Author: Holly Mae Haddock

Categories
Love Addiction

What Is Love Addiction and When Should It Be Treated?

Can you be addicted to love? The idea might sound silly at first glance – “addicted to love” is a phrase that might work in a song or a story, but it’s not as if love is something that you can ingest and physically react to, like alcohol or cocaine, right? Even if being addicted to love sounds possible to you, you may have trouble understanding why it might be a bad thing. What could be wrong with love? Everyone wants love, everyone feels love at one time or another, and it is an emotion generally associated with warm, fuzzy, happy feelings, not the ravages that addiction can cause.

On the other hand, everyone has seen examples of how love can go wrong, from fictional tragedies like Romeo and Juliet to high-profile and messy celebrity break-ups to your next-door neighbor’s acrimonious divorce and drawn-out custody battle. Maybe love does have a dark side after all. But can it really be an addiction? What does that mean? And if you do have a love addiction, what can you do about it? Is there a treatment? How serious does the addiction need to be to be treated?

What Is Love Addiction?

Mental health professionals also refer to love addiction as pathological love. When they speak about love addiction or pathological love, they are talking about behavior patterns as much as they are referring to the feeling of love itself. People suffering from love addiction:

    • Behave in ways that are excessive and maladaptive.
    • They lose or lack control.
    • Their romantic interests pervade all parts of their lives and can cause them difficulties in areas of life that should have little or nothing to do with their romantic interests, like work or school.
    • They may ignore other important areas of their lives, or they may turn a blind eye to negative consequences that occur as a result of their behaviors in relation to their romantic interests.

In short, love addiction is disruptive to the life of the addicted person and the lives of those around them in ways that more typical love interests and expressions are not. Is love addiction genuine? Yes – you can be “addicted to love.” It is not an “ingested” addiction in the same way that alcoholism or opiate dependence is, but research shows that love addiction activates regions in the brain associated with control of emotions, feelings of attachment and physical pain and distress – the same areas affected in cocaine addiction.

Love addiction has symptoms that are both biological and psychological. There is biology involved when people fall in love – happy, euphoric feelings, almost like a “high” or a “fix.” Falling in love can be a good thing until and unless it becomes an addiction. There are hormones and other neurochemicals released into the brain and body when love addicts receive their “high” and get their love addiction needs met. Just like drug addicts, they crave more…and more…and more.

When they are unable to get this “fix,” they experience severe withdrawal symptoms that interfere with their ability to live a normal life. They engage in “drug seeking” behaviors, chasing after their fix regardless of the consequences. They will destroy their entire lives and other important relationships, just like other addicts do. If you find that your love life is disruptive to others and intrudes on other areas of your life in an unhealthy or negative way, then love addiction, or pathological love, might be what you are experiencing.

How Is Love Addiction Treated?

It may be a comfort to know that there are several methods of treatment for love addicts. Additionally, more research studies on the subject is currently being done to provide further illumination. The most common form of intervention for people who experience love addiction are support groups. Some of these are 12 Steps programs, like Alcoholics Anonymous, but geared toward the experiences and challenges of the love addict instead.

However, there are other support-group formats available as well – not everyone likes or benefits from the 12 Steps format, so it is important to be aware of alternatives. Generally speaking, love addiction support groups focus on helping members form healthier relationships and avoid negative behaviors. Another treatment option that may be helpful in treating pathological love is cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of therapy can help the love-addicted person to challenge their distorted thoughts about love and form new and healthier behaviors.

Psychodynamic therapy could also be useful in helping the love addicted person address underlying attachment issues. A supportive environment is crucial for a love addict struggling to learn new behaviors. Just as a detox facility is appropriate for substance abusers (followed by residential treatment), a person who needs treatment for love addiction can benefit from a treatment facility that specializes in that disorder – inpatient or outpatient, based on their level of need.

When to Seek Treatment for Love Addiction

When is it appropriate to seek out treatment for love addiction? There are some signs that you can look for that suggest that you need help managing your love addiction. For example, you may be:

    • Unable to see your relationships as they really are; instead, you are invested in a fantasy version of your relationships.
    • Often hunting for new relationships to ease the pain of the current bad romance.
    • Frequently entering relationships with toxic partners or finding yourself in dangerous or unhealthy romances.
    • So afraid of being alone that you would rather be in a dangerous or toxic relationship than by yourself.
    • Being overly clingy.
    • Using sex as a bargaining chip to keep a relationship going.
    • Reenacting trauma from past relationships in your current relationships.
    • Self-medicating with drugs or alcohol because the relationship is causing an overwhelming amount of pain and discomfort in your life.

If your romantic life is so all-consuming or disruptive that it’s affecting other areas of your life, if people you trust express concern about unhealthy behavior patterns in your love life, or if you feel out of control of your actions or feelings as it relates to your love life and you are self-medicating your pain in detrimental ways, those are also signs that you may benefit from therapy or treatment for your mental health.

There is nothing wrong with being a person who wants love in your life, but there is also no shame in seeking help to break unhealthy behavior patterns and learn how to build healthier and happier relationships.

Categories
Nutrition

Healthy, Decadent Best Vegan Lasagna Recipe Ever

Lasagna is one of those delicious gooey cheesy dishes you crave when your feeling the need for some comfort food. Right now, with all the unrest in the world stemming from the global pandemic and the fight against police brutality and for equality among races, many people are just struggling to keep their spirits uplifted and try to keep a positive outlook.

For those who are just beginning their journey to recovery from substance abuse, this is a particularly difficult time and the urge to self-medicate the stress, fear and worry may feel almost unbearable. It’s during difficult and challenging times like this when I just bake up a large casserole of vegan lasagna and dig in.

Yes, sometimes you just need some comfort food to self-soothe, and with this recipe you can enjoy it guilt-free. Traditionally, lasagna is loaded with lots of unhealthy saturated fat from the ground meat to the multiple types of ricotta cheese used to make it. However, I promise you this vegan lasagna version is not only a lot healthier, it’s also just as delicious as the traditional recipes.

It takes some time to make up all the parts and put it all together and bake it, so just think of the process as being therapeutic or even meditative. It will keep your mind busy and focused on something positive and at the end you’ll get to sit down and indulge in the delicious, nutritious and seemingly decadent comfort food you are craving.

Why Our Vegan Lasagna Is Healthier Than Classic Lasagna

1. Our Vegan Ricotta Cheeze Recipe is made with tofu and our Vegan Mozzarella Recipe is made from cashews, which are both loaded with protein and thankfully lack the unhealthy saturated fat, lactose, casein and excess sodium present in the real cheeses which have been shown can have a negative impact on health.

Tofu is not only a source of complete protein but also provides folate, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, iron and fiber. Replacing meat and cheese with tofu has been proven to have a measurable impact on improving health by lowering cholesterol and reducing saturated fat which in turn lowers risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease.

Although cashews do contain some saturated fat, recent research shows that eating nuts like cashews can lower your risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. One study of cashews showed that it reduced blood pressure and harmful LDL cholesterol levels and increased levels of good HDL cholesterol.

Also, just FYI, cheese has been scientifically proven to be as addictive as crack cocaine, heroin and morphine. Dairy protein has opiate molecules that attach to the same brain receptors that narcotics attach to, therefore people can become physically and psychologically addicted to eating dairy products. Stay clean by trying our plant-based versions!

2. We use Nutritional Yeast to flavor the cheezes which contains protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which provide potential health benefits such as boosting immunity, lowering cholesterol and protecting against oxidative damage to body tissues.

3. In place of the ground meat usually found in lasagna, we use a healthier organic vegan product called Field Roast Italian Sausage which is made with vegetables and wheat and contains no unhealthy food additives such as the pesticides, antibiotics, nitrates, sulfites and phosphates as well as the preservatives BHA, BHT and sodium benzoate found in traditional sausages.

4. We use whole wheat lasagna noodles which are considered healthier due to the fact they contain more fiber, protein, magnesium, iron, and zinc and are a good source of complex carbs. Complex carbs have more fiber which can help lower cholesterol. White pasta is a highly processed refined wheat flour product which has been stripped of many of the nutrients and fiber during processing. White pasta has more calories and less fiber and protein than whole wheat pasta.

Simple carbs, which have had fiber removed, can spike your blood sugar quickly and cause a decrease in alertness and increase in fatigue within 30 minutes of consumption. This is what’s known as a “sugar crash” which can ultimately cause fluctuations in mood and can trigger relapse in those in recovery from alcoholism or substance abuse.

NOTE: Option to eliminate pasta completely by using 1/8 inch thick strips of Japanese Eggplant or Zucchini instead.

5. We add organic Fresh Spinach to our recipe for added nutritional benefits such as vitamins, minerals and carotenoids. Cooked Spinach adds more fiber plus vitamins A, E, Thiamin, Calcium, Iron, Zinc as well as Beta-Carotene, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin. Sneaking it into the lasagna is a great way to boost health benefits of the dish. If you struggle with eating your greens, you will not even notice it here as it blends in deliciously.
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Healthy, Decadent Vegan Lasagna Recipe

INGREDIENTS

    • Vegan Ricotta Cheeze (see recipe below)
    • Plant-Powered Bolognaise Sauce (see recipe below)
    • 10 whole wheat lasagne noodles (or 1/8 inch eggplant strips)
    • 3 cups organic spinach leaves
    • Gooey Vegan Mozzarella (see recipe below)

INSTRUCTIONS

    1. Begin by preparing the Vegan Ricotta Cheeze, then set aside while you prepare the Plant-Powered Bolognaise Sauce and cook 10 of the Lasagna Noodles as directed on the package.
    2. While the sauce and noodles are cooking wash and remove the stems of the spinach leaves and turn the oven on to 375 degrees.
    3. Once the sauce and noodles are ready you can begin to assemble the lasagna in a 9 X 13-inch casserole dish or glass pan. Begin by adding 1 cup of the bolognaise sauce to the bottom of the pan and spread evenly. Then place 5 of the lasagna noodles evenly across the bottom of the dish. Now spread half of the Vegan Ricotta Cheeze evenly over the lasagna noodles.
    4. Next top the Ricotta with half of the spinach leaves, spreading them evenly across the layer of ricotta. Now spread another cup of the Bologainse Sauce over the spinach and then top that with another layer of noodles. Now spread the remaining Ricotta on to the Lasagna Noodles. Then add the rest of the spinach evenly over the Ricotta, and remaining Bolognaise Sauce over the spinach.
    5. Now that your casserole is assembled you can prepare your Gooey Vegan Mozzarella. As soon as it is ready pour it evenly over the top of the casserole and carefully spread it out towards the sides of the dish with the bowl scraper spatula.
    6. Now put your Lasagna in the oven and bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until bubbly. Remove from oven and let cool 5-10 minutes. Cut into squares as desired and serve!
      –

Vegan Ricotta Cheeze Recipe

INGREDIENTS

    • 1 package organic firm or extra-firm tofu (drained and pressed to remove excess liquid)
    • Lemon juice (2 lemons worth)
    • 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
    • 2 teaspoons white miso paste
    • ¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley (finely chopped)
    • ¼ cup fresh basil (finely chopped)
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

