03-09-2005
Newsday Magazine
Do ya' or dosha?
BY ANDY RATHBURN
The
title of Lissa Coffey's (Lisa Marie) book poses a
New Age question for people
of all ages: "What's
Your Dosha, Baby?"
Doshas
are a blend of mind, body and spirit, and come in
three types: kapha,
pitta or vata.
According to Coffey's
book - subtitled "Discover the Vedic Way for Compatibility
in Life and Love" (Marlowe & Co., $14.95) - each
type is connected to a number of good and bad traits.
These include whether you easily become overweight,
for instance, or are a quick learner.
"In nature, you can see very clear doshas," Coffey
says, explaining the three types.
"A
vata type would be like a gazelle, quick and alert,
going from one
thing to the next. "
"A
pitta type would be more like a tiger or an eagle;
they're muscular,
determined, strong.
They go after what
they want."
"The
kapha type is more heavy and easygoing, like an elephant....
They are serene. "
Everyone has characteristics of all three doshas operating
in their lives, Coffey says, but most people lean toward
one type - a dominant dosha, if you will.
The
idea for doshas comes from ayurveda, a "science
of life" that originated in India hundreds of years
ago and has gotten publicity lately, thanks to practitioner
(and former Miami Dolphins star) Ricky Williams.
The school of thought intrigued Coffey. If people understood
their dosha, she says, they could better strike balance
in their life and become more self-aware.
At Coffey's Web site, www.whatsyourdosha.com, visitors
take a 24-question quiz that lets them know their dosha.
Perhaps most importantly, you should embrace your dosha,
Coffey says.
"You don't see an elephant that wants to be a tiger," she
says.
Andy Rathburn of the Medill News Service wrote this for
Newsday.
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GETTING
THERE WITH GRACE |
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Raves for Lissa's Book |
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| "Lissa Coffey (Lisa
Marie) provides a beautifully simple and crystal clear
plan for how we can move fully
into the joy that is our birthright. Packed with practical
direction and vibrant with the wisdom of the ages,
Getting There with Grace should be on everyone's bedside
table.
Pick it up and begin reading it today!" |
-Mary Manin
Morrissey,
author
of Building Your Field of Dreams |
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| "Lissa
Coffey (Lisa Marie) incorporates age-old wisdom into
today's fast-paced, high-tech lifestyle
in such a way that Getting There is a pure joy." |
-Thom
Hartmann , author of The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight |
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| "Getting
There with Grace brings me back to center whenever I
pick it up. I highly
recommend this spiritual journey." |
-Cheryl
Sindell, nutritionist and author
of Cooking Without
Recipes
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MEDIA
PERSONALITY |
| Lifestyle expert Lissa Coffey is the “relationship
barista!” She dishes up dating and relationship
advice to audiences world-wide with contributions to
magazines, and guest appearances on radio and TV. Her
e-mail newsletters
are enjoyed by a rapidly growing global audience. |
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COFFEYTALK™ TOPICS |
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What’s
Karma Got To Do With It? Break Old Patterns, Create
New Possibilities
A Woman’s Intuition: How to Make It Work For You
Fall in L-O-V-E With your Life:
The Romantic Marriage, Even with Kids!
Proposal Day: What Are You Waiting For?
What Moms Want Most: Great Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day
