Posts by Jesse Russell
Manjistha
Ayurveda’s comprehensive knowledge and application of herbs is second to none. Of the myriadherbs and herbal formulas used in Ayurveda, Manjistha is often renowned as being the ultimate bloodpurifier. As such, it acts on the deeper tissues, particularly plasma/lymph (rasa) and blood (rakta),helping to cleanse and purify the channels through which both nutrients and toxins…
Read MoreTrikatu
Ayurveda, the science of life and longevity, has long-employed the use of herbs and herbalformulas as a means to promote health and vitality. Catering to specific bodily functions, ayurvedicherbal formulas have a wide range of use-cases, and with thousands of years of implementation behindthem, these formulas provide a gentle and effective means for remedying imbalances…
Read MoreAyurveda: The Dosha’s
Throughout the course of history, humanity has made countless efforts to understand how thehuman body functions. What causes disease? What is the basis for health? Is it possible to prolong lifeby preventing decay? These questions, amongst many other, have culminated in the formation ofmultiple models of health and disease. Of these models, Ayurveda, the ancient…
Read MoreGrounded
Vata season can be chaotic. The predominance of the air element can have us feeling all over the place, like leaves blowing in the wind. Our society is fast-paced enough as it is, and with school back in session, numerous holidays and shorter days, it can feel like there’s hardly enough time to keep up…
Read MoreThe Art of Lighting Yourself on Fire
Yoga is about being totally Zen all the time and being able to strike a fancy pose atop a mountain in front of a waterfall, or at least that’s how it’s portrayed in the public eye. In reality, the practice has little to do with being able to stand on our head or twist like…
Read MoreGrowing Pains
If I’ve learned anything since beginning my journey of self-transformation through yoga and other means, it’s that growth is anything but comfortable. Many of the situations in my life which have forced me to grow have felt like moments of despair. During those periods of time, it felt more like being caught in quicksand rather…
Read MoreSpring Cleansing
It’s that symbolical time of the year in which it’s out with the old and in with the new. But in order for there to be room for anything new and good to be taken in, we have to clear out some of the junk which has been piling up. As good as it feels…
Read MoreReflection on Awakening
Throughout March I have been contemplating what awakening means to me. I can’t say that I had any radical awakening moments in which my view of the world was completely shattered. There were no miraculous glimpses into the Oneness of all existence in which my ego was eradicated by a Divine force. If awakening…
Read MoreRise and Shine
Like the Sun in the morning, moments of awakening often shed light on areas of our life which may have been hidden in the dark. Light is often metaphorically attributed to consciousness, and with the growing daylight hours of March we’re reminded of the expansive nature of consciousness. We begin to see things which may…
Read MoreChaturanga Dandasana: A Safe Approach to a Common Pose
Chaturanga dandasana (low plank pose) is one of the most frequently practiced asanas (poses). It’s part of the sun salutation which is a common series worked into practically every yoga class. Of all the poses in the sun salutation, chaturanga is often the one pose that practitioners tend to struggle to do safely and correctly.…
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