    1. Using a mini-prep food processor or a blender, break up or cut tofu into chunks and place in the processor with all of the other ingredients. Blend using the pulse feature just until basil and parsley are small bits and all ingredients are distributed evenly through the mixture, don’t over blend. It should be grainy and lumpy, not pasty. If it gets too thick add a tablespoon of water and stir in by hand.
    2. Taste and adjust seasonings adding more salt if needed for flavor. Set aside until all other vegan recipes are complete.
      –

Plant-Powered Bolognaise Sauce Recipe

INGREDIENTS

    • 1 package Field Roast Italian Sausage
    • 1 large white or brown onion (diced)
    • 6 cloves garlic (finely chopped or pressed)
    • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon oregano
    • 1 tablespoon thyme
    • 1 tablespoon rosemary
    • 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
    • 1 can tomato paste (6 oz)
    • 2 cups organic vegetable broth (I use Pacific Foods Organic Low Sodium Vegetable Broth)
    • 1 tablespoons coconut sugar
    • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (for less spicy results, omit or reduce amount)
    • 2 teaspoons celtic sea salt (to taste)
    • 1-2 teaspoons black pepper (to taste)

INSTRUCTIONS

    1. Take the package Field Roast Italian Sausage – remove casings, break into chunks, and place in food processor. Pulse until desired ground meat consistency is reached.
    2. Sautee the chopped onion in the oil on medium heat until it begins to turn translucent. Now add garlic, oregano, thyme and rosemary and cook another minute or two. Then add the ground sausage and cook for a couple more minutes, adding some of the broth if pan gets dry.
    3. Pour the cans of tomatoes and tomato sauce paste into a blender and blend until smooth, then add to the pan with the onion and sausage. Now add the rest of the vegetable broth, coconut sugar, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper flakes.
    4. Cover and bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and cook on medium low heat for 8-10 minutes to let flavors blend. Reduce heat to low until ready to use. (If sauce looks too thick, add some more vegetable broth to thin it out – you don’t want your lasagna to end up dry.)
      –

Gooey Vegan Mozzarella Recipe

NOTE: Do this last, after lasagna is layered in casserole.

INGREDIENTS

    • ½ cup raw organic unsalted cashews
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
    • 1 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
    • 3 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons tapioca starch

INSTRUCTIONS

    1. Boil Cashews in water for 15 minutes, then drain and add to a high-speed blender. Add the remaining ingredients to the blender with the cashews. Blend all ingredients starting slowly until combined and then turn all the way to highest speed and completely liquify the ingredients.
    2. Pour liquid into a small frying pan and turn heat to medium. Using a heat resistant bowl scraper spatula, continuously scrap the bottom of the pan as mixture begins to thicken. Keep on stirring and scraping continuously until mixture is completely combined.
    3. Once all the liquid is formed into a solid stir vigorously with the spatula for one more minute, then remove from heat. Now the cheese is ready to use. (This cheeze recipe is great for grilled cheese sandwiches too!)
      –

All-Organic Shopping List

TIP: Make sure you buy everything organic.

    • 1 package Field Roast Italian Sausage
    • 1 package organic firm tofu
    • ½ cup raw unsalted cashews
    • Nutritional yeast
    • Dried oregano
    • Dried thyme
    • Dried rosemary
    • Dried red pepper flakes
    • Onion powder
    • Garlic powder
    • Tapioca starch
    • 1 large can crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
    • 1 small can tomato paste (6 oz)
    • 1 large brown or white onion
    • 1 bunch flat leaf parsley
    • 1 bunch (package) fresh basil
    • 6 cloves fresh garlic
    • Celtic sea salt
    • 2 lemons
    • 3 cups fresh spinach
    • 1 package whole wheat lasagna noodles
    • 1 carton low sodium vegetable broth
    • Coconut sugar
    • Apple cider vinegar

 

Categories
Mental Health

How Effective Are Holistic Addiction Treatment Techniques?

When you find yourself ready to leave a life of addiction, fed up with “life so far”, and desperate for another way, what you need is more than simply time “away” from what has kept you stuck. What you need is something new. Something different. Something that’s more than a vacation from your current life situation. What you need is something that takes you to a place where deep, holistic transformation and healing can take place.

Many treatment centers will call their programs ‘holistic’ because they work a yoga session or two into their weekly programming, offer massages, or have exercise equipment available.  At Villa Kali Ma, “holistic” has a much broader meaning than just yoga and meditation. “Holistic” focuses on the whole being or whole life of a person and looks at the bigger picture of how to create lasting lifestyle changes that will provide sustainable recovery for each individual person.

Here at Villa Kali Ma, “holistic” can be used to describe our entire program, not just a small part of it, because we are treating the whole person, not just a small part of her. We employ a team of holistic healers and clinical therapists who infuse our treatment program with a variety of proven modalities, techniques, education and experiences that expand and inspire each woman’s view of herself and the possibilities for her life.

The combination of all of this new information as well as the practices and psychological processing has proven to be effective in profoundly changing the mindset, beliefs and attitudes of the clients who embark on this journey at Villa Kali Ma. The holistic approach brings about positive change that is sustainable and facilitates the awakening of the mind-body-spirit connection.

Why Holistic Treatment?

Why do we use so many mind-body focused treatment modalities? The way we see it, the truly holistic addiction treatment model provides two very important and fundamental pieces of the recovery process.

One of the main reasons women fail (and probably men as well) in most recovery programs is that they do not address the untreated trauma that is at the root of the addiction. So, in order to facilitate the processing of trauma, holistic mind-body techniques help those who come to us for treatment to “stay grounded in their bodies” and avoid becoming stuck in “flight or fight” mode which in turn,  enables them to safely process emotions and do the hard work of recovery.

Second, we believe that our role is to serve as a training ground, where clients learn and develop the skills and tools necessary to continue on the path of recovery after treatment. Without holistic practices delivering healing on the level of the body and soul, permanent change is not possible, and the pattern of self-medication will continue.

Holistic Addiction Treatment Techniques We Use

Through the following holistic addiction treatment techniques, we are effectively treating the nervous system, the largest hurdle in effecting and sustaining change in holistic treatment. In teaching clients how to manage their own sense of hyper- or hypo- arousal, they are instead able to remain present to do the work – to keep on processing; to keep on letting go.

1. Pranayama and Breathwork for Transformation

Originating in India over 2000 years ago, the Pranayama practice is the perfect antidote for our busy western schedules and minds. Pranayama is basically a series of breathing exercises that bring more oxygen to the blood and to the brain. Pranayama allows the mind to relax and focus on one thing, the pattern of breathing. Through this practice, one is able to train the mind and nervous system to relax.

Studies confirm that these exercises that cultivate specific attention on the breath are successful in overriding our sympathetic nervous system, i.e. our fight or flight response that is often heightened in individuals who have experienced trauma or are under chronic stress (as is often the case with individuals in treatment for addiction). In addition to this, Pranayama is also known to improve cardiovascular and respiratory functions, decrease the effects of stress and strain on the body, and improve overall physical and mental health.

Transformational Breathwork practice is done using a specific rhythmic breath sequence which is repeated over an extended period of time while lying on your back in a relaxed comfortable position. Participants are covered in blankets for warmth and use an eye pillow over the eyes to assist in total relaxation and letting go of the outside world. This is an hour-long practice that creates states of consciousness and deep meditation that are not available in a normal state.

The practice creates an altered state of awareness and reinvigorates stuck energy – be it mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual – allowing it to be released. This release is extremely powerful and often causes intense emotion to come up and tears to flow as sadness, grief, and pain are finally released from the mind-body energetic system. This practice is an amazing holistic treatment for healing trauma.

2. Mindfulness

The practice of mindfulness finds its roots in Buddhism among other eastern traditions. In more recent decades, it has been adapted by many psychologists, most notably Jon Kabat Zinn, into programs like “Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction” and used in various treatment modalities to promote healing and improve overall well-being.

In addition to training us to accept, understand, and become at ease with our own experiences, rather than resisting them, mindfulness as a practice has also been demonstrated to help reduce cravings and decrease your experience of stress. Through mindfulness, you will work to widen the gap between what happens to you, and your response to it, over time gaining better control over your impulses and making smart, educated choices that are congruent with your values and beliefs.

There are now programs such as Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) for treating Addiction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for treating Depression that offer specific approaches allowing us to offer tools that address each individual’s specific needs and circumstances.

3. Daily Yoga and Meditation Practices

In general, yoga practices that involve maintaining postures mindfully and with breath awareness can reduce stress levels, improve immunity, decrease blood pressure and heart rate, improve sleep, and reduce body aches and pains.

Studies have found that integrative yoga practice – which includes gentle poses that focus on quieting the mind and body – is highly successful in decreasing cortisol, which is the stress hormone that is released into the body during the fight or flight response. High levels of cortisol in the body can affect blood pressure, sleep cycles, inflammation, weight gain, and lead to irritability and mood disorders.

    • Hatha yoga is what we typically imagine when we think about Yoga. The focus is on coming into balance in all areas of your life; Body, Mind, and Soul. The result is mental clarity, inner peace, and deep contentment like you have never felt before.
    • Restorative yoga is an amazing way to let go and totally relax. In this practice, gentle breathing techniques are paired with postures that lead to a state of deep meditation. This practice is done using props such as bolsters, pillows, and blankets in order to find deeply relaxing positions where the body feels held and supported. This practice is about completely relaxing and letting go; mind, body, and spirit.
    • Similarly, Yoga Nidra begins with gentle postures intended to release physical tension from the body, and once settled into a resting posture, you’ll be guided through a meditation focusing on sensory awareness, a full-body scan, and then into various visualizations. Yoga Nidra practiced over time will train the brain for better focus and concentration, and help to balance strong emotions.
    • Kundalini yoga is an incredibly powerful practice that encompasses elements from nearly all lineages of yoga, yet what makes Kundalini truly unique is its emphasis on Kriyas. Kriyas are repetitive movements incorporated with specific chanting and/or breathing techniques that create mental and physical resistance and allow observation of mechanisms of the mind. For this reason, it is often referred to as the “Yoga of Awareness”.

4. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of treating the body as a whole. It looks at how each organ system functions with each other and how much qi (life energy) and blood are flowing through each of those systems. In essence, acupuncture sees the body as an ecosystem – a complex network or interconnected system – where every single thing has an effect on another.

Acupuncture is able to assist with many of the immediate effects of substance withdrawal such as detoxing the body, alleviating physical pain without medication and regulating digestive issues caused by abuse of drugs. Acupuncture also helps with the symptoms of withdrawal such as insomnia, depression, anxiety, while also helping with alertness, relaxation, and focus.

5. Craniosacral Therapy

The craniosacral system is comprised of the skull, brain, spinal cord, sacrum, and the membranes, tissues, and fluid that hold it all together.  The cerebrospinal fluid has been described as being one of the most potent and vibrant elements contained in the body. It is constantly cushioning, nourishing, healing, and removing toxins from the central nervous system.

When there is stagnancy in this system, our brain and body do not function optimally. While this form of treatment is still young in the clinical trials that support its effectiveness in addiction treatment, craniosacral therapy has shown immense promise in the field of holistic trauma recovery.

