The travel experience varies greatly with the doshas.  Kaphas are strong and sturdy travelers; travel is actually good for them because it is so stimulating.  Pittas thrive on travel, if it’s work related then they are totally in their element, and if it’s a vacation then it’s finally time when they can relax.  But Vatas, oh, Vatas have such a difficult time with travel.  They like being in the new place, but getting there can be pretty miserable for them.  Motion aggravates Vata, and a plane ride obviously involves a lot of motion.  Not only that, but the air is dry, and often cold, and there is a lot of noise, these are all problems for Vata.  What to do?  As a seasoned Vata traveler I think I’ve got it down.  The day of travel, give yourself a sesame oil massage, or abhyanga.  Pack some massage oil with you so that you can do this massage daily on your trip.  Dress in layers, wear cotton clothing next to the skin.  Drink warm herbal tea throughout the flight, ginger or chamomile are good.  To help stay hydrated while balancing Vata, eat some salted almonds.  Meditate.  And to deal with the noise, use ear plugs in those sensitive Vata ears.  I recently treated myself to some noise-canceling headphones and it makes a huge difference.  When you land, it will take awhile to feel grounded, but a good night’s sleep will really help.

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

This is the time we all starting thinking about our resolutions for the new year.  Living an ayurvedic lifestyle will help us to be healthier and happier, in so many ways.  Here are a few suggestions for easy ways to incorporate ayurveda into our lives, and get ourselves into good habits this new year!
-Arise with the sun, at about 6 am, and get to sleep around 10 pm.
-Eat the largest meal of the day at lunchtime, between noon and 1 pm, when agni (the digestive fire) is at its peak.
-Meditate twice a day.

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

There are many different tools that an Ayurvedic practitioner uses to determine your prakruti (natural state of balance) and vikruti (current state of imbalance).  One is a dosha quiz similar, but much more detailed, to the one that is on our whatsyourdosha.com site.  Ayurvedic practitioners are also trained to take and read the pulse, to evaluate the tongue, lips, eyes, nails and face.

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

Color Therapy can be used to balance the doshas.  Colors can be applied in your home decor, in your clothing, and in light.  Warming and calming, greens and yellows are balancing for Vatas.  Cooling and soothing blues are especially balancing for Pittas.  Energizing and stimulating reds and golds are great for balancing Kapha.

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

Ginger is used often in Ayurvedic cooking.  It can be used in so many ways, both fresh and dried.  Fresh ginger is balancing for both Vata and Pitta.  Dried ginger, because it is stronger and more concentrated, is balancing for Kapha.  Ginger kindles agni, the digestive fire, so it helps the body to digest, absorb and assimilate food.  Ginger is especially helpful in the cold winter months.  It makes food lighter and easier and more digestible.  It is also wonderful to help alleviate coughs, congestion and runny noses.

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

I’ve never been a fan of video or computer games.  As far as I’m concerned they’re pretty much a waste of time.  My kids enjoy them because they say it’s a way for them to “chill.”  I always thought that if I could possibly create a computer game that would be teaching them something, rather than just numbing their minds, that a lot of people would really go for it.  There are educational games on the market, but I always wanted to do something more spiritual rather than intellectual.  Last Christmas I found exactly what I would have designed, so I stopped thinking about it!  The game is called “Journey to the Wild Divine.”  I got it for Freddy, my video game connoisseur, and it is absolutely WONDERFUL!  I love that we can use modern technology to “chill” and get something out of it that’s really beneficial, too.  It’s a beautiful game, and so well done.  And the really cool part is that it’s not just for kids, it’s for everybody!  Thank goodness that there are other people thinking along these same lines.  I can’t wait to see what else they come up with!

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

Our dreams give us a little bit of insight into our psyche.  It’s where our subconscious comes out to play.  A lot of our dreams are just the brain kind of downloading and interpreting all the information that we picked up during the day.  But they can also offer some clues for us to look at what’s going on that we might not be seeing while we’re awake.  And it’s interesting because the symbols that we get in our dreams are not always what they seem to be!  For example, I was having recurring dreams about this dog I had, “Polo.” Polo has long since gone, but in my dream he comes home, I’m surprised to find him in the backyard just hanging out like he used to do.  In my Dream Dictionary it suggested that I would meet up with an old friend. Sure enough, a few days later, I got a phone call from a friend of mine from high school whom I hadn’t seen in years!  Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but I think it’s pretty cool.

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

Each morning when I hear the alarm go off, I reach for my book of spiritual sayings to start my day off in a good mindset.  Then I have my “Zen” calendar in the bathroom so I can read that thought of the day when I put on my make-up.  When I turn on the computer, the first e-mail I read is Wisdom News.  Whether it’s the refrigerator magnets from the, “Getting There! 9 Ways”, book or the sticky notes I’ve got all over my datebook, throughout the house, and throughout the day, there are reminders for me to focus on what is important.  It helps me to stay centered with all the “busy-ness”going on all around.

Have you seen the newly re-designed coffeytalk.com site?  My webmaster, Brian, has done such a great job with it!  And a new feature that he has included is something called RSS, for Real Simple Syndication.  If you have a website, you can now have Wisdom News posted right on your website, for free!  It’s really cool.  We have 2 years worth of messages that rotate automatically.  So if you know of anyone who would like this on their website, please have them visit coffeytalk to sign up.  It’s really easy, and it’s a great way to start the day!

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

Gemstones are from the earth and they contain natural energetic properties, which are transferred to us when worn against the skin.  We can use gemstones to assist us in harnessing the types of energy we need at certain times in our lives.  For example, the blue stones, like Turquoise, Aquamarine and Blue Quartz, are very healing, each in their own specific way.  Rose quartz, cherry quartz, and garnet can be used to stimulate and attract love, especially when used together because the energy is synergistic.  Amethyst, Hematite, and Fluorite can be used to deepen the meditation experience and help us to gain spiritual insight.

Lindsay Leimbach is a jewelry designer in Los Angeles.  She has created, exclusively for us, a beautiful line of necklaces using these very principles.  I have many of Lindsay’s pieces, and I know just how powerful, and exquisite, they are!  Photos of her collection are posted at www.psmeditation.com

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

Caffeine is a problem.  A big problem.  In the D.A.R.E. literature that my kids got at school, caffeine is listed as a drug.  It is highly addictive.  And yet many of the same schools that distribute this anti-drug literature to kids sell sodas their students.  Soda companies pay schools to have vending machines on campus, so this is one way for the schools to raise money.  The upside for the soda companies is that kids are getting hooked at a young age.  And the caffeine is not just in the cola products.  Read the labels and you’ll see that they have added caffeine to their orange sodas and root beers.  So we may be ingesting caffeine without being aware of it.  We really need to think before we drink.  Next time you’re at that trendy coffeehouse, try a decaf version of your favorite latte.  Think about what’s going into your body, and about what kind of example you’re setting for your kids.

We care about our health, and we care about our kids.  It’s up to us to offer up alternatives to sodas.  Juices are good, as are herbal teas, and water is really the best.  

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)