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Thriving Through “the Change”

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Perimenopause, the Change, is like adolescence in reverse. And we all remember the wonder and craziness of adolescence. So don’t be surprised when you hit your late 40s and life gets more life-y for you.

It’s not written in stone that the Change be uncomfortable and mentally disorienting. By learning more about it and preparing it can be a smoother ride.

The Change is usually a gradual process – unless you have a hysterectomy. Then it comes on fast and furious. It happens when your ovaries no longer respond to hormones telling them to develop eggs so well.

Patterns of Perimenopause

Some women’s bodies respond by creating more and more hormones, stimulating more and more eggs to develop, making more and more estrogen. This sometimes means they get super periods – lots of blood and cramps may ensue. They might bleed every two weeks. Anger may ensue. A Pitta problem according to Ayurveda.

Other women have lighter and further apart periods. The ovaries are already retiring. Estrogen is already dropping. Anxiety and forgetfulness may accompany this Vata problem.

Then some women just stop bleeding. No biggie. This is more likely with Kapha women.

How Ayurveda Helps

Ayurveda can help you by balancing your Pitta, Vata, and Kapha BEFORE (best) or during the Change to allow the natural transition to happen more gracefully. Diet, herbs, and lifestyle make a big difference. And symptoms can be met with something besides artificial hormones.

After the Change, a program of rejuvenation can be instituted to keep you at your peak through the menopausal years.

Learn more about the Change and how to surf its ups and down in these WiseWomanhood classes:

Is This Menopause? Know it to Better Surf It. Perfect if you’re new to Ayurveda.

Graceful Menopause with Ayurveda First presented to the Colorado Ayurvedic Medicine Association, so some Ayurvedic understanding helps.

You might want an Initial Consultation with Terra Rafael CAP to get a personalized plan to prepare / surf your perimenopause or menopause.

Or if you’re an Ayurveda Practitioner and want to increase your knowledge about the Change time or consult about your clients – sign up for Mentoring with Terra

Why People Are Defying Logic And Having Big Parties And Gatherings During A Pandemic! And Some Personal Solutions…

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The Situation:

Under pandemic, we have become deprived of the crucial neurochemical, oxytocin.  This hormone is important for reproduction – from orgasm, to childbirth, for bonding and breastfeeding.  It is also crucial as a social reward for behaviors that can lead to passing on our DNA – hugs, touching, being in a like-minded group, and even being in a big party, concert, or sports event where everyone is on the same page. Even the social reward of seeing smiles has been covered up by masks. Handshakes and hugs are forbidden out of prudence.

This is even worse for single people or people living alone. Opportunities to socialize and perhaps meet a new partner are severely limited under the current guidelines – whether you want to meet in a bar or at church.

Trust busting pandemic practices…

And oxytocin promotes trust in those around us.  With low oxytocin, constantly trying to “Distance”in case others will make us sick, and people masking their facial expressions it becomes difficult to trust.  This only adds to the polarizing situation in our country.

To avoid taking drastic measures that can put ourselves and all we come in contact with at risk, try these:

Pandemic-Safe Ways To Have Some Hits Of Oxytocin Every Day

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  • Alone?  Try self massage to release some oxytocin.  It’s an Ayurveda practice to do frequent self massage with sesame or almond oil (or medicated oils for specific kinds of support).  It doesn’t have to be fancy, just do what feels good before a nice warm bath or shower.
  • You can also give yourself hugs or soothingly place your hand on your heart. This is shown to increase oxytocin.
  • Many people have learned the Zoom habit – meeting with video chats.  This is more rewarding than just audio phone calls, seeing the other person adds a stronger dimension of connection…and oxytocin.
  • Some research has shown that practicing hatha yoga can help with some oxytocin. This is in addition to helping reduce anxiety & depression and supporting healthy sleep.
  • Loving-kindness meditation, also referred to as compassion meditation, involves directing thoughts of love, compassion, and goodwill toward someone in your life and sending thoughts of peace and wellness toward them.
  • If you are living with someone else you like, you might try cuddling and hugging with that person.  And maybe you don’t have another person, but have a pet.  Petting your pet also releases oxytocin!
  • And if you are locked-down with your lover, having sex is a premier way of getting oxytocin. Of course, if you are not with a lover, you can have orgasms on your own!  Just be aware that too many orgasms can deplete your immune system. (Ayurveda has guidelines for different ages and body types as well as special ways to renew after sex to avoid this.) 

I hope this list gives you some ideas for yourself and some compassion for all those wild and crazy people gathering together during the time of COVID 19.

For more info:  www.wisewomanhood.com  

Dosha Tests & Beyond

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For my twenty years of Ayurveda practice I’ve avoided using the “Dosha Tests” with my clients. I could determine their doshas simply through history, symptoms and pulse readings.

I want to spread the word on the usefulness of Ayurveda and so many know so little about it. So, with the help of my tech mentor, Karen at Spiezz Digital, we’ve created a less jargon-y quiz to ease people in.

This fun test is perfect for those just getting interested in Ayurveda and wanting to know more about themselves. Please share it with any such humans (not yet calibrated for wild things, pets, or aliens).

Of course, the test is just a first step into the never-ending story of Ayurveda…after all, the science of Life is as long and varied as Life itself…

The Test: Are You Doing All the Wrong Things for Your Health?

Woman, Know Thyself!