6. Shamanic Healing and Journeying

Individual and group sessions combine the power of energy medicine, chakra clearing and rebalancing, guided visualizations and inner guidance in order to bring healing, clarity, and grounding to the client. As clients are guided into a deep state of relaxation, the subconscious mind surfaces, and through the various methods listed below, we are able to rewire and reprogram the brain.

    • Chakra Clearing with Crystals
    • Connecting with Inner Guidance System Guided Meditation
    • Soul Retrieval Guided Meditation
    • Meeting Your Highest Self Guided Meditation

7. Reiki and Massage Therapy

Where massage is therapeutic touch that helps to detoxify and bring a sense of calm to the body, Reiki is the transmission, with and without touch, of spiritually guided life force energy. Both mediums stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system to allow for healing to take place on the physical, mental and emotional levels. As trauma is often stored in the body, these approaches target and clear blockages in specific parts of the body. Reiki takes the practice one step further, aligning the chakras and creating an energetic harmony of being.

8. Ayurveda; Treatments, Cooking and Lifestyle Counseling

At Villa Kali Ma, our clients will be introduced to the ayurvedic lifestyle through individual consultations, cooking and lifestyle classes, as well as ayurvedic body treatments. Ayurveda is both a system of healing and a lifestyle that contains thousand-year-old wisdom and brings optimum health and wellbeing to the lives of persons who dedicate themselves to living by its principals.

Ayurveda offers suggestions for specific dietary changes, lifestyle changes, daily and seasonal regimens, as well as body treatments, herbal therapies, and practices for correcting imbalances in the body and achieving and maintaining optimal health and vitality. Ultimately it helps us to understand that all of our choices, from what we eat to how we think and behave, have a profound effect on our health and wellbeing.

How Effective Are Holistic Addiction Treatment Techniques?

We have been employing our holistic addiction treatment model in our residential treatment setting for the past four years with outstanding results. Our clinical team, which is made up of very well trained and experienced practitioners, say they have never seen such amazing outcomes as they see with our model. Our clients give us rave reviews and often post their gratitude on sites like Yelp and Google My Business.

When considering treatment for yourself or someone you love, it’s important that you make a choice that reflects your goal of long-term, sustainable recovery. At Villa Kali Ma, we offer our clients a new way of life, to use the holistic techniques we teach them in order to do the immensely powerful work of healing body, mind, and soul.

Categories
Mental Health

Overcoming Systemic Trauma: Healing the Hurting Among Us

“At times or most times, I find being black means being forced into a small
tight space and being told that I cannot come out until I conform to
a way that makes a predominately white society feel comfortable.”

—  Rachel James-Terry
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To begin, this article is not a first-hand account of what it’s like to be an African American or any other minority in America. This article cannot describe or even touch on the felt experiences of those who were born with a skin tone other than white in this country with its long history of racism and white supremacy. Instead, this article is meant to be an account of the odds stacked against generationally traumatized people, especially people of color, and an attempt to bring light to the systemic trauma that is so prevalent in minority communities, and the oppressive system in place that prevents forward progress.

For those who once considered racism to be dead in America, recent events in the news have surely begun to convince them otherwise. We are not beyond the effects of slavery, segregation, the Jim Crow laws, white supremacy, redlining, gerrymandering (among other means of keeping black people from voting), mass incarceration of people of color, racially-targeted drug wars, and clearly, of police brutality.

Each of the above issues represents key threads that make up the very fabric of those in the African American and other racially marginalized communities’ lives. Together, they weave into a narrative of Historical Trauma that mental health professionals and researchers describe as the lingering effect caused by the traumas inflicted on groups of people because of their race, creed, and ethnicity. The persistent cycle of systemic trauma can destroy families and communities as it passes down to the souls of their descendants and often disrupts the vitality of entire cultures.
–

“The sign of ultimate oppression working is when the oppressor can take away
his hands, stand back and say ‘look at what they’re doing to themselves.”

—  Jessica Gourneau, Ph.D.
–

Systemic Trauma Can Lead to Addiction in Adulthood

While there are many different types of traumatic events that cause extreme stress and difficulty for those who endure it, there is a particular burden that stems from growing up black or brown in a predominately white society. In such a case, you will come to understand and the phrase “white privilege”.  While obviously not all people born with white skin have “white privilege”, a disproportionate number of whites do have a significant advantage over minority races in America. Namely, whites in America are exposed to significantly less systemic trauma growing up than Black or Hispanic children and most systemic trauma or PTSD that affects these children goes untreated.

So often, what this means is that as a person of color, you cannot expect to have the same opportunities that the majority of white people are born with and take for granted. Black, Hispanic and other minority races not only experience underrepresentation in nearly all sectors of today’s society, they can also expect to earn less than a white person would for the same job title. The majority of people of color will be challenged to overcome numerous environmental stressors that stem from growing up in families, homes and community environments that were not able to provide consistent safety, comfort or protection.

Black and Hispanic households have an extreme disadvantage compared to white families in America when it comes to ability to create wealth, own homes, buy health insurance or save money for retirement. Due to a long history of employment discrimination and lack of stable jobs, good wages, retirement benefits, and ongoing mortgage discrimination, these disenfranchised families are subjected to a damaging cycle of wealth inequality. In the year 2016, white families in America had a median wealth of around $171,000 compared to approximately $18,000 for African American households and $21,000 for Hispanic households.

If you were born black in America, you are almost 3 times more likely to grow up in a broken home being raised by only one parent then if you were born white. African American children are also more likely to grow up in impoverished neighborhoods, are more likely to witness domestic and physical violence, and thus are forced to develop the “survival skills” necessary to adapt and keep going. What we know about these survival skills is that while they may be helpful to us initially, down the road they hinder our ability to experience healthy attachment with others.

Black and Hispanic Americans are also more likely to be incarcerated than white Americans. In 2017 there were about 476,000 incarcerated adult African Americans compared to 436,000 adult white Americans however, black Americans only made up 12% of the entire adult population in the United States but made up more than 50% of the incarcerated population. All of these “layers” of traumatic events, being invasive and interpersonal in nature, have long-lasting effects.  Most notably this includes a greater chance of struggling with mental health issues, substance abuse, chronic physical illness, depression and anxiety, domestic violence, divorce, financial difficulties and low self-esteem.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study

In 1995, a joint effort from the CDC and Kaiser Permanente resulted in the creation of a large-scale ACE study which is a simple 10-item questionnaire that completely changed the way the medical community viewed the impact of these early childhood experiences. The study looks at three sets of questions highlighting abuse, neglect, and household challenges that an individual faced, and compared them to health outcomes later in life. What they found was groundbreaking: (source)

    1. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of adults surveyed have at least one ACE.
    2. ACEs have a significantly significant correlation with chronic disease (cancer, diabetes), infectious disease (HIV, STDs), injury and maternal health as well as mental illness (depression, anxiety, suicide), problems with addiction, and lost education or career opportunities.
    3. If you have one ACE, you are 87% more likely to have two or more.
    4. The more ACEs you have, the greater your risk for the abovementioned negative outcomes.
    5. It doesn’t matter which four ACEs a person has; the harmful consequences are the same:
      Those with an ACE score of 4 are two times more likely to smoke and seven times more likely to abuse alcohol. This same score increases the risk of attempted suicide by 1200 percent and indicates that these individuals are more likely to be violent, to have more marriages, more broken bones, more drug prescriptions, experience more depression, and more autoimmune diseases.
    6. Those with an ACE score of 6 or higher are at risk of their lifespan being shortened by 20 years.

The fundamental understanding of the ACE study lies in the simple truth that greater exposure to negative events in childhood increases the risk of negative outcomes later in life. This data cuts across disparities in wealth, age, and race in producing the same negative outcomes. However, unsurprisingly, in America, one in three black children have experienced two to eight ACEs in their lifetime, compared to only one in five white non-Hispanic children. For all children, the most common ACE is the divorce or separation of a parent or guardian, however, unique to the black experience is the second most-likely ACE: parental incarceration.

A Closer Look at the Criminal Justice System

Let’s look at one small piece of the puzzle. While it’s documented that both white and black individuals engage in drug offenses at roughly the same rate (whites perhaps even more than blacks) black individuals are incarcerated 10 times more often. The American Civil Liberties Union reports that due to this, “there are more black people under the control of prison and corrections departments today than were ever enslaved by this country”.

In addition to this practice of selective enforcement on drug laws, and favorable sentencing for white people, our criminal justice population in general is made up of people with histories of childhood systemic trauma, abuse, and neglect. Children who were physically abused are more likely to turn around and do the same, as those who were neglected are also more likely to be later arrested for a violent offense. Thus creating a cycle that continues to repeat itself.

Whether the reason for parental incarceration is petty drug crimes or serious offenses, children left without available caregivers add to the growing number of ACEs they will experience in their lifetime. Imagine the widespread impacts of this alone. These children may grow up, become offenders themselves, and pass on this pattern to the next generation. This is a chronic system that keeps churning out the same results, year after year. Thousands of traumatized people, forced to live in a broken system, it’s no wonder we have again begun to shout, “no more!”.

What Can We Do About It?

One approach that might be helpful is to focus on healing.  Rather than taking up resources in state and federal prisons for people who are incarcerated on non-violent or drug offenses, maybe what these individuals need is to be treated for trauma. Maybe what these children need are safe caregivers with whom they can develop a secure attachment. Maybe what our country needs is to heal from the horrors our silence has brought upon our black brothers and sisters.

We’re all contributing to the problem. However, with the courage to do some self-assessment, to avoid the pull to numb and to pretend that it has nothing to do with us, we may realize that we can actually be a part of the solution. If you are not already familiar, consider this your call to action to get to know the history of what has led to the recent riots against police violence and current #BlackLivesMatter protests in America and around the world. Take time to educate yourself and understand how this problem is affecting all lives in America and how important it is that we all play our part to change it.

We can learn the truth of our country’s history and what is going on today. Here are some recommended documentaries to get you up to date on the systemic trauma being caused by racism, a biased judicial system and police brutality which steep through the lives of families and communities and perpetuate continued suffering for generations.

We can use our voice and our vote to join those seeking justice. We can look beyond what’s happening on the streets and on social media and seek to understand the hurt beneath. Ultimately, we can see these protests for what they really are: the cries of a hurt and traumatized community, demanding their pain be recognized and acted upon.

Categories
Love

How Does Attachment Style Affect Your Relationships?

Has it ever felt like you keep running into the same patterns in each relationship you’re in? Where it always seems to be going really great at the beginning, and then something shifts and you can’t believe you were ever with that person? And no matter how hard you try to break the pattern, you never seem to see the red flags?

It’s likely that your early childhood experiences in forming relationships have greatly impacted you and actually have a whole lot to do with the relationships you pursue in your adult life. Actually, this is true for everyone. We call this early learning about how to be in relationship with others our attachment style.

What “Attachment Style” Means and Why It Matters

A piece of wisdom that has always stuck with me about these patterns that exist in relationships is that ‘when you meet someone and it feels like you’ve known them your whole life, you probably have’. This reminds me of how often we seek partners for ourselves that resemble figures from our past, be it a parent or otherwise.

