In my previous blog, see below, "Remembering Our Brothers and Sisters," I speak about my love for New York City. But what truly captures this city's ethos for me is the Statue of Liberty, for she personifies American freedom, law, justice, and peace.

India became a free nation and obtained independence some twenty-plus years before I was born. Yet I grew up chanting our freedom fighters' names from the age I could speak. My love for India was deeply instilled in me by my late father and his brothers, my parental uncles.  

My dad had an interesting background. He grew up in colonial India and did almost all of his schooling from a very tender age away from his caring parents in boarding schools, for back then, decent education in his native village was nonexistent.

After completing his undergraduate studies in mathematics, he moved to the United Kingdom to study electrical engineering, following which he settled into working for Philips, the electronics company in Belgium. 
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It was during this time he happened to attend a conference that hosted speakers like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (India's 1st Prime Minister), who spoke with great passion and urged young Indians to return to India and serve the newly freed and independent nation that needed their talent and workforce. My father was so moved by this plea that he relocated back to India for good. 

In subsequent years, despite opportunities to immigrate to other parts of the world, dad made India his sole home and was devoted to his commitment to India's emerging infrastructure. 
Growing up as a child, for that matter, even as a teenager, I never thought I would leave India in a million years. But then I fell in love and followed the love of my life across the globe to make a home here in the United States of America. 

After thirty-four years, I can say with all my heart that my love for America parallels that of India. And I am truly grateful for this as in the beginning; I was homesick for India every month; I would pester Russill about wanting to go back to mother India.

Now, I would be remiss if I were not to pay homage to our late friend and brother, Wayne Teasdale, for he was the one who helped us understand the American soul and value all that is good and decent here. Decades later, I can still hear him speak of his love for America with reverence and awe. 

Wayne was a phenomenal person. He was a lay Catholic monk, a brilliant teacher, and an active social justice champion, among his many other remarkable accomplishments. 

Br. Wayne (many people referred to him as such) was the kind of person who could be friends with the Dalai Lama, as well as a homeless soul. And indeed, he was a friend to both. His sense of humor was huge, and most of all, he had a heart of gold.

If you are unfamiliar with his work, here are a couple of books that might inspire you:

​      The Mystic Heart 
     A Monk In The World

In the short vlog below, Russill and I share our recent visit to the Statue of Liberty. Though we both have been to New York several times in the past, we had yet to make the time to visit Liberty Island. 

​Oh, by the way, those of you who have never been to New York City and have refrained from doing so due to rumors of New Yorkers being rude, I am here to vouch they are not so! We were deeply touched from the moment we arrived at Penn Station to when we flew out of the airport New Yorkers were kind and helpful. This was true even in the Subways. But then, I am a city girl, or at least I like to think so.  :)

NYC is also a food lover's paradise, delightfully packed with restaurants, food stalls, and trucks representing almost all the nations in the world.   

Our experience at Liberty Island was multi-faceted, meaning we were elated to be in the presence of this colossal statue, almost giddy as school kids. When we visited the museum, we had to choke back our tears viewing the displays, images, and other artifacts that weaved the story of immigrants who braved perilous conditions to finally see the Lady of Liberty and the shores of America. 

We hope this blog and the video evokes in you a sense of oneness and joy regardless of what part of the world you may make your home. 

From a personal point of view, I have and will continue to celebrate the diversity of our human race, and at the same time, I know in my soul that we are all children of the same Divinity. 

May your heart be filled with peace and love. 

Asha

Come home to a cool, refreshing, healthy drink on these sweltering summer days. Or welcome your guests with this unusual take on a popular Indian drink. 

The video below shows you how to create two versions...

Anandi was my schoolmate, a few years older than me. She also happened to be my neighbor. We hung out together from time to time, especially on weekends. Because Anandi was my senior, she would boss me around, yet she was loving and kind. So I didn't mind being friends with her.

FYI, even if you are just a few months younger, it was a common practice in India back then to defer to your seniors in age, and this was very true in schoolyards and college campuses. 

Of course, there are always exceptions to this unspoken rule. Take, for example, my sibling, Hema, who was older than me by several years. My beloved sister treated me as her equal and let me troop along when she went out with her peers. 

