate the colors of the rainbow and your body will soon see the benefits.
Getting a good, restful sleep is also very important. When you are asleep, your body works to heal and repair itself. Not only does lack of sleep speed up aging, it also disrupts your body's balance which will also weaken your immune system. Yoga and meditation are often used in Ayurveda practices to help calm the mind and ensure a more restful sleep.
With any practice in life, it is always very important to listen to your body. Are you having unhealthy cravings? Are you having troubles sleeping and then feeling run down and tired throughout the day? Your body will send you signals of emotional and physical distress.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. Step back and evaluate what you're doing in your day to day life. If you need to realign your dosha my first suggestion will ALWAYS be to ask yourself "what are you eating?"
Tips for Eating to Balance Vata:
Favor sweet, salty, and sour tastes
Eat warm, oily, or heavy foods
Minimize cold and raw foods
Add these herbs to your diet: basil, bay, cinnamon, citrus, cloves, frankincense, lavender, pine, sage, and vanilla
Tips for Eating to Balance Pitta
Favor sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes
Reduce hot and spicy foods
Add these herbs to your diet: sandalwood, jasmine, mint, lavender, fennel, and chamomile
Tips for Eating to Balance Kapha
Favor pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes
Minimize heavy foods, salt, and dairy products
Add these herbs to your diet: warm, stimulating aromas, including cloves, cinnamon, juniper, and marjoram
Lastly, self care is something that cannot go undone. Your world is a loud, busy place. Take time to quiet the noise and connect with yourself. Again, this is where yoga and meditation come into play. Spend time in nature. Breathe in the smell of fresh air, the crisp, pine earth. Being outside is a natural healer. Read a book - use your imagination to visualize what characters and places look like. Whatever it is you enjoy, take the time to do that. Your body, mind and soul will thank you. Like the old saying goes, "you can't pour from an empty cup."
There is so much more to share, but this is just a basic introduction to Ayurveda. I look forward to sharing recipes and tips in the future!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!
Jennifer
Vada Beauty (owner/operator)
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