In our early years, our focus was survival -we learned to trust or not to trust based on the attunement of our caregivers. When finding ourselves in an unpredictable environment, we pick up tools and skills for what we could do to help keep safe and still get our needs met. This particular type of survival-based learning becomes encoded in us. As adults, this could play out in a variety of relationships from our lovers to our children.

Author Peter Hobson stated, “…one’s experiences of relations with others becomes a feature of one’s relations with oneself”. This quote is a powerful message to me about how we are affected by those around us, especially the people that we once relied on to meet our very basic needs. Building insight into our own attachment styles can help change the course in how we see ourselves and how we participate in relationships, both with ourselves and with others.

Okay, But What Exactly Is Attachment?

Attachment plain and simple is referring to how we go about meeting our needs based on early childhood experiences. Through these experiences, a certain style will start to emerge based on how we are able to meet those needs. This either represents a secure attachment, or typically falls into one of the three insecure categories: Avoidant, Anxious, or Disorganized.

For example, when our caregiver is attuned to us, then we are able to have a secure base from which to explore the world around us. With this style, we have confidence that the caregiver will respond to our expressed needs. If that is not the case, whereas a caregiver is inconsistent or unaware of our needs, then we, in turn, must develop different ways of coping.

Here are examples of behaviors you might notice in the four attachment styles mentioned above:

Secure Attachment

Needs were provided on a consistent basis by the caregiver and we are able to seek comfort when needed.

    • Trust that our needs will be met.
    • Able to make connections with others and self.
    • Can express desires and enforce boundaries.
    • Know that we are lovable and can give love in return.

Insecure/Avoidant Attachment

Needs were unattainable from the caregiver, so we coped by caring for our own needs or by suppressing them.

    • Uneasy with close contact.
    • Do not look for comfort in others and can be extremely independent.
    • Often have trouble expressing true feelings to others and ourselves.
    • Difficulties with committing or asking for help in relationships.

Insecure/Anxious-Preoccupied Attachment

Caregiver was inconsistent in providing for needs, so we coped by clinging to the caregiver to receive needs when available.

    • Is hypervigilant to concerns in the relationship.
    • Strategizes or lashes out in order to meet needs.
    • Struggles to know the boundary between our own feelings and the feelings of others.
    • Fearful of being dismissed or abandoned.

Insecure/Disorganized Attachment

Caregiver is both feared and reassuring to us, creating a sense of confusion and never knowing what to expect.

    • Afraid of being too close and too distant from others.
    • Often overwhelmed by the intensity of their emotions.
    • Dealing with unresolved trauma or grief from early childhood.
    • Both fearful of being abandoned, and trapped when they’re too close.

What Does My Attachment Style Mean for Me Now?

Those unmet needs from childhood set the stage for the rest of your life. Even as you grow older, your attachment style will play out in the majority of your relationships. This is especially true both in how you ask for what you need, and how you respond to others’ needs.  As adults, it makes sense that we crave connection and need a safe place to address our needs. You might notice this come up in certain arguments or cycles that repeat in your relationships.

Romantic Relationships

Depending on your attachment style, people with insecure attachments are likely to experience more discord in their relationships. It is not uncommon for someone who is anxiously attached to pursue a relationship with someone who has an avoidant attachment style. Without intervention, this couple will feel a constant push and pull, each trying to get their needs met. This can lead to manipulation, rash decisions, and difficulties in understanding one another.

The anxious partner, out of their fear of rejection, may become overly-clingy and out of their “neediness,” do the very thing that pushes that person away. The avoidant partner may try to deny their own needs for love and affection, whereas someone who has a disorganized attachment style will likely be sending off conflicting messages of their own about intimacy and distance. However, a securely attached couple is more likely to approach situations with care and trust and can better attune to their partner’s needs.

Parenting

Your own attachment style can also affect how you feel or act toward your child. In fact, this is the primary way that attachment style is “passed down” generationally. It’s likely that your attachment style will closely resemble that of your parents.

What often happens is that a parent with an anxious attachment may look to their child to meet their own needs instead of meeting their child’s needs. This person may feel like their child is the only person who has loved them truly.  In return, the emotionally drained child may feel clingy, desperate, or anxious. This can create problems when a child is misbehaving and the parent interprets it as a personal attack.

The avoidant parent may provide for the physical needs, but then could have difficulties meeting or recognizing the emotional needs of the child. Following their lead, this may result in the child dismissing their own needs, or they might feel like they need to have an emotional outburst for their parent to recognize their needs.

Parents with a disorganized attachment style of their own will likely create a similar environment for their child, acting erratically and unpredictably. As they likely experienced in their own history of growing up in a disorganized household, we can understand that here is where the seeds of intergenerational trauma are planted.

On the other hand, parents who have a secure attachment create a loving environment for the child to be able to safely express their needs. These parents are able to recognize the child’s emotional and physical needs and can respond appropriately. This is the goal for parents to strive towards, as Dan Siegel puts it, to help them feel safe, soothed, seen, and secure.

Addiction

Unsurprisingly, insecure attachment also often leads to a problematic relationship with addiction. In one particular study, those who were participating in an addiction treatment program were shown to have, on average, less secure attachment to primary relationships and instead expressed greater fears of intimacy, more emotional reactivity, and less differentiation of self.

We know from attachment theory that this is a function of our attempts to self-medicate and compensate for our lack of helpful attachment strategies. Some other figures to pay attention to:

    • Those with an insecure attachment in their romantic relationships tend to abuse substances more than those with a secure attachment.
    • Exhibiting an anxious attachment style is associated with increased and stress-motivated substance abuse.
    • Some studies link the drug of choice to attachment style. While those whose drug of choice is heroin were mainly found to have a fearful-avoidant (disorganized) type attachment style, cannabis abusers tended to be the avoidant type, and those who used alcohol demonstrated higher tendencies both in the avoidant and anxious-preoccupied attachment styles.

Where Do I Go From Here?

There is still hope! We are not chained to the attachment styles developed in childhood and can learn to become ‘earned secure’. This security is developed in the context of a relationship where we can practice different ways of expressing and meeting needs. 

In therapy with trauma-informed and attachment-oriented clinicians, we are able to explore our attachment histories by sharing our needs and experiencing nurturing and attunement in a safe environment. A trusted friend or partner can also provide the training ground to try out these new ways of relating. 

Professor and researcher Jude Cassidy describes what is needed to build a secure attachment: The ability to seek and give care, feel comfortable with your own self, and the ability to negotiate. Not all of us were taught how to enact these skills in relationships. However, we are able to learn and build these skills at any age.

Learning about your attachment style can give you context for your behavior and how it came to be. The more awareness you possess of your ways of connecting (or not connecting) with others, the better equipped you are to make changes. In this, you can build truth, security, and authenticity in your relationship with others and with yourself.

 

Categories
Nutrition

Butternut Squash & Black Bean Vegan Tacos

THE BEST VEGAN TACOS EVER!

Butternut Squash & Black Bean Vegan Tacos

 

These vegan tacos are a Villa Kali Ma staple. The clients and staff love them! We served these vegan tacos at our one-year anniversary party and even the carnivorous men loved them! Packed with nutritional, health-promoting dietary ingredients, they are stuffed with Butternut Squash, Black Beans, Sour Cream, Cabbage, Cilantro, Avocado Slices, and Salsa. There are three recipes; one for the Butternut Squash, one for the Beans, and one for the homemade Vegan Sour Cream. If you want the whole experience, make all three! You will also need to prep the condiments so give yourself at least an hour to get the whole job done.
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PREP TIME: 30 – 40 minutes               COOKING TIME: 20 minutes             SERVES: 6
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Download Our PDF Guide Here!

 


Shopping List

TIP: Make sure you buy everything organic and BPA-free canned beans.
 

For the Butternut Squash

  • 1 medium butternut squash or 2 packages of already cubed
  • 1 medium white onion
  • 3-4 cloves of garlic
  • 1 jalapeño
  • 1/2 – 3/4 cup vegetable broth (may substitute with water)
  • 2 tablespoons of cumin
  • 1 tablespoon of chili powder
  • 1/4 tablespoon of cayenne (omit if you don’t wait it spicy)
  • 1 tablespoon of celtic sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons of coconut or avocado oil
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For the Black Beans

  • 2 cans of black beans
  • 1/2 red bell pepper
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup of cilantro (stems removed)
  • 1/2 of a small red onion
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle pepper seasoning (more if you like spicy)
  • 1-2 teaspoons coconut sugar (depending on how sweet you want it)
  • 1 teaspoon celtic sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of coconut or avocado oil
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For the Sour Cream

  • 1 cup of raw, unsalted cashews
  • 2 teaspoons of apple cider
  • 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon of celtic sea salt
  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups of ice water
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For the Tacos

  • 1 package of soft corn tortillas (should have 8)
  • Salsa (your choice – I like fire roasted tomato salsa)
  • 1-2 avocados
  • Red or green cabbage (optional)
  • Cilantro
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Helpful Items

  • Vitamix or similar blender
  • Slap chop
  • Mini-prep processor
  • Swivel peeler
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These vegan tacos turned out so good!

Cooking Instructions

 

  1. First put the cashews in a small pot and fill with 2 cups of filtered water and place on the stove over medium heat. Bring to a boil and then set timer for 15 minutes.
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  2. While cashews are boiling, prep the veggies for your beans. First chop the onion, red pepper, cilantro, and garlic. If you have a mini food processor, I just chop the onion and red pepper into 2-inch chunks and throw them in the mini-prep with the whole garlic cloves and cilantro and process into tiny dice. Otherwise chop the veggies by hand (or use a slap-chop) into a fine dice.
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  3. If you bought a whole Butternut Squash you need to peel it with a swivel peeler. You need to use firm pressure because the skin is thick and tough. After you peel it, cut it in half and remove the seeds, then cut it up into 1-inch dices. If it’s already chopped, you get to skip this step!
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  4. Your cashews should be done by now so pour them into a strainer and rinse them and set aside to cool. Now prep your condiments for your tacos. If using cabbage, shave your cabbage into very thin shaves and you only need to shave what you think you will use. Place it in a bowl for serving. Now pick the cilantro leaves off of the stems and place in a bowl for serving with your tacos.
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  5. Now prep the onion and jalapeño for your Butternut Squash recipe. Dice the onion into medium size dice. Cut the stem off of the Jalapeño and cut it in half lengthwise. Then cut the halves in half lengthwise, then cut out the seeds and pith so it won’t be too spicy (unless you like spicy, then leave them in). Now dice the jalapeño into tiny dice. (wear gloves so you don’t burn your skin with the jalapeño juice or use a slap-chop if you have one)
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  6. Now make your Sour Cream. Pour your Cashews into a blender. Now add your Apple Cider Vinegar, Lemon Juice, Salt, and about half of the ice water. Start blending at a slower speed and slowly increase to high speed. As the cashews break up they will begin to turn into cream. Add water to desired consistency. Taste it. If it needs more sour taste, add more vinegar or lemon juice. If it’s too thick, add more water. Blend until you have a completely smooth and creamy sour cream. Pour into a bowl and put it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.
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  7. Time to start your beans. Using a 3-quart pot, put the oil in and heat over medium heat for a minute. Put your chopped onion, red pepper, garlic, and cilantro into the oil and cook until it begins to brown and onion is translucent about 5 minutes. Now add the Beans and the rest of the ingredients and stir. Bring to a boil over medium heat and then cover and reduce heat to simmer. Go ahead and move on but keep coming back to stir your beans occasionally and if they start to become thick and pasty, turn them off.
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  8. Now begin to cook your Butternut Squash. Heat the oil in a large deep sauté or frying pan, add the onion and jalapeño, and cook on medium heat until onion is translucent about 5 minutes. Now add the Butternut Squash and stir. Cover and let cook for another 3 minutes. Stir again and cook another 3 minutes.
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  9. While the Squash is cooking, peel and slice your avocado. Cut the avocado in half, remove the seed. Place both halves cut side down on the cutting board and slice them in half lengthwise. Now peel the skin off of each half with your fingers. Keeping the two halves cut side down, begin to make thin slices from one side to the other of each avocado half. Place the sliced avocado in a dish for serving as a topping for your tacos.
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  10. Now add all the spices to your Butternut Squash and stir again. If the pan is becoming dry, add some of the vegetable broth or water. Cover and cook another 3 minutes. Add some more broth or water if needed and stir again. Your Squash will begin to soften around the edges and the onion and spices will begin to stick to the squash. This means it’s almost done. Take out a piece of Squash and taste it. As soon as it has lost its crunchiness and becomes easy to chew, it’s done. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.
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  11. Now heat your tortillas. I do mine right on the burner of my gas fire stove. Put heat on medium-low and place the tortilla directly on the grate. I usually use 3 burners and heat 3 at a time. Place each heated tortilla on a plate inside a towel to keep warm. Once all the tortillas are ready it’s time to serve!
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  12. Put a couple of tortillas on your plate and fill each with a little of the Butternut Squash, Black Beans, Cabbage, Sour Cream, Avocado slices, Cilantro, and top with Salsa.

