Ayurvedic Magazine - Joyful Belly Journal

Nestled in the gentle hills of Appalachia, Asheville is a moist, temperate rainforest with the best qualities of Kapha: sweetness, love, stillness and fertile soil. With the related qualities of heavy, slow, liquid and soft, clients suffered from molds, allergies, and pitta heat pushing Kapha dampness in the form of skin infections, mouth sores, sore throats and and other inflammatory conditions.

Avalambaka Kapha, Ranjaka Pitta and Udana vayu were generally out of balance in the southeast. We recommended ginger, fennel, lemongrass tea with a teaspoon of honey for morning congestion and to lift related depression and heaviness.

Pitta types with soft stools, sinus infections, or bright red conjunctiva were asked to avoid sour, fermented foods like tomatoes, vinegar, pickles, kambucha, and alcohols...

For consultations, more information about how to be healthy in Asheville, or to send your suggestions contact Joseph or call 617-869-8326. This is a work in progress, we appreciate any feedback!

The climate was wet and rainy, but a beautiful river ran through camp. We spent the fourth of July at the rainbow gathering in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas. Frank Cook, Green Light, Seven Song, and Corey Pine gave daily plant walks and through them and ayurveda I'm learning new tools to approach plants energetically.

As I return east, ayurveda, plants, and mountain music come home together in one place inside of me. Rose and I arrived two weeks ago in Asheville. We're staying at Turtle and Julie's, cooking meals with them and sampling Turtle's amazing collection of meads. Julie is finishing her last year of Chinese Medicine and is already a great practitioner. If you're in town give us a call and come over for dinner! Then we're driving up to Virginia, New Jersey and New York around July 31st.

My sister Jenn gave birth to a healthy baby boy (John Kellen). My parent flew out to Arizona immediately. Grandpa is recovering from a major heart operation but is lively and spirited. We've had many health problems in the family this year so keep us in your hearts.

Lot's of new and exciting knowledge. Here's a list of some to check out using google...
- Dennis Klocek
- The Web that has no Weaver by Ted J. Kaptchuk
- Aghora by Robert Svoboda
- Kung Fu Hustle (a funny movie)
- Homemade pizza with pumpkin sauce and fresh fennel (posted on joyfulbelly.com)
- http://www.plantwalk.com - a website we created to sign up for plant walks by state

Please send news and love and keep in touch. May we get a chance to cook a meal together in the kitchen. That would be beautiful. We ate corn pudding at a restaurant this morning; something I'd like to try if anyone's feeling adventurous enough.

Lots of love,
Blessings,
Joseph

Friendly and extroverted New Yorkers greet us in every neighborhood of the city. Our New York clients are fun, knowledgeable, and generally successful. New York is exciting with pitta and vata generally out of balance. Sharp, mobile and rough qualities are balanced with soft, stillness, and slow.

Self nurturing builds water and sweetness. Water element is generally deficient. Soft slippers and big pillows, home cooked meals, warm baths, and self body massage with oils all increase water element. Make apartments cozy and comfortable. Open up the heart chakra with rose petal tea in the mornings and by hanging a Georgia O'Keefe picture in the living room. The seed of learning how to be vulnerable will flower into freedom and beauty.

New Yorkers that were unable to relax had irregular eating and sleeping schedules. Heal busy lifestyles and racing thoughts with routine, meditation, being instead of doing, and purposeless joy. A mantra for New York is "cozy". Happiness is stimulating but contentment brings peace. Peace has no purpose or goal.

Coffee is the most abused drug of New York creating anxiety and pushing the body beyond limits. Replace coffee with ginger and pranayama. The mind is unstoppable but the body isn't. A warm glass of water and a kidney massage at 3pm will restore vitality and energy levels during vata time of day.

Pollution sticks to sweat, eyes, and mucous membranes of the respiratory tract...

For consultations, more information about how to be healthy in New York City or to send your suggestions, contact Joseph or call 617-869-8326.

Copyright 2007, Joyful Belly

Yoga in New York City

Yoga with Julia Mannes