10 Ways to Beat a Bad Mood: Anytime, Anywhere!
Secrets to Getting Good Luck: Making Life Go Your Way |
|
Lissa’s book titles include:
-What’s Your Dosha, Baby? Discover the Vedic
Way for Compatibility in Life and Love
-Getting
There With Grace: Simple Exercises for Experiencing
Joy”
-Getting There! 9 Ways to Help Your Kids Learn What
Matters Most in Life
-The Healthy Family Handbook: Natural Remedies for
Parents and Children
-Getting There For Teens: A Guide to Success and Fulfillment,
Today and Everyday
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Book Marketing for Authors and Others |
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Feng Shui Every Day |
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Freddy Bear's Wakeful Winter |
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ABOUT
LISSA |
FEATURED
IN: |
Best-selling
author Lissa Coffey is
a
lifestyle expert and relationship expert who serves up
piping hot dating and relationship advice! She
is a
refreshing
radio
and TV guest known for her inspiring blend of
ancient wisdom and modern style. She also hosts
various TV shows and media tours. |
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| Learn
more about Lissa |
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| Download
Lissa's Resume |
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| Reprint
permissions notice |
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LIFESTYLE & RELATIONSHIP
EXPERT
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PHOTOS |
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| With warmth and authenticity, Psychotherapist, Sociologist and author Lissa Coffey, cHT, Ph.D. helps people unveil the boundless possibilities and pragmatic wisdom that dwells within them. She is a lifestyle expert, and the media’s go-to person for dating and relationship advice. Lissa is a life coach who taps into her vast knowledge of Ayurveda, Feng Shui, Aromatherapy, Hypnotherapy and other ancient philosophies to come up with positive solutions for contemporary challenges. Engaging and media-friendly, Lissa is a fixture on many national and local television shows. See links to the left for clips. |
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To download an image please click
on one of the images below: |
| MULTI-MEDIA AUTHOR & PRODUCER |
| Combining her two passions – spirituality and media – Lissa Coffey writes books, TV segments, and articles that inspire, educate and entertain. She wrote and produced the award-winning “Positive Music for Today’s Kids” series, and her music videos have aired on Nickelodeon, The Learning Channel, and Discovery Kids. “Karate for Kids: Instruction and Exercise” is now on DVD. Her “Dosha Yoga” DVD earned a commendation from L.A. Mayor Anthony Villaraigosa for it's contribution to the yoga community! Check out some of Lissa's productions at: CoffeyTalk.tv. |
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| CORPORATE SPOKESPERSON |
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Lissa's
New Book: |
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What's
Your Dosha Baby? |
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Lissa's
NEW DVD
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RECENT
RAVES |
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“ Lissa Coffey was EXCELLENT! My kind of guest— especially
with our target demo in mind—female-25+. She’s
bright, fun, and ‘wide wake’—considering
it was 4:30 in LA!”
Joe Martelle, Morning Show Host
‘Sunny-104.3-WEAT’ West Palm
Beach, FL |
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"I can always
count on Lissa for an informative
and fun segment
on our morning television show. She's great!"
Jean Martirez, Producer
FOX 11 News |
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“Lissa Coffey
was a top notch guest! We had many listener e-mails
and inquiries, people who wanted more info on Ms.
Coffey. We’re keeping her name and number
on file for future use!”
Mick Kayler, Producer
US*99—WUSN Chicago, IL |
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“Lisa was great!
We recommend her. (She had) a great topic that
created a lot
of wonderful phone calls!”
Jimmy Holt, Producer
Andy & Alsion and the Morning Crew, WIVK-FM
Knoxville, TN |
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"A super interview! Lively,
exciting, engaging, and with material relevant to
our times." Hear Interviews
David McMillan
"Strategies for Living" syndicated
1 hour radio show |
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PRAISE
FOR WHAT'S YOUR DOSHA BABY? |
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| "In
her charming new book, Lissa Coffey brings the timeless
wisdom of ayurveda
to the contemporary audience and shows us
how we can discover more about ourselves
and our
relationships." |
-Deepak
Chopra, M.D. New York Times
bestselling author: "How to Know God" |
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| "Applying ancient wisdom
to modern-day relationships is beautifully executed
by Lissa Coffey in her book, "What's
Your Dosha, Baby?" She not only shows you
what type you are best suited for, she also
shows strengths, compatibilities, and potential
challenges. Read this before you make any
personal relationship commitments!" |
-Cherie
Carter-Scott, Ph.D. New York Times
bestselling author, "If
Life is a Game, These are the Rules."
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Q & A
with author Lissa Coffey |
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What is a dosha and
where did it come from? |
| A dosha is a mind-body type. The
term comes from the ancient Indian wisdom known
as Ayurveda, the science of life. Doshas have
the same qualities as the elements of nature:
air, space, fire, water, and earth. |
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How many doshas
are there? |
| There are three primary doshas:
Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each of us has all three
in our physiology, just in different proportions.