Enjoy!

Categories
Wellness

Positive Psychology in the Face of Coronavirus

“As for the future, it remains unwritten. Anything can happen, and often we are wrong. The best we can do with the future is prepare and savor the possibilities of what can be done in the present.”

– Todd Kashdan

We feel it all around us. Anxiety. Fear. Even panic. It is in the air and on the faces of those we come into contact with when we are brave enough to leave the house. Whether we’re requisitioning supplies or on our way to do essential life-saving or economy-boosting work, it’s impossible not to notice the radical changes all around us. Our ‘normal’ life seems like a distant memory and we worry that it’s slipping away from us. 

Considering this virus is spread from human to human, it’s almost impossible not to look around and see others as “the problem”. We review their actions from a distance. From one side: “Look at how they’re overreacting!” And from the other: “They’re not taking this seriously!” or “They’re not being careful enough!” And the exasperated cry from both: “See how they’re making this worse?!?”

We spread criticism, place judgment, and feel the mistrust quickly rising to the surface. 

In many ways, our reaction to the world around us and those inhabiting it is reminiscent of the fears so commonly associated with trauma. When we believe, even for what seems like good reasons, that the world is a dangerous place, that others cannot be trusted, that the only way to stay safe is to isolate, we are setting a dangerous precedent for the long-term. 

Although these beliefs, and the subsequent actions, are protective for us at this moment in time, we wonder about the future: “how will life change because of this?”, “will things ever go back to ‘normal’?”, or “can I trust others to ‘do the right thing’?”

Getting Lost in the “What if’s?”

In addition to the fears rooted in our perception of other people during this time, we must also contend with our fears about the future.  For many of us, we have a constantly running doomsday news-ticker in our minds, either from the news channel we refuse to turn off or from the headspace that we now devote to harboring our “Coronavirus Filter”. 

Despite the knowledge that it’s not healthy for us, we continue contemplating each aspect of our lives in the light of the current pandemic. We wonder about future plans, about the impact of this shutdown on the economy, about birthdays spent in isolation, about the next time we’ll be able to see our family. 

However, when we stop to think about it, our fears about what might happen, and our endless spinning trying to adjust and make plans before we have all the needed information has actually done nothing to change the challenge we’re facing.  But before we know it, we’ve lost days and weeks wondering about a future scenario that will play out in ways that are out of our control and that we cannot accurately predict.  

Our Intentions are Powerful

During this time, we must remember the Law of Attraction. In light of the fear and anxiety many are experiencing, this is a very powerful notion: by giving into anxious thoughts and behaviors, we are attracting more of exactly what we don’t want. 

Each day we make choices about how we spend our time, what messages we allow in, and how much free rein we give our minds to roam. Each of these choices and the energy we devote to it announce our intentions to the Universe about what we desire. Ever the benevolent mother, she grants our request, allowing us to shape our future. 

“Each intention — anger, greed, compassion, understanding — sets energy into motion… What you intend is what you become…Power is energy that is formed by the intentions of the soul. It is Light shaped by the intentions of love and compassion guided by wisdom. It is energy that is focused and directed toward the fulfillment of the tasks of the soul upon the Earth.” 

– Gary Zukav – The Seat of the Soul

When we find ourselves off course, whether due to the pandemic or due to deep-seated resentment or long-standing anxiety, only by learning to tap into an awareness of self can we change direction.

This process involves first recognizing the plot of land we’ve been cultivating and then weeding away that which is blocking access to light and making space for the virtues growing beneath. The weeds might show up as obsessively watching fear-mongering news programs, daily online searches for confirmation that the virus is still spreading, or that people are still not taking it seriously. Maybe even the conversation that you had with your best friend last night where you thought you were just “venting” but in actuality, it was more of a deep dive into fear, anger, and resentment. What seeds are we planting here? 

When the soil and conditions favor the growth of the rapidly multiplying weeds of negative thoughts rather than the compassion, empathy, and sense of peace we intended to grow, it’s no time to give up. Rather, we press on, with more diligence. The weeds will still sprout, but our task is to notice them and heed their warning that we need to bring in more light energy or to cultivate a deeper connection to our faith in divine creation.  

Creating a garden to be proud of begins with awareness, and moves into acceptance of the conditions of growth, and requires us to be clear about setting intentions for what we seek to cultivate. 

 

What Can We Hope For Our World?

 

Extending this metaphor, we can consider the community garden that our plot of land belongs to. 

We are all facing the same conditions of growth, although it may appear to rain harder on some than on others. For those of us with a free hand, we may want to consider helping to construct a shelter for those who need it most.

While so many are sowing fear, we can look to others who are sowing love as an example of how we would like to grow our gardens. We can take our cues from those who have learned skills and crafted tools meant to keep their garden growing, even in the midst of adversity. 

We can partake in the collective understanding that this is a difficult season, that there have been many losses, and that there is uncertainty about the crop we’ll harvest on the other side. However, things can get better. There is possibility. Out of every crisis there is opportunity. What do we want to manifest? 

Despite the vastness of the unknown, we can look for the unexpected moments of hope and serenity now. We can take this time to redesign our garden and cultivate our plot with more Self-directed purpose and meaning.

  • In place of blind consumerism and competition, can we imagine a better picture of life as a human? 
  • Instead of endlessly running in the rat race, can we take this time to connect with our deeper selves and re-examine how we are spending the little time we have here in this life?
  • Instead of the usual isolation and Netflix binge, can we find ways to appreciate the value of community and human connection and bring more of it into our lives? 
  • In place of our usual self-indulgence and instant gratification, can we donate our time or extra money to help some of our fellow humans who are less fortunate?
  • Without the busyness and excuses of the past, can we take time to reach out to a friend who is struggling and offer our help?    
  • In place of our daily or sometimes hourly contemplation of “what do I want?”, can we ask ourselves some new questions like: “How can I serve? What can I give? What is really important in life? What issues do I care deeply about and how can I make a difference?”

Ultimately, where there was once darkness and ignorance, we can shine a light to better prepare for the future ahead. 

Steps can be taken to make sure that our plot takes on the characteristics of the world we’d like to see created. Again, what are we sowing? Are we engaging in the weeding process? At the core of these questions is this: How are we contributing to the collective positivity?

 

The Happiness Formula is Broken

 

Positive psychology expert Shawn Achor reminds us that so often we live our lives in pursuit of happiness but with a broken formula; in our belief that hard work leads to success, and success leads to happiness. 

In his humorous and inspiring TED Talk, he describes the fault in this logic. Rather than reaching our goals and allowing the wave of happiness to wash over us, we instead adjust our definition of “success”, and in doing so, subscribe to a pattern where happiness is ever over the horizon. In this line of thinking, happiness is unattainable because there is always more to get, more to see, more to do, more to accomplish. 

However, as he describes, if we can reverse the formula and learn to embrace our happiness now, there is a whole host of positive benefits that will arise, including more productivity, less burnout, and more fulfillment.

Although his research has focused on the workplace, in our current economic and social climate, it is important to remember these truths, and the fundamental concept that “90% of your long-term happiness is predicted not by your external world, but by the way your brain processes the world”. 

How to Practice Positive Psychology

 

Through simple, small acts, we have the potential to infuse our lives with happiness now, using the very skills that Achor is sharing with businesses, schools, and entire communities.

  • Evolving Gratitudes

    By writing 3 new things to be thankful for each day, and doing so for a period of 21 days, studies have shown that we are able to re-train our brain to scan the world for the positive, rather than our natural state of focusing on the negative. 

  • Journaling Experiences 

    In taking the time to write about one positive experience we have each day, we are also training our brain to revel in positivity, to pause and reflect on what’s going right. 

  • Exercise

    As we are now well aware, our bodies and minds are so clearly linked. Not only does physical exercise trigger the release of dopamine, it also creates a sense of mental fortitude when we remember our strength and our ability to overcome challenges. 

  • Meditation

    As Achor puts it, meditation is helpful in that it allows us to “get over our cultural ADHD” as we are able to focus on one thing at a time, and practice being still in present moment awareness. With practice, we gain the first-hand experience of the power of our will, and our ability to overcome the fears, doubts, desires, and attachments of the mind. We develop a powerful ability to stay happy even through adversity and say to ourselves “this too shall pass”, and rest peacefully in the knowledge that it is so. 

  • Intentional Acts of Kindness 

    The science of positive psychology shows that by doing kind things for others we are actively shaping our environment to be one of appreciation and support.  In the same way as when we’re scanning our world for things to be grateful for, in looking for opportunities to employ our unique gifts or skill set for the benefit of others, we are re-training our brain to see ourselves as capable, competent, and as an agent of positive change. 

Each of these small acts, when put together and practiced over a 21 day period of time, are key elements in actually changing the way that our brains, and thus “we”, perceive our world. Again, the choice is ours, whether we want to practice the skills that are known to widen our perspective, or whether we wish to continue feeding into negativity and fear.

In so many ways, the advice here comes down to a simple truth: we become what we choose to think. And don’t be mistaken, the choice is ours.

Categories
General Wellness

Kali Goddess Juice Detox

This juice recipe is a gift from Kali, the Warrior Goddess of Radical Transformation.

 

Accept this powerful gift and you will radically transform your health!

 

Juicing is a fabulous tool for detoxing the body, healing inflammation, and reversing years of abuse from the barrage of toxins that our systems are bombarded with on a daily basis. I personally spent three decades putting all kinds of toxins in my body and, by the time I checked into rehab, my body was breaking down and I was living with daily chronic pain and inflammation. 