In some ways, I was her tail as a small kid, following her around. We had a great time going to the movies, and during the intermission, she would buy us savory munchies and her all-time cherished beverage, the world-famous Coca-Cola! Yet, she did not begrudge my favorite drink, Thumbs Up, an Indian version of cola slightly fizzier and sweeter than Coke. 

In my child's mind, Thumbs Up was the perfect choice to wash down spicy Indian tidbits like onion samosa, cutlets, and Medu vada. Thinking about it now makes my mouth water.

Now if you are familiar with samosa (fried savory-filled pastry) but are used to eating only potato-filled ones, you may be wondering if there is such a thing as onion samosa. Yes, it is very much sought after by Desi Indians though not common in Indian restaurants in the West. Recently our local Indian supermarket started selling fresh onion samosa; Russill and I are all goo-goo ga-ga over it :)

Now back to our tale, a loud thud startled us from our reverie one lazy summer afternoon while I was visiting Anandi in her back garden at her home. As we looked around, my friend squealed with joy as she spotted a wrinkled, ball-sized purplish object on the ground. She picked it up tenderly, looked at me with warm, piercing  brownish black eyes, and said, "Asha, do you know what this is?"

As I shook my head no, Anandi replied with a twinkle, "Well, my little friend, it is called passion fruit and I am going share this treat with you." 

After procuring a knife from her mother's kitchen, she sliced the wrinkled thing into two pieces and proudly offered me one half as she devoured the other. 

Not having tasted the fruit before, my expectations were low, and I gingerly licked at the outer rim. To my amazement, I was transported to food heaven! Thus started my love affair with this exotic, sweet-scented treasure. 

What's more, this fruit jewel is nutrient-rich, containing a decent amount of calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and trace minerals like iron, Zinc, copper, and selenium. Notably, it is packed with fiber, especially if eaten with seeds. 

The kind I was introduced to in India was the purple variety. They also come in the yellow type, and according to Wikkifarmer, "when it comes to pulp, the purple variety fruits are preferred by consumers due to the higher quality (lower acidity, stronger aroma, and flavor)."

Unfortunately, I have not come across the purple kind here in the United States, so I make do with the yellow ones. 

By the way, if you are unfamiliar with Wikkifarmer, they are a wonderful organization that helps "empower farmers through educating them and offering them direct access to the commercial markets to sell their products at fair prices." Wouldn't you say that this is incredible work? 
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Well, I am a farmer at heart and can't wait to cultivate my piece of ancestral farmland back in India someday soon. In the meantime, I content myself with my small patch of herb and veggie garden here in Austin, Texas. This year, I am growing okra, chilis, thyme, basil, oregano, and cucumbers.​

In this vlog (see video below), I am delighted to share an Indian drink called Lassi, made with the goodness of passion fruit, yogurt, and a few other simple ingredients.
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​Like many parts of the US, Europe, and Asia, we have had an unprecedented summer. As of August 07th, Austin has experienced 31 consecutive 100 F and 11 days of 105 Fahrenheit. And the heat index makes it feel hotter.

Nevertheless, I do not wish to complain, for here in Texas, like many places in the Western world, we are blessed with central air-conditioning; you step out of a cool vehicle into cooler homes, offices, stores, etc. 

I would like to share the perfect drink with you to help you cool inside and out:) The delicious Lassi! It is a yogurt-based drink popular in India. Traditionally Indians make and consume this refreshment in three forms; salty, spicy, or sweet. 

I remember, as a kid drinking out of clay cups, especially from street vendors or in train stations. The cool thing about it was that the vendor would hand out drinks, including hot teas served in small clay cups, which the consumer would then dispose of the clay containers by trashing them on the wayside or the railway tracks. Think about it is ecologically friendly (no paper or plastic) and hygienic as well! And it is fun to break the earthen cups.

Now let us look at the health benefits of this probiotic drink. We have already seen the nutritional value of the passion fruit. As far as the yogurt is concerned, it is a no-brainer. As long as you are using a kind that is brimming with live cultures and no additives such as flavors or sugars, it is unlikely that you can go wrong with store-bought yogurt. And if you can make it organic, all the better. 

You may be aware with yogurt's live and active cultures (namely the good bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) you can enhance your gut health. Moreover, a high-grade organic kind is packed with beneficial calcium, protein, and vitamins. I prefer and recommend the whole milk variety, and you can, of course, use what you deem is best for you.