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To be the best we can be, we need three things:

  1. Learning information – from others or from our own observation about ways to be healthier, happier, and freer.
  2. Identifying the new behavior needed to live the new learning
  3. Transforming by acting immediately to form habits in line with the new learning

Habits can take a couple of months to become automatic, like brushing your teeth. Support in keeping on track is one of the most important ways to help us become who we want to be.

What is in the way of you becoming who you want to be? Are you laid low by menstrual cramps? Are you frustrated by infertility? Is the menopausal change making your life sweaty? Have you tried everything to lose and keep off excess weight? Or do you have more inner work to do? Forgive yourself? Take back now-invalid vows?

If it’s information, transformation, or support with women’s health or inner work you need, we’re here for you at WiseWomanhood Practice and School.

The Women’s Health Bundle is now available – 12 classes on various aspects of women’s health – at a greatly reduced price. This can answer many of your informational questions throughout your life as a woman.

If excess weight that just keeps coming back is a problem, Terra has become well educated about losing and keeping weight off. If you want to learn more email Terra for a free phone/video call.

For inner work WiseWomanhood has a bunch of classes newly given free status. Empower yourself. Rescind vows.

Transformational questions and support with habit change are available too in consultations with Terra.

Now is the best time to make changes in your life. Let us help.

Cultivating Inner Strength

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Whenever we are confronted with outer obstacles we can bash our heads against them or flow over, under, around them with flexible, inner strength.  How do we cultivate this inner quality?

Everyone has some level of grit, stamina, or resilience of spirit.  We only need to uncover the Source within, to let it permeate our body and mind. What is covering it?  It’s all the parts of us that we developed to protect us, often as young children, from pain and suffering.

A well known beginning is meditation. You may have tried meditating and found it didn’t seem to work.  Know that there are many different types of meditation. 

Sitting each day for meditation builds a reservoir of strength into your nervous system and your mind.  If you can sit daily without squirming, through all the thoughts and sensations that float through your consciousness without reacting, you are definitely cultivating your inner strength.  Haven’t felt successful with meditation? That can change with the right choice of technique and with support to build your meditation habit.  Buy some Time with Terra – Meditation Coaching to become a meditator.

Another technique is Transfiguration. This is a shamanic technique whereby we reclaim our original nature and fill ourselves with our inner light, our brightest, strongest original spirit.  This body-centered technique can change your life. I know it has mine!  Sandra Ingerman has worked with this technique for years, and I’m learning from her.  Starting in June I will be offering under Time with Terra  – Transfiguration Sessions.

Whatever means you use to cultivate your inner strength, doing it before crisis comes is ideal.  And the present is the very best time to begin, even if crisis has already come to visit! Consider it an invitation to uncover your inner strength.

Healthier Immune System with Ayurveda

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Ayurveda describes a special substance, OJAS, as key to our health. Ojas has preservative and disease resistant functions. It also supports the healthy functioning of body, mind and senses.  It normally flows throughout the body, empowering the organs & tissues that are most active.  Western science has not exactly found it, however, some think some types of prostaglandins may be similar. Ojas is created when you have good digestion – not only in your digestive tract but throughout your body. This means if your tissues are out of balance, your immune system is somewhat compromised.  So supporting the ojas is done by having healthy digestive system AND healthy blood, lymph,, muscles, fat, bones, nervous and reproductive tissues.

Special Foods

There are some special foods that more directly support ojas. These foods are healthy foods that are sweet tasting, viscous, cool, and easily digestible.  Examples are (all organic is best!):

  • organic,grass-fed dairy (especially milk & ghee),
  • grapes, dates, natural sugars,
  • seeds & nuts , especially soaked & peeled almonds and sesame seeds,
  • sesame oil,
  • whole grains (especially wheat & basmati rice),
  • root vegetables. 

Be aware that too much sugar can also reduce your immune system, so moderation of sugar is required. Of course, those with either hyper- or hypo-glycemia should avoid sugars and dried fruits of any kind. Digesting the fatty foods require a good liver-gall bladder function.

Some Ayurvedic herbs that can support ojas are:  ashwagandha (not if thyroid meds), shatavari, oat straw infusion. Especially good is tea or capsules of Tulsi (holy basil) leaf – it is an adaptogen especially helpful for stress and supporting the immune system – generally safe for pregnancy and children. It comes in various flavors – see www.OrganicIndiaUSA.com

How Ojas Is Depleted

While making ojas is a problem, another is using up ojas. Activities or problems that deplete the ojas you have are:

  • overwork
  • stress
  • lack of sufficient sleep
  • too much sexual activity
  • fever
  • blood loss

Ways To Increase Ojas

Because of its subtle nature, ojas can be increased by subtle activities like meditation,

  • Meditation including Guided meditations and using Mantras of om, ram , or maa
  • Healthy lifestyle
  • Avoiding activities that give mental tension
  • Rasayanas – ojas foods or medicine
  • Being in nature
  • Supporting the reproductive, thymus & adrenal glands
  • Tonic & rejuvenative herbs
  • Oil massages
  • Conserving sexual energy
  • Deep sleep and sufficient rest
  • Wearing pearls
  • Wearing gemstones of Yellow Sapphire and Diamond
  • The practice of selfless service
  • Spiritual devotional practices

If you would like a personalized approach to supporting your immune system and digestion, I can help you! In person sessions allow me to read your ojas level in your pulse. Online sessions I can evaluate through questioning.

You may like to learn more about Ayurveda – principles, digestion, lifestyle guidelines and more here.

Be Well!