As American as apple pie

Happy 4th of July!

In Today's Email:

• Meditation 101: Use sound to focus your mind…

• A Loving-Kindness Meditation for Connecting to Others…

• 4th Of July Special: Chakra Meditation Journal

• Celebrate 4th of July with an Ayurveda American Apple Pie

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MEDITATION 101: Use sound to focus your mind...

Mantra yoga uses a particular sound, phrase, or affirmation (such as Sat Nam), that, when repeated, serves as a focal point for the mind. The word mantra comes from man, which means “to think,” and tra, which suggests “instrumentality.” Chanting, an extension of mantra yoga, is a way of entering into meditation that involves both rhythm and pitch. Om namah shivaya is a popular Hindu mantra that can be chanted to send adoration to Shiva, and the sound vibration is said to be an articulation of your inner Self. Dating back to Vedic times, Indian chanting comes out of a tradition that believes in the creative power of sound and its potential to transport us to an expanded state of awareness.

A Loving-Kindness Meditation for Connecting to Others

This loving-kindness meditation is a powerful way to center yourself in service to others. In this form of meditation, you internally repeat well wishes for yourself, your loved ones, and then for the larger population, including people, you feel challenged by.

These wishes traditionally go something like May I feel at ease or May I feel happy and May you feel at ease or May you feel happy. I like to use I am and You are at the beginning of each verse to ground the intention in action instead of a wish.

To begin the practice, silently repeat the phrases below, taking in each word so you can feel it in your heart. I am happy. I am healthy. I am safe. I live with ease.

Then, think of someone you care for, and repeat the phrases below with them in mind. You are happy. You are healthy. You are safe. You are at ease. Next, think of someone you don’t know well, and repeat the phrases. Finally, direct the phrases at someone you have difficulty interacting with.

Close your meditation by sending these intentions to all beings—including yourself— everywhere. Be gentle with yourself as you move through the process of setting and working toward intentions. Not meeting your goals by next January doesn’t equal failure.

🧐 DID YOU KNOW?

Ease a Headache: Mix one drop of peppermint essential oil into a teaspoon of almond oil (or other carrier oil), and rub it on your temples to relieve pain. If you’re holding tension in your neck and shoulders, massage the mixture into those areas as well. Incorporate deep breathing or other stress-reduction techniques to calm your body and loosen your neck muscles. Other headache-reducing supplements to try include magnesium, butterbur, and feverfew. Consider cutting out certain foods—chocolate, arti­cial sweeteners, and MSG may be triggers— especially if you suffer from migraine headaches.

4th of July Special: Chakra Meditation Journal

Here is a gift from us to you on this special day 🤗 INSTRUCTIONS: To get your free Chakra Meditation Journal, please reply to this email with “Happy 4th Of July” and you will receive an automatic email within 2-6 hours with your gift.

Celebrate the 4th of July with an Ayurveda American Apple Pie

Life is about balance. Juggling hectic work schedules, busy families, and life’s occasional twists and turns can make the holidays especially challenging, and finding the proper balance between everything is essential in creating memorable moments and healthy environments.

To that point, food plays an especially important role throughout the holiday season. It provides the backdrop for conversation and the centerpiece for lasting memories. If you are trying to maintain your Ayurvedic principles while creating those food-centric memories, this simple, no-bake apple pecan pie is gluten-free, sugar-free, and sure to be a delicious, Ayurvedic exclamation point to any holiday gathering.

No-Bake Pie Crust

• 2 cups pecans

• 10 dates, pits removed

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

• pinch of salt

• dash of cinnamon

• dash of nutmeg

Pie Filling

• 6 apples

• 6 dates, pits removed

• 1 lemon, juiced

• pinch of salt (Himalayan is preferred)

• pinch of cinnamon

• 1/4 cup chia seeds

• 2 tablespoons almond butter (optional)

• 1 tablespoon honey (optional)

• dash of cardamom (optional)

Directions

1. For the crust, start by roasting the pecans. This isn’t an absolute must, so for those that prefer a raw taste and texture, feel free to skip the roasting. Set the pecans aside, and then use an electric blender to macerate the dates. Slowly add the coconut oil and spices and thoroughly mix. Afterward, add the pecans and lightly pulse the mixture three times, enough to break up the pecans and mix well with the dates but not enough to turn the mixture into butter.

2. Remove the crust mix from the blender and press it into a pie dish. Find a plate that can completely cover the pie dish and place it over the crust, with the plate facing upwards so it presses into the crust. If time is of the essence, put the covered crust into the freezer for an hour. Otherwise, place it in your refrigerator to properly set it before adding the filling.

3. Now for the fun part. To make the filling, start by blending the dates at high speed until they are well mashed. Then, juice your lemon into the dates, making sure to set aside one tablespoon to sprinkle over the finished pie. Blend the lemon juice, spices, and optional almond butter and honey until well blended. Now slice your apples and add to the mixture, blending until it starts to look like very thick applesauce. Next, add the chia seeds and pulse a few times until the mixture is thoroughly blended. Afterward, pour the mixture into the pie crust, being sure to spread evenly, then cover the pie and allow it to set in your refrigerator for at least four hours.

Meme

NAMASTE ❤️

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