In the video below, I share my version of the Lassi. I am using a few high-quality ingredients as I like my food and drink to be tasty and infused with health. I also tend to use ingredients that are not fancy, as I want my coaching clients to feel that what I suggest to them is budget friendly as well.

Now back to our vlog; think of Lassi as a yummy smoothie. Since it can be prepared and refrigerated in advance, I suggest you make a few variations sweet, spicy, and salty. This way, depending on their preference, you can satisfy your entire family. 

For a spicy, salty, and South Indian variation of this drink, check out The Wholeness Cookbook. 

I hope you enjoyed this blog; it is time to view the vlog and get blending.

To your health & delight,

Asha

P.S. I have created a brand new program and started working with clients to help them showcase their life's passion. Plan to add it to my site soon; stay tuned. 

In this vlog, I am sharing two mouth-watering and, most importantly, soul-satisfying spreads that you can use for sandwiches or as a dip with fresh veggies and chips. And I am using a new gadget that is so cool and user-friendly; every cook, or even if you are just a sandwich maker, you might appreciate such a simple but effective tool.

If you want me to come up with alternatives instead of dairy products for my vegan friends, let me know in the comment section below. 

But first, I am excited to share with you a couple of stories: 

My love affair with sandwiches started when my dearest older sister (a budding cook) made a sweet-chili-mango pickle sandwich delight. 

The bread was nothing to write home about, for it was highly processed white bread that tasted like glue if you ate it by itself. What made it lip-smacking good was the pickle, my maternal grandmother's creation (a.k.a. Ooma), which was one of her minimal repertoire in the culinary arts. 

You see, our dear Ooma was not into cooking, for she relied entirely on Kaveri, her trusted cook, to prepare all the meals, snacks included. But from time to time, Ooma would come up with a treasure or two, like the sweet & spicy chili-mango pickle, which was utterly delicious!

When my sister started speaking around the age of two or so, she came up with the affectionate nickname Ooma for our beloved granny. The rest of our household followed suit, including my mom and dad. 

I admired Ooma as a child. She was my childhood hero (although I was unaware of it then), and today I consider her one of my role models. 
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Ooma had weathered some formidable storms in her life, personally and culturally; she came out of these circumstances stronger and wiser. Almost everyone respected her, including her so-called enemies, even if they did so grudgingly. 
​

​The second sandwich story took place here in the USA. I was barely twenty-two when Russill and I moved to the United States. For the first four months, we lived in a residential spiritual community for lay people along with our beloved late friend Wayne Teasdale. 

Fr. Paul, a venerable old Irish catholic priest, founded this community many years ago, before our arrival. One of my chores was to make lunch for him every day. But I was not a cook then, and when I mentioned this to Wayne, he causally said to make him a sandwich and give him a glass of milk. And that Fr. Paul will love such a fare.  

But woefully I did not even know how to make a sandwich. Wayne chuckled and gave me a quick 101 on how to make it. By the way, Wayne was neither a cook nor into eating healthy. 

So I made Fr. Paul P&J with highly processed peanut butter and jelly; the only other option was an ultra-processed cheese sandwich. Fr. Paul, who was in his eighties and had Parkinson's disease, would have a beatific smile when I laid out his lunch before him. He never asked for anything different, nor did he compliment or complain about his lunch. His gentle demeanor and soft-spoken voice remind me so much of our dear mentor, Fr. Bede Griffiths, back in India, whom Russill and I missed very much. 

I share these stories with you because sandwiches generally are not seen as part of a healthy diet. However, it is equally important to state that "diets don't work."

Toward the end of my video blog, "Heaven In A Sandwich," I briefly mention that diets do not work, which I have written about in my books. Unfortunately, very few of us take this to heart, as most continue chasing the next new fad that the food industry and the media tout incessantly.

The only two diets worth noting are Therapeutic & Preventive. 

Distressingly, the food industry via the medium of "ultra-processed-food" has created billions of food addicts among us while the growth rate of obesity, chronic diseases, and mental disorders are at an all-time high. 

Study after study shows a direct link between consuming fake food and health disorders, be it physical or mental. Painfully, it is easy to be addicted to junk food because "they can trigger the release of dopamine (feel good hormone) in the brain's reward system at levels comparable to nicotine and alcohol."