After being introduced to the Goddess Kali Ma while on a spiritual seeking journey in Bali shortly after rehab, I began to radically transform my life. I embarked on a journey to heal my body and my life using holistic methods. I believed that healing was possible even though conventional medicine doctors had told me it wasn’t.    

I have tried many different green juices, from juice bars, health food stores, and from recipes I have found throughout the years, but this one is my all-time favorite by far! It’s delicious and packed with tons of nutrients and enzymes and has amazing healing effects on all the systems of the body. 

I was gifted the idea for this juice one day on a shopping trip to the local Jimbo’s Natural Foods Market. I was chatting with the guy in the produce department about juicing and he suggested that I try jalapeño in my green juice. I immediately thought “no way”, I have never been a big fan of jalapeño and to put it in my green juice sounded weird. However, he went on about the health benefits of jalapeño and how good the spicy & sweet tastes are together, so the idea grew on me. I went home and created this recipe and it has been a staple at Villa Kali Ma ever since. 

I personally consumed this juice 3 times a day for the better part of a year, along with a diet free of pesticides, artificial ingredients, food additives, and colorings, etc. Basically, a whole food plant-based diet. Within the first 3 months, all of my body pain had completely disappeared. I have now been completely pain-free for 8 years, after living with chronic pain, sciatica, restless leg syndrome, and degenerative disc disease for at least 6 years prior. 

If you have pain and inflammation or any health issues for that matter, give it a try! Commit to drinking a 6 oz glass 3 times a day and cut down on all inflammatory foods then watch yourself be radically transformed! You won’t get the results if you continue eating foods that are full of toxins or that cause inflammation. You have to be disciplined. However, it’s worth it!!!!

Supply List

  • A Masticating Juicer (Cold Press) – This is a slow juicer that presses the juice out of the pulp. I use a Hurom but mine is old. They run around $350 but last for years with lots of use. There are a lot of good ones on the market now. For a good one, you will spend between $150-$350
  • A Mesh Strainer – For straining out the pulp that makes it through the juicer
  • 12 Small glass Jars with Lids – Order online. Get jars that are single-serving size. You will want to store your juice in individual servings to keep air from getting into the container causing oxidation and degradation of the juice. I go with 4 oz or 6 oz jars because I can’t always finish 8 oz of juice at once and you don’t want any leftover because it will oxidize and lose nutrients and enzymes. 
  • A Cutting Board, a knife, a large Spoon, 3 large bowls, and two 32 oz glass pitchers. 

 

Our beautiful gardens right here at Villa Kali Ma where we source many of our ingredients!

Kali Goddess Juice Recipe

Follow Along on Our Printable Guide!

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Organic Produce Shopping List: 

4 Cucumbers

4-6 Apples (depending on how sweet you want your juice)

3 Grapefruits

2 Lemons

1-2 Thumb-Size Pieces of Fresh Ginger (depending on how spicy you like it)

2 Thumb-Size Pieces of Fresh Turmeric

1 Jalapeño

 

One bunch of each of the following Greens:

Romaine

Dino Kale

Green Chard

Collard Greens

Dandelion Greens

Cilantro

Flat Leaf Parsley

Celery

Bok Choy (or 3 Bunches of Baby Bok Choy)

Preparation:

Use 1-2 large bowls for the Greens and 1 large bowl for the rest of the ingredients

Fill a sink with Cold Water to wash all of the Fruits and Vegetables. Start by cutting the base off of the Celery, Romaine and Bok Choy, separate the pieces and wash, then place in one of the large bowls.

Cut the long stems off of the bunches of Cilantro, Dandelion, and Parsley (I cut it right at the twist tie) so you are removing most of the stems that don’t have much foliage. 

Cut the stems off of the Chard just under where the leaf starts. Do the same to the Collards.

Then wash all of the rest of the Greens and place them in the bowl. You will have to wedge them into the bowl as shown in the photo. Put the Celery in the back because you will use this last. 

Now wash the rest of the ingredients, removing any stickers. I use a vegetable wash that I buy at the natural foods market to clean off the waxy coating that is sometimes present on Apples and Cucumbers.

Once everything is washed, the greens are ready to go but you will still need to prepare the Fruits, Veggies, and Roots. All of these will go in a separate bowl from the Greens.

Cut Cucumbers in half and then cut each half in half again lengthwise.

Cut the Apples into wedges and cut off the core, make sure no seeds are present as they are toxic. 

Cut the navel and stem off of the Grapefruits and then cut them in half parallel to the end cuts, now take each piece cut side down on the cutting board and use the knife to cut off the peel. Then cut each piece into 3 or 4 wedges. Do the same to the Lemons.

For the Turmeric and Ginger, if you bought it organic there is no need to peel it. Just slice the pieces lengthwise into 1/8-inch slices and place in the bowl.

The Jalapeño will need to be seeded unless you want it extra spicy. To remove the seeds, put on a latex glove, or use a paper towel to hold the Jalapeño while you cut it. If you get the Jalapeño juice under your nails or between your fingers it will burn for hours (I found out the hard way!). Cut off the stem and cut the Jalapeño in half lengthwise, then cut the halves in half lengthwise again so you have 4 wedges. Then use your knife to remove the seeds, reserving as much of the pith as possible as this is where the most Capsaicin is located. Capsaicin is a known pain reliever and works to relieve body aches and pain of the muscles and joints due to arthritis, backache, and other strained muscle issues. Capsaicin is also believed to fight cancer, viruses, and neuropathy. 

Now it’s time to Juice!

Set up your Juicer with your 2 bowls of Greens and your bowl of Fruits and Veggies next to it. Turn on your juicer and begin by putting a wedge of Lemon and a Cucumber through it. Then add a few handfuls of your Greens, then some Ginger, then a couple of pieces of Fruit, then more greens, then a piece of Jalapeño, Cucumber and Fruit and a few more handfuls of greens, and keep alternating this way making sure you don’t run out of Fruits and Veggies before all of your greens are juiced. 

Alternating the Greens with the other ingredients should keep your juicer from getting clogged. Save your Celery for last. This will sometimes clog your juicer, and you don’t want to have to keep stopping and clearing the clog so just juice all of the Celery at the end. 

Several times during your process your juice container will become full. Stop the juicer and reach for your strainer, spoon, and pitcher. Using the strainer over the pitcher, pour the juice through it. Now you will have a bunch of pulp in the strainer. Use the large spoon to press all of the juice out of the remaining pulp into the pitcher. Then rinse your strainer to prepare it for the next time your juice container is full. Repeat this process until all of your ingredients are juiced. 

Now you will have two pitchers of juice, but the ingredients will not be evenly distributed. The next step is to mix the two together, so you will need to either pour the juice back and forth between the two pitchers (if there is room) or you can use one of the big bowls to pour half of the juice from each of the pitchers into the bowl and then pour the remaining juice in the pitchers back and forth to blend them and stir the juice in the bowl and return it to the pitchers. 

Once your juice is well blended, pour it from the pitchers into the glass jars and fill them all the way to the rim. You do not want room for air in your bottles because air will cause oxidation and reduce the healing properties of the juice. Now place the lids tightly onto the jars and store them in the refrigerator. 

Congratulations! You have done it! Now you should have enough juice for 3 days, which is the maximum time the juice will retain its potency. Make sure to finish all of the juice by the end of the third day. Then go shopping again and repeat the process. It is a lot of work, but your health is worth it! Being pain-free is such a blessing and you will receive the blessing if you commit to the process and stay disciplined. 

Once you have healed, you don’t have to do the daily juicing, you will just need to maintain a healthy, mostly anti-inflammatory diet and the problems won’t come back. I am definitely not anywhere near perfect at maintaining an anti-inflammatory diet. I love french fries, baked goods, pizza, pasta, and pancakes, but I don’t over-indulge. I make sure all of it is organic, plant-based, and mostly gluten-free. I offset any inflammatory foods by drinking some good anti-inflammatory juice a couple of hours later to reduce any inflammation I may have caused. 

I used to be a junk food junkie, but the price I paid was waking up every morning feeling like I had been run over by a truck. Throughout every day I struggled just to get out of a chair, and I felt like I was living in a 90-year-old body when I was only 48! Now I am 56 and feel like I am living in a much younger body. If you have daily body aches and pains or are suffering from any chronic health conditions, I urge you to try the Healing Elixir of the Goddess! 

Categories
General Wellness

Creating the Perfect Container for Treating Trauma

“Trauma is perhaps the most avoided, ignored, belittled, denied, misunderstood, and untreated cause of human suffering.”
-Peter Levine

 

We keep hearing this word, “Trauma”. Over and over again we are reminded of its prevalence in our culture. We have a vague sense of understanding that Trauma or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) refers to veterans, or to victims of assault, or childhood abuse. We may even understand the idea that growing up in a chaotic household with chronic stress and a constant sense of feeling unsafe is a traumatic experience that affects our lives into adulthood. 

We can read statistics about the prevalence of PTSD in our nation, and impress upon the fact that an estimated 70% of U.S. adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives, the majority of whom before their 18th birthday. We may even find it important to note that there is a well-documented link between trauma experienced at a young age and the later development of a substance use disorder. This explains, of course, the widespread heartache our communities face on a daily basis and one common route individuals take in order to try to cope, however, this does little to describe the day-to-day felt experience of someone living with trauma. 

Living with Trauma

To continue to suffer from trauma is to continue to be stuck in the past, whether physically, through inflammation in the body and the resulting health problems; behaviorally, with disturbances to regular eating and sleeping patterns or observable avoidance; mentally, via intrusive thoughts, flashbacks or nightmares, and a sense of hypervigilance that keeps us on edge and poised to react to even minor threats. Emotionally, we may find ourselves in the spectrum of emotional dysregulation, with the competing feelings of helplessness, anger, guilt, sadness, or anxiety; or we may find ourselves disoriented and numb.  

We understand that trauma affects us across all areas of our lives, and although we may try to categorize and dissect it, it is clear that there is no one global picture of what it’s like to suffer a traumatic event. There is no particular roadmap to becoming reacquainted with the fragmented pieces of your soul. 

There are however some predictable lies that the voice of trauma may try to convince you about yourself, the world, and your future within it. Not surprisingly, we may pick up beliefs about the world as a dangerous place, and those who inhabit it as untrustworthy. In a similar way, we may learn that our judgment or our intuition is also not to be trusted, and we build up ideas about ourselves as powerless, incompetent, or damaged. Here, hopelessness sets in, and we wonder how we’ll ever get back to ‘normal’. 

The earlier we experience trauma, the less developed is our sense of self and ability to regulate our emotions. This combination often leads to some particularly destructive patterns of coping, whether avoidance, aggression, or escape behaviors. It’s not hard to see how in each aim, using substances appears to serve the primary function of avoiding pain, and hiding our truth at all costs. This, of course, is an illusion.

How We Do Things Differently

At Villa Kali Ma we understand that substance abuse treatment isn’t just about learning how to live without drugs and alcohol, it is also about healing the wounded parts of you that led you to use and abuse substances in the first place. 