Each dosha is very distinctive and carries with
it its own unique set of traits and characteristics. |
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How do I find
our what my dosha is? |
| A lot of times you can figure
out a person's dosha just by looking at him
or her. Once you learn about the different doshas,
you can recognize certain ways that they express
in people. And there are a few simple questions
that you can ask youself to determine what your
primary dosha is. |
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What are those
questions? |
| There is a 24 question quiz in
the book, or you can take the quiz online and
have it tabulated for you electronically. But
just to give you an idea, here are a few samples:
Which sentence best describes you:
a.My hands and feet tend to be cold
b.My hands are usually warm
c.My hands are usually cool
a.I tend to lose weight easily
b.I maintain my weight easily
c.I gain weight easily
These two questions are about the body -
but a dosha is a mind-body type, so let's
look at some questions about the mind:
Which sentence best describes you:
a.I am good at getting things started,
but not necessarily getting things finished
b.I am organized and will see a project
through from start to finish
c.I may need help getting started, but
I am good at getting things accomplished
a.I like to shop and often spend too much
money
b.I don't like to spend money, except on
special items
c.I prefer not to spend at all, I'm good
at saving money
If
you answered mostly "a" to the
questions, then you might be a Vata - you
really need to take the whole test to find
out. The "b" answers indicate that
you might be a Pitta, and the "c" answers
indicate that you might be a Kapha. This
shows you a little bit about the differences
between
the three.
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What are the
benefits of knowing what your dosha is?
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| There are many health benefits,
because there are certain things that you can
do lifestyle-wise when you know your dosha that
will help keep you in balance, and in optimum
health.
And
there are benefits for our relationships,
too! When we understand how a person "ticks" we
can be more tolerant and accepting. And
when we understand how we tick, we can
figure out
just what kinds of things are best for
us in a relationship. If we are seeking
a relationship,
we can look for certain qualities that
will help balance us out. Or if we are
in a relationship,
we can adjust our attitude and our environment
to accommodate the differences in our
doshas.
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What are some
examples of good combinations and bad combinations
of doshas in a relationship?
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| There
are no "bad" matches.
Some matches are better than others, but
with Ayurveda, we can work with any combination.
At first it might seem that two of the same
doshas together might be an ideal match.
You
like the same things and understand the way
each other operates. But there are many more
challenges in that relationship. In
Ayurveda, the saying is that "like
increases like." So when you are
both in balance and experiencing the
positive
effects of your common dosha, that can
be good for both of you. However, when
you have too much of a dosha you can
easily become out of balance. For example,
two
Vatas together are likely to experience
more anxiety and restlessness. Two Pittas
together might become competitive and
angry. Two Kaphas might become more lazy,
and
turn into couch potatoes.
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What
are some tips for seducing each dosha?
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| Vatas are sensitive
to touch, and to sound. They need a warm environment.
I'd suggest warming some sesame oil, putting
on some soft, world music (Vatas love things
that are exotic and unusual!) and indulging
your Vata with a wonderfully relaxing massage.
Pittas are very visual. They like to watch!
You could perform a bellydance or a striptease
and that will really get them going. Just
be sure to keep the air conditioner on, because
Pitta's passion runs hot, and this seduction
will turn up the heat.
Kaphas are sensitive to taste, and to smells.
The way to enhance this even more is to isolate
those senses. So try blindfolding your Kapha,
and hand feed your Kapha some luscious fruits.
Play a guessing game, and offer kisses as
a reward for right answers. Kaphas are great
kissers!
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In
what other ways can we use all this new knowledge
that we have about the doshas?
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| You can use the principles
in Ayurveda to improve all the relationships
in your life! You can learn to get along with
your mother-in-law, how to better parent your
kids, how to improve your communication at the
office - it applies to all aspects of our lives! |
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| Visit
www.whatsyourdosha.com for Lissa's
website dedicated to
information about Ayurveda, it even includes
a Quiz to determine your dosha!
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OTHER
GREAT SITES |
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coffeytalk is a registered trademark |
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