Before I conclude this vlog-blog here are my seven MYWWT*  nuggets for a healthier you:

 To your health and wholeness,
​
Asha

The stories we tell ourselves become our reality! If you had heard this statement 20 years ago, you would not be faulted for dismissing it as a new-age mumbo jumbo. You would have been in good company, and I would have been, too :)

Regardless of who we are, meaning male or female, cultured or uncultured, holder of multiple degrees, or a high school dropout, you and I tell stories to ourselves and others all day long. So what, right? Where is the harm in that? Surprisingly, the story we tell matters not only to our physiological health but to our emotional well-being as well. 

Today, Narrative and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy use story-telling as a healing modality. I can attest to this as I have not only been studiously preoccupied with emotional well-being for decades but have also dealt with trauma. 

2018 marked my 50th birth year, one of the most emotionally challenging years both as a married couple and individually, as Russill and I discovered and started dealing with our childhood traumas.

To make things further interesting, both of us were diagnosed with not just PTSD but with CPTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder). 

As I have written before, we lovely humans are hard-wired to focus on the negative more than the positive, a.k.a. Negativity bias. And it happens to the best of us.

Take a moment to recount your day thus far; how many times in the last 24 hours did your brain paint a scenario where you experienced mild to moderate discomfort about your future? Now compare it to how often you felt profound gratitude for a bright future?  

Whether or not you have been affected by trauma, many of us perceive the world as a scary place. This is because we have been trained to be on guard, or else real or imagined tigers are waiting to devour us. Although, to be fair, our training mainly stems from well-meaning people; parents, teachers, and the like. 

However, fear begets fear, and voila, negativity bias's twin confirmation bias steps in! Slowly but surely, our fears are validated, we become strong in our convictions of how correct our fears are, and out steps our Joie de vivre (joy of life).

In case you need to jog your memory, here are a couple of quick definitions:
Negativity bias: Humans use positive & negative information to make sense of their world. However, we have abundant observational evidence that adults display a negativity bias (1), or the propensity to attend to, learn from, and use negative information far more than positive. 
Confirmation bias: Is the way in which we process information, facts, data, etc., by looking for and interpreting them to fit our existing beliefs (2).
These biases are a fundamental issue when manifesting our Soul's desire. Because our clever minds start to use reasons to justify our beliefs, habits, and behaviors rather than changing them to obtain the desired outcomes. 

Humanistic psychologists  Abraham Maslow (one of the most cited psychologists of the last century) and Carl Rogers (a founding father of psychotherapy research) viewed Joie de vivre,(3) or Joy of life, as the by-product of self-actualization. 

And one of Maslow's famous quotes is, "It is as if Freud supplied us the sick half of psychology and we must now fill it out with the healthy half."

Returning to Joie de vivre, we are not discussing chasing happiness here. On the contrary, it involves our entire self, our whole being. It is taking delight in being just alive!

When I share this aspect in-depth with my students, I caution them that Joie de vivre is not pollyannaism.

Being positive sucks when our emotional life is imbalanced. Repeating affirmations and bypassing proactively addressing emotional issues will NOT lead to manifesting your heartfelt desires. Instead, it can lead to excessive self-absorption, overthinking, and in-action, a classic case of analysis paralysis. I trust you would agree that this is not the path to fulfilling our souls. 

To bring this point home to you, one of my first trauma therapists, upon learning that I was a big proponent of affirmations, tried to use affirmations to fix my situation without fully comprehending my emotional condition. I knew then and there that I needed to look for a new therapist. 

After searching high and low, the Universe provided a different therapist who was able to help me effectively address my trauma and integrate my professional understanding of whole-person health. In this instance, the new therapist successfully suggested affirmations for my therapeutic process.

Going back to the exercise mentioned above that we previewed, most if not all of the discomfort we feel about our future is because none of us can be certain about our future. To a great extent, it is a big unknown. 

A major con of the modern lifestyle is our unconscious lack of resilience. A lack of hardiness. We have so many things that we can control at the tip of our fingertips; for example, the temperature of our homes, workspace, automobiles, etc., we have become accustomed to certain outcomes.  
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Just as we control our indoor temperature, we also try to control our emotions. We abuse food, drink, drugs, and even healing tools such as meditation to understate or deny our feelings. 