How rare it is, however, for someone to arrive at treatment ready to do this work. After years of practicing these patterns and fueling these beliefs, it is not an easy adjustment to make, to go against all that has seemingly protected you in the past. Learning to embrace vulnerability is a laughable request to those who’ve built their identities around having an ‘unshakable’ exterior, who have perhaps never felt safe in their entire lives. It is for them that we have shaped with intention the treatment environment at Villa Kali Ma. 

When considering the specific experiences of women who have become addicted to alcohol or other drugs, it’s important to acknowledge that they come from a background of not only chronic childhood trauma or acute trauma but most have had sexually traumatic experiences as well. Studies have shown that nearly 80 percent of the women seeking treatment for substance use disorder have a history of sexual assault, physical assault or both. Unsurprisingly, many women turn to substances to cope or block out these memories, or to deal with the resulting blow to their self-worth and self-esteem.

Women’s sexual trauma needs to be addressed in ways that are not re-traumatizing for them. Telling their story to a male therapist or in a group that includes men can create an experience of intense and unbearable vulnerability, shame, humiliation and even panic. To participate in individual therapy alone can feel uncomfortable, and even threatening. Having to access those internal pieces of herself that contain the horrors of what she went through and bring them to the surface for examination is overwhelming. Doing so in presence of mixed company is inconceivable for most women. Many just won’t go there. Therefore, the dark underlying secret that is the catalyst for the substance abuse can remain buried throughout the treatment episode, out of a need to protect herself from feeling further violated.

Healing Women’s trauma requires an intimate environment where women feel supported, seen, and genuinely cared for. In a Women Only treatment setting with 5 licensed therapists and an all-female staff, we create the ideal environment for doing the intense work of trauma recovery. This type of setting, with a focus on only 6 clients at a time, creates the necessary sense of safety that cannot be created in a large facility in the presence of the opposite sex. Working alongside one another in a comfortable home-like environment, with women inspiring women, we have crafted the safe haven that is Villa Kali Ma.

We are tireless in our pursuit of making our program a safe container for those who come to us for treatment.  In this same way, we acknowledge the presence of trauma in all parts of ourselves: mind, body and spirit. From day one, we provide therapy from a trauma-informed perspective, using all of the tools at our disposal: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Somatic processing, Breathwork, Shamanic Healing, CranioSacral Therapy, Reiki, Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy, Mindfulness and Meditation practices that each allow us to remain rooted within our bodies, as well as connect spiritually with our own divine nature and innate ability to heal and transform our lives.

By working through trauma and finding healing, the women completing treatment at Villa Kali Ma are better equipped to gain control over their substance use and fully embody the resiliency and empowerment that comes with bringing light into the darkest areas of their past. Reach out and get connected with us today!

Categories
General Happiness Wellness

3-Day Ayurvedic Detox Cleanse

Clean out the Toxins and Boost Immunity

with an EASY and gentle Cleanse that does not require suffering through cravings and hunger pangs!

 

Now is the perfect time to begin to shift out of the damp heaviness and stagnation of winter and do some Spring Cleaning! Personally, I hate most cleanses. I just don’t enjoy the process and it sometimes makes me feel so much worse than I did before I started. Headaches, body aches and pains, exhaustion, starvation, etc.

However, I began studying and practicing Ayurveda several years ago and was introduced to the Kitchari cleanse. This is a gentle and effective mono-diet that removes the toxic build up in the intestinal lining, improves digestion, optimizes absorption of nutrients and improves the health and functioning of the whole body.

 

Weak Digestion = Weak Immune System

 

Our bodies are amazingly intelligent, and they know how to heal themselves. However, we are constantly bombarding them with toxins day after day, year after year and this can cause our self-healing mechanisms to begin to break down. Most cleanses suggest a lot of raw greens because of the high nutrient and enzyme content. Unfortunately, I know from my own experience that this can cause bloating, gas, headaches, nausea and other side effects. Although raw food may contain many important nutrients, your body can have a hard time assimilating them if your digestive system is slow and weak or filled with toxic buildup. Having a healthy digestive system is the key to properly absorbing nutrients and eliminating toxins.

Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years and Kitchari is an ayurvedic prescription for removing toxins and improving digestion. In Ayurvedic philosophy, immunity is achieved through building Ojas which is described as “the glow of radiant health”. The unfortunate fact is, most of us live a lifestyle that depletes our Ojas. We are overworking, under sleeping, not getting enough exercise and eating unhealthy nutrient deficient junk food. We are rushing, stressing, worrying, arguing, and multi-tasking ourselves into anxiety and exhaustion. The result is depleted Ojas and a weakened immune system.

 

Kitchari is an Anti-Inflammatory Gut Healer

 

Kitchari is an easy to prepare dish made of rice, mung beans and spices that are packed with health benefits. Mung beans are known to remove toxins, pesticides and other chemicals from the body and help to purify the blood. They are a good source of protein and fiber and provide high levels of essential micronutrients to nourish the body.

The rice combined with the mung beans creates a complete protein dish that provides all the essential amino acids the body needs in an easy to digest form. The spices in this dish have an impressive list of healing benefits and will improve the digestive fire (agni in Ayurveda) and stimulate the metabolism. Strong Agni is key for proper digestion, assimilation and elimination and these processes are the most important factors for health and immunity.

 

Spice Up Your Life for Radiant Health (Ojas)

 

The ingredients in Kitchari provide nourishment to all the tissues of the body and provide a boost in strength and vitality to the whole system. The blend of spices used in Kitchari are chosen not only for how they taste, but for the qualities, properties, and action they have on the Doshas (imbalances) in the body. The purpose of this cleanse is to eliminate toxins, reduce inflammation and heal the digestive system, thereby boosting the immune system and creating a powerful increase in Ojas (Radiant Health). Once you understand and experience the healing properties of these spices you can use them as often as needed to bring your system back into balance.

Ayurveda uses combinations of herbs and spices as medicine to heal all sorts of ailments in our bodies.

 

Here are some of the medicinal properties of the ingredients in Kitchari:

Organic Coriander Seeds

  • Improves digestion
  • Relieves gas
  • Helps with urinary or digestive disorders
  • Increases Agni (digestive fire)
  • Improves absorption of nutrients in the digestive tract
  • Calms muscle spasms
  • Reduces inflammation—even shown to help with rheumatoid arthritis

Organic Cumin Seeds

  • Stimulates agni (digestive fire)
  • Decreases gas
  • Helps with indigestion
  • Flushes out toxins
  • Relieves congestion
  • Contains antioxidants and iron
  • Soothes inflamed mucous membranes
  • Improves elimination 

Organic Fennel Seeds

  • Strengthens the digestive fire
  • Stops cramping
  • Increases mental alertness
  • Relaxes the digestive tract
  • Increases the burning of fat
  • Aids in moving lymph
  • Helps regulate blood pressure
  • Reduce water retention
  • Reduces constipation, indigestion, IBS and bloating
  • Reduces asthma symptoms
  • Helps purify blood
  • Preventative against cancer of the skin, stomach and breasts
  • Improves eyesight
  • Great for acne

Organic Cardamom Powder

  • Rich in antioxidants for anti-aging benefits
  • Boosts immune system
  • Supports respiratory health
  • Reduces cold and cough symptoms
  • Stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes
  • Has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties
  • Fights streptococcus, candida that cause gastrointestinal infections
  • Supports kidney and bladder Health
  • Supports healthy blood glucose levels
  • Promotes healthy metabolism
  • Support healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels

Organic Turmeric Root

  • Reduces arthritis symptoms
  • Boosts immune function
  • Helps support cardiovascular health
  • Helps prevent and treat cancer
  • Helps manage irritable bowel syndrome or IBS
  • Prevents and treats Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases
  • Builds Immunity
  • Reduces Body Pains
  • Boosts Skin Health
  • Aids Weight Loss and Digestion
  • Good for Liver Health
  • Antioxidant
  • Anti-Inflammatory

Organic Ginger Root

  • Reduces pain and discomfort in joints
  • Helps with nausea
  • Relieves Gas
  • Facilitates elimination of wastes
  • Clears the microcirculatory channels of the body
  • Facilitates better absorption of nutrients
  • Stimulates digestive fire to improve digestion
  • Helps clear mucus
  • Soothes nerves
  • Improves circulation

Organic Coconut – Raw Unsweetened Flakes

  • Helps boost metabolism
  • Aids in fat elimination
  • Aids in detoxification of the body
  • Balances and soothes the digestive tract
  • Improves digestion and absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals
  • Aids in the removal of free radicals that cause premature aging
  • Restores oxidative tissue damage
  • Supports immune system health
  • Acts as an anti-viral, antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic agent
  • Good source of healthy medium-chain fatty acids
  • Improves insulin secretion and symptoms associated with diabetes
  • Reduces the risk of heart disease and improves good cholesterol (HDL) 

Organic Bay Leaf

  • Anti-Cancer properties
  • Protects against oxidative stress
  • Protects against bacterial infections
  • Helps alleviate flu symptoms and reduce fever
  • Slows the aging process
  • Speeds wound healing
  • Optimizes the digestive process, stimulates digestive juices, reduces gas
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Alleviates respiratory issues
  • Helps manage diabetes
  • Helps remove toxins from the body
  • May reduce celiac symptoms

Organic Cinnamon Sticks

  • Helps alleviate cough and phlegm
  • Prevents growth of acne causing bacteria
  • Good for skin and complexion, relieves dry skin
  • Enhances blood circulation
  • Promotes hair growth and strengthens hair roots
  • Reduces triglycerides
  • Balances blood sugar
  • Lowers LDL cholesterol
  • Reduces symptoms in type 2 diabetes
  • Dramatically improves digestion and absorption
  • Acts as an anti-bacterial agent that heals infections in the GI tract
  • Relieves sinus headaches

Mineral Salts

  • Helps eliminate waste from the body
  • Aids in the proper function of the digestive system
  • Boosts the digestive fire
  • Relieves pain in the colon
  • Soma Salt Reduces inflammation
  • Himalayan Pink Salt good for all constitutions
  • Sea Salt is heating and increases digestive fire, improves circulation

Organic Lemon Juice

  • Provides the sour taste
  • Stimulates Agni (digestive fire)
  • Helps relieve Gastritis pain
  • Relieves Cough
  • Helps with indigestion
  • Relieves thirst

The Miracle of Self-Healing Begins Now!

 

In preparation for the cleanse, I recommend minimizing or removing some things from your diet for at least 1 to 3 days before your cleanse. I usually start to taper off on a Monday and then begin my cleanse by Friday. The great thing about this cleanse is that it’s an easy reset and will conquer any cravings you are currently struggling with. If you’ve been craving sugar after every meal or craving too much caffeine, this will give you a clean slate and inspire you to eat healthier and get more exercise.

