When we think of the “perfect” meditation space, the image most of us likely have in our heads is a serene room — probably in shades of white — with a sparse collection of neutral meditation cushions, a yoga blanket or mat scattered about the room and a Buddha statue, herb stick, vase with aContinue reading “Creating a Cozy Meditation Space”
Author Archives: Melanie Warner Spencer
Sunday Rest Yoga Class
Do you need to slow down, rest and digest? That’s a trick question: We all do! Which is why I created a yoga class for that exact purpose. Please join me on Sundays at Pilates with Beth studio in Metairie for Sunday Rest, a 75-minute restorative yoga class designed to help you recover, reset and restoreContinue reading “Sunday Rest Yoga Class”
Try This Hip Stretch
Tight hips? Try this stretch. It feels amazing and is so restful. Bookmark it for any time you need or want to revisit it. Which I promise will be often!
Steamed Bananas
For those who aren’t into a big breakfast, steamed bananas are an easy, delicious and supportive choice. This light, but satisfying option will stoke agni (digestive fire), which makes digestion stronger throughout the day. Steaming counters the banana’s astringency and breaks them down a little, making them easier to digest. The inclusion of Ayurvedic spicesContinue reading “Steamed Bananas”
Making Homemade Yogurt
Fresh, delicious, easy and great for gut heath At first, the notion of making homemade yogurt sounds daunting. Especially if you are new to the world of fermentation. Even more so if you are new to the world of home fermentation. But, it’s surprisingly easy and well worth it in taste and health benefits. YogurtContinue reading “Making Homemade Yogurt”
Ayurvedic Self-Massage
Abhyanga is a deeply nourishing self-care practice that calms, nourishes and balances Abhyanga (pronounced ah-bhee-yahn-gah or click here to hear it) is a traditional Ayurvedic massage therapy in which warm herbal oils are lovingly applied to the body. The word “abhyanga” comes from the Sanskrit language, and means “self-massage with oil.” Abhyanga is an essential practice forContinue reading “Ayurvedic Self-Massage”
Ashwagandha 101
A primer on the stress-relieving wonder root You’ve probably read about ashwagandha or heard more than one friend swear by it for its calming effect. In fact, a small 2012 study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found, “…high-concentration full-spectrum ashwagandha root extract improves an individual’s resistance towards stress and thereby improves self-assessed qualityContinue reading “Ashwagandha 101”
Spring Reset
The last couple of years, I’ve been doing a seasonal reset as we transition from winter to spring or summer to fall. As a 200-hour registered yoga teacher and certified Ayurvedic nutrition counselor, the version I employ is, naturally, from the Ayurvedic tradition. Ayurveda is the sister science and lifestyle practice of yoga, both ofContinue reading “Spring Reset”
What is Ayurveda?
“Ayurveda teaches us to cherish our innate-nature ‘to love and honor who we are,’ not as what people think or tell us, who we should be.” Ayurvedic Proverb Ayurveda originated in India thousands of years ago and translates to the “science of life.” It’s comprised of deeply healing and nourishing practices to help us stayContinue reading “What is Ayurveda?”
Living Well Ayurveda 