Ayurvedic Summer Wellness

The time is here my friend. Kripalu launched its online storefront in 2023 and the creative possibilities of how you can replicate a little Kripalu at home are endless. I am excited to share that we are now offering Ayurveda bundles. This has been an idea in the making for some time and to know that there is a curated box of our favorite Ayurveda products landing on your doorstop just tickles me.

When products or books are recommended to clients and students, I notice that the next step of clicking 'purchase and send' doesn't always come to fruition. It can also be daunting to go down the rabbit hole of Ayurveda oils, herbs, books, and sense care products- sometimes needing to go to multiple websites or storefronts to gather all the needed Ayurveda self-care products. The Kripalu Online Shop is making it just a tiny bit easier for you- we created an Ayurvedic Starter Kit.

The Kit includes:

• Copper Tongue Scraper—a simple daily practice that will increase taste and freshen breath
• Kripalu Rosewater—a hydrosol generated by our friends at Solavedi
• Tridosha Oil—a beautifully crafted Ayurveda-inspired body oil formulated from Kripalu School of Ayurveda (KSA) Alumni Marissa Hall in Vermont
• Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook—two books in one by KSA Alumni Kate O'Donnell—in this book you will receive the wisdom of Ayurveda principles and a seasonal cookbook
• FarmTrue Ghee—local to Connecticut and made with love from our friends in Connecticut from the milk of local, organic, grass fed, and loved cows

How do I use and implement all the new self-care products in my Ayurveda Starter Kit?

Tongue Scraper

To be used first thing in the morning to remove any of the plaque buildup on the tongue after a long night of sleepy detoxing. It's quick and satisfying. Starting at the back of your tongue gently scrape along the entire surface of the tongue. It may take 2-5 times to remove all film. Be gentle to not scrape any of those beautiful taste buds off. Follow with brushing your teeth. This can also be done with your nighttime brushing too.

Rosewater

Next up—rosewater! Rosewater is a hydrosol of rose distillation; the byproduct of the process of distilling rose into rose essential oil. NOTE: never use essential oils in your eyes!!! Rosewater can be applied in the morning or during the day while working long hours on screens. Hold your bottle of rosewater about 6 inches from your eyes- while your eyes are open spritz with the rosewater 1-3 pumps. It is also wonderful for cooling the skin. Why rosewater? It is cooling to the hot quality of the eyes.

Tridosha Oil

Ayurveda loves to put oil all over and in the body. Our KSA alumni Marissa Hall formulated this beautiful Ayurveda-inspired oil that is balancing for most body types. Traditionally oiling the body, called Abhyanga, is done before showering or bathing. Lay out a towel in a warm room or bathroom. Warm the oil by placing the bottle in a jar of hot water and give yourself 30 minutes to massage the oil from head to toe. Make circle massage strokes on the joints and follow the length of the bones between the joints. For a beautiful instructional video from former KSA Dean and current faculty Larissa Hall Carlson, click here. If you don’t have much time to do the abhyanga, keep the oil in your shower, and in the last few minutes of your shower after the steam has opened all your pores, massage a small amount of oil over the body for a deep nourishing moisturizer. Note: It's best not to do a long massage when sick, pregnant, or in your first couple of days of menstrual flow.

Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook

Kate O’Donnell, Kripalu School of Ayurveda Alumni, published her first cookbook 10 years ago in response to seeing her clients repeatedly needing recipes, resources, and guidance. She created a beautiful and digestible resource that is two books in one. The first half is chock full of Ayurveda wisdom and theory while the second half is a 4-season cookbook. The recipes are simple, tasty and not an overwhelming amount of ingredients. You don’t need to be a chef to glean the health-giving benefits of this book. You will have a large variety that takes you from season to season while supporting your digestive fire and optimal health.

FarmTrue Ghee

We took the guesswork out of making ghee. Our friends at FarmTrue source local, grass-fed milk from well-fed cows to make this ghee. So why is Ayurveda so obsessed with ghee? Well, it is like our superfood- it supports the microbiome (good bugs love it!), nourishes all of your cells and nervous system, and provides brain food. Who wouldn’t want ghee? So what is ghee? It is similar to clarified butter- it is made by cooking down butter so that the water evaporates while the milk solids are separated and strained out. What you are left with is a shelf-stable oil that is easy to digest. Use it to sauté veggies, spread it on toast with a pinch of salt, cook your eggs in ghee, melt it on rice or steamed veggies, or roast your veggies. Did I mention: eat your veggies?

If you want to learn more about Ayurveda, come check out Ayurveda online or in person, or apply to the School. Kripalu also offers Ayurveda Health Consultations that you can book through our Healing Arts department. In a consultation you learn from our experts how to apply Ayurveda practices that are as unique as you- from sense care to food planning, to sleep hygiene and nervous system care.

Mostly, I want you all to know that we at Kripalu love Ayurveda and are doing our best to uphold the tradition, wisdom, and care that has its indigenous roots in India. I hope that you too feel the love and nourishment of the gifts of Ayurveda.