Begin limiting the following:

  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Meat
  • Dairy
  • Refined sugar, and foods that contain corn syrup and other processed sweeteners
  • Flour products such as cookies, pastry, cakes, doughnuts
  • Canned and Highly processed foods
  • Cold and Raw foods such as raw veggies, salads
  • Cold cereal, granola
  • Frozen smoothies (fresh smoothies and juices without ice are fine)
  • Fried Food
  • Candy and Chocolate

Eat whole fresh organic foods, mostly cooked from scratch, avoid cold leftovers from the refrigerator. Eat easy to digest foods such as veggie soups, fresh steamed veggies like broccoli cauliflower carrots zucchini. Roast veggies such as brussels sprouts, asparagus, sweet potato or butternut squash. Use cooked grains like quinoa, barley, farro, millet or rice. Eat lots of fresh whole fruits and berries. You can make baked apples or pears with cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger and sweeten with maple syrup or honey for a delicious desert.

 

Eat with the Cycles of the Day

 

Each day of your cleanse you can prepare some fresh oatmeal for breakfast and then make a batch of Kitchari which you will eat for both lunch and dinner. You can make enough for 3 days and keep it in the refrigerator if that’s easier for you, however I prefer to make a fresh batch daily. Your lunch should be your biggest meal of the day and have your dinner no later than 6 pm. This is an Ayurvedic Dinacharya (daily routine) practice of eating with the cycles of the day. Lunch is the time of day when the Sun (fire) is highest in the sky and this is believed to be the time that your digestive fire is the highest, enabling you to digest a larger amount of food more efficiently. Try not to eat anything after 6pm, your digestive fire weakens after this time. Ideally you would have breakfast at 7 am, lunch at noon and dinner at 5 pm.

Take a teaspoon of Tahini and 6 Golden Raisins before each meal and in between meals to stimulate the digestive process and lubricate the digestive tract. This will help eliminate the fat-soluble toxins as well as excess cholesterol in the body. Tahini is high in alkaline and high in minerals which will help strengthen the immune system. Tahini has more protein than milk and is loaded with B vitamins and Vitamin E, which will help with brain function and energy during the cleanse. Tahini is also an excellent source of calcium. Golden Raisins are also high in calcium, minerals and antioxidants loaded with health benefits and will insure against constipation during the cleanse.

 

Add Some Fuel to the Fire

 

Try not to overeat. The rule in Ayurveda is to keep your stomach at least ¼ empty. This includes liquids. It is also recommended that you avoid drinking cold drinks with meals. This will dilute your digestive juices and put out your digestive fire. This is the big mistake most of us make every day. We drink cold beverages with our meals. In Ayurveda you drink between meals but never or very little with your meal. The maximum you should drink is ¼ of your stomach capacity. Following this rule, after a meal your stomach is ½ food, ¼ liquid and ¼ empty. After learning this practice it became a healthy habit for me and I now eat this way all of the time. It’s easy once you practice it a bit.

Between meals it’s good to sip Fresh ginger tea. Ginger is a heating spice that stimulates your digestive fire. We want to keep our fire hot throughout the cleanse by only drinking hot or warm spiced teas and no cold beverages. Drink as much water as you like, however hot water is best or you can have it at room temperature.

To make Fresh Ginger Tea use a piece of organic ginger root about the size of your thumb and slice it into strips (no need to peel), boil it in 5 cups of water for 5 minutes on med heat, then reduce heat to low for 10 minutes. Strain and put in a thermos and drink throughout the day. If it tastes too spicy you can add a little honey.

Another option for increasing the effectiveness of the cleanse is to make up a batch of CCF Tea. This is a classic Ayurvedic detox tea made with Coriander, Cumin, and Fennel. This combination of spices builds the Agni (digestive fire) and stimulates the lymph to release toxins and flushes toxic waste out of the body.

Follow this easy recipe to make CCF Tea:

  • ½ Teaspoon Organic Coriander Seeds
  • ½ Teaspoon Organic Cumin Seeds
  • ½ Teaspoon Organic Fennel Seeds
  • 4 cups of spring water

Boil the water and seeds over medium heat for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Strain the water to remove the seeds and pour into a thermos to keep warm. I like to combine the two recipes personally. I just add the ginger to the water with my seeds and prepare it all together. I make a big batch and keep it in the refrigerator and heat up a cup at a time when want it. At first I thought the taste was a little weird but now I love it. It makes me feel good to be consuming something warm and spicy that’s good for me. Again, add a little honey (after you brew it; do not add honey to boiling water) if it seems too spicy for you.

 

Circulate, Detoxify & Nourish

 

Exercise is also recommended to stimulate blood flow and circulation throughout the body and facilitate the elimination of toxins from the blood and lymph. Exercise just enough to break a light sweat, do not overdo. Try going for an early morning walk outdoors at a brisk enough pace to stimulate a sweat. You don’t need to sweat profusely, just dampness on the forehead, armpits, or back of the neck is enough. You just need to stimulate the sweat glands. Also take a hot bath, hot shower or steam bath or use a sauna to help the body sweat. Try to do one or more of these activities for at least 20-30 minutes each day.

Nourish yourself. Get a massage, facial, craniosacral therapy or acupuncture treatment. Walk barefoot on the beach. Breathe deeply. Take a gentle flow yoga class or restorative yoga. Many of the studios are offering online classes now, so you don’t even need to leave the house. Read an uplifting book or listen to soothing music.

Pay attention to what you are taking in. Avoid negative energies such as TV or movies with violence, crime, intense suspense, etc. These will cause you to feel negative emotions which will release stress hormones into your body. Spend time in the garden or go to a park and picnic under a tree. Do things that open your heart and nourish your soul.

Goodbye Toxins! Hello Radiant Health!

 

There are many different versions of the Kitchari Recipe and you can find them easily with a quick google search. I am sharing with you my favorite, which I have made many more times than I can count. This is a delicious blend of ingredients that includes all 6 tastes, which is another lesson learned from this ancient practice. Ayurveda believes that in order to have balance in our body and mind, we need to include all six tastes in our meals. Each individual ingredient (food and spice) has an individual quality, energy, action and effect on our being. The six tastes are Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Astringent and Pungent.

This is one of the reasons Ayurveda is considered “The Science of Life”. Ayurveda looks at the 5 elements; Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether, the cycles of the day, the seasons, and the climate and tries to live in balance with all of these qualities and energies. We each have a constitution (Prakriti, Dosha) that is made up of a combination of these elements and each person has their own individual combination. In order to balance the energies, you need to find where you are out of balance, what elements are being affected, and then bring them back into balance. One way to facilitate balance is to reset the digestive system with healthy medicinal meals that contain all six tastes. So, let’s get started!

Download Our Printable Recipe Guide!

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Here is the GROCERY LIST.

Buy everything ORGANIC, you don’t want to add more pesticides when you are trying to detox:

  • Split Yellow Mung Beans or Sprouted Mung Beans
  • White or Brown Basmati Rice (white is easier to digest; brown has more fiber)
  • Coriander Seeds
  • Fennel Seeds
  • Cumin Seeds
  • Turmeric Powder or Fresh Turmeric Root
  • Ground Cardamom
  • Fresh Ginger Root
  • Ceylon Cinnamon Sticks
  • Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
  • Bay Leaf
  • Fresh Cilantro
  • Fresh Kale or Spinach
  • 2 Lemons
  • Coconut Oil
  • Organic Low Sodium Vegetable Broth (or homemade)
  • Fresh Vegetables (choose 2-3, avoid nightshades)

Vegetables may be added to your dish or served on the side. Consider carrots, sweet potatoes, celery, broccoli rabe, butternut squash, beets, green beans, cauliflower, rutabagas, yuca, kohlrabi, or radishes. I usually do sweet potatoes roasted with Garam Masala Seasoning with mine (recipe below) and I serve them on the side. However, you can choose any vegetables you want as long as they are fresh and organic. You can roast them, steam them or cook them in the Kitchari. Avoid frozen or canned as the necessary enzymes and nutrients are depleted during processing. Avoid nightshades due to the fact that they have a natural built in pesticide called glycoalkaloids which can affect the nervous system and cause inflammation in the body, exactly what we are trying to combat.

Ayurvedic Kitchari Recipe

 

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Makes enough for 3-4 servings depending on portion size

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 Cup Split Yellow Mung Beans soaked overnight (or already sprouted mung beans)
  • 1/2 Cup Rice
  • 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
  • 3 Cups Vegetable Broth
  • 1/2 tablespoon of Fresh Grated Ginger
  • 2 tablespoons of Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
  • 1/2 cup of Spring Water
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
  • 1/2 tsp Coriander Seeds or Powder (seeds have a very strong flavor, I like it, some don’t)
  • 1/2 tsp Fennel Seeds
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder or 1 tsp of Fresh Grated Turmeric Root
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Cardamom
  • 1 Bay Leaf  1 Cinnamon Stick
  • 1-2 tsp Mineral Salt to Taste
  • 1/4 Cup Fresh Cilantro
  • 1-2 wedges of Fresh Squeezed Lemon or Lime (to taste)
  • 2 Kale Leaves, stems removed, torn into bite sized pieces or a handful of fresh spinach leaves
  • Optional: 1-2 cups of chopped vegetables of your choice

Directions:

Rinse the rice and mung beans and set aside.

In a small glass or measuring cup mix the grated ginger with the coconut flakes and water and set aside.

Using a 3-quart pot melt the coconut oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot add the cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric and cardamom to the pot and cook until sizzling and fragrant (1-2 minutes).

Now add the ginger and coconut mixture along with the bay leaf and cinnamon stick and cook for 2 minutes.

Now add the rice, mung beans and vegetable broth and bring to a boil.

Once you have a good rolling boil going you can add your chopped vegetables (optional). Bring back to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover with a lid. Set timer for 30 minutes.

Now is the time to prepare your vegetables if you are serving them on the side.

Check your Kitchari occasionally and add extra water if needed.  If you want a more soup like consistency you may need to add more liquid. Otherwise it should be more like a porridge consistency.

After 30 minutes stir in the salt and taste to see if your rice and mung are soft. If you used white rice and sprouted mung beans your dish should be just about done. If you used brown rice and split mung beans, you may need to cook another 10 minutes.

Now add your chopped kale or spinach and cook for another 5-10 minutes.

Lastly, top with fresh cilantro and squeeze of lemon or lime juice and serve.

 

Sweet Potatoes Roasted with Garam Masala

Ingredients:

  • 2 large sweet potatoes
  • 2 tsp Garam Masala Powder
  • 2 Tbsp melted Coconut Oil
  • 1/2 tsp Mineral Salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400

Wash potatoes and cut into wedges. Place in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with the garam masala, coconut oil and salt. Toss well to coat wedges with the spice and oil. Place on a baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes. Turn over with spatula and cook another 10 minutes. Serve with Kitchari.

I hope you enjoy this cleanse as much as I have throughout the years. It’s actually so easy to stick with and the results are amazing. It will motivate you to take better care of yourself on a daily basis and give you the jump start you need to improve your overall health and wellbeing. Ayurveda played a huge part in my own recovery from 30 years of addiction and depression which had taken such a toll on my physical health that, at 48 years old, I felt like I was living in a 90 year old body. My healing journey began in Bali in early 2012 where I met an Ayurvedic doctor who showed me how to heal myself. In a few short months, I completely recovered and have been pain free for almost 8 years. I hope this inspires you to learn more about these ancient practices that heal the Body, Mind and Soul and teach you how to live a beautiful, joyful and healthy life!

 

Many blessings to all,

 

Kay White

Founder of Villa Kali Ma

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