A while ago, I heard an insightful Ted talk where the speaker spoke eloquently about dealing with anger. She compared our angry adult self to a 4-year-old. She said when we are mad, we cannot let the kid take the wheel, nor can we stuff the kid in the trunk!

Well-being is about the ability to entertain the whole spectrum of human emotions (happy, sad, joy, fear, and so on) effectively and purposefully without being lost in the highs and lows of life. This is true spiritual equanimity. A stark contrast to indifference or wanting to run away from the world. 

Let us not sugarcoat it. Healthily dealing with our emotions takes skill, practice, and the need to take a hard look at our habits/behaviors. And most importantly, the willingness to flourish.

This is how we build resilience 1.0, and then we can look forward to building resilience 2.0 that takes us to the level of thriving despite all the bad hands we have been dealt with and in the face of an uncertain life.

The good news is emotional thriving is a learned skill and a huge part of spiritual fulfillment.  
The secret ingredient is choice, or rather the willingness to choose the actions needed to thrive. 

The Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita (the most revered Hindu scripture) begins wonderfully at the moment of despair. The Gita teaches us that discovering how our Soul can choose - is its way out of disempowerment and despair. When the Soul begins to make wise choices, it can regain its rightful place as the director of our consciousness. This path uses Viveka (spiritual discernment) to navigate.

I trust that you have found this blog helpful. To learn how my Wellness Program can help you click here

💜 Asha

The lady in the picture above has one of the most powerful voices I have heard. I would hear her all the way high up in my 4th-floor apartment the moment she entered the street and until she walked her way to the next one. 

And when she comes to our door number, she will call out to me with a single long utterance, "ammmaaaa," and I would tumble down the stairwell to be greeted by her warm toothless smile.

I would then help her bring down her oversized aluminum container from her dainty but strong head, we would chat for a bit before I purchased the bananas for the day, and she was on her way to take care of her next customer. 

A bit of history: My friend, whom I called "Patti" was ageless. (Patti, by the way, is pronounced like "party" and means grandmother in Tamil.) Now, even if I wanted to know her age, she would not tell me, not because she was bashful, but simply because she did not know it herself. This is very common among older people living in rural India with little or no formal education. 

Patti woke up at the crack of dawn, did her ablutions, boarded the local town bus carrying her large basin heavy-laden with bananas, and left for her long work day to the nearby city from her humble home shared with her son and his family. She did this every single day, rain or shine. 

She was indeed an inspiring figure, for I was amazed at her soft strength. For the next three weeks or so, I had the blessing of seeing Patti and speaking to her almost daily. Not once did I hear her complain or waver in her stamina. 

As you can see from the picture, Patti is a delicate figure, but she carried a hefty load on her head and walked several hours a day until her bananas were all gone! Then she started all over again the next day. 

This seems to be the hallmark of the Tamil people, who are resilient yet relaxed, laid back but hard-working, and mostly friendly. The ancientness that they emanate is tangible in their penetrating and gentle eyes. 

Patti is not only Tamil but from a lower rung on the Indian caste ladder. Sadly, despite all its progress and spiritual greatness, the caste system persists in present-day India.​

Russill writes in one of the chapters of our Pilgrim's Orientation and Preparation Handbook, "The caste system, which continues to prevail today, has been significantly challenged to change and evolve in the last five decades. Tamilnadu – the land of the Tamil people –seems to be the region where many of these ostracized people made their settlements thousands of years ago. Perhaps they were always here, an ancient aboriginal people who speak a language (Tamil) that is Dravidian in its roots. It appears that in Tamilnadu, the indigenous people of India preserved their links to the ancient Indus Valley civilization, keeping their devotion to the mother goddess alive and honoring her in their rituals and ceremonies."

When Patti calls out "amma," she calls out to the divine mother. In Tamilnadu, all females, regardless of age, are often addressed as divine mothers. Isn't that special? It is one of the many reasons we love going to India each year. Another reason we love India is its ancientness.

We encounter this throughout our pilgrimage no matter where we are, be it a venerable old priest at the magnificent stone temple sanctuaries or a day laborer toiling under the tropical Indian sun. ​

​

What a year it has started to be, huh? 

As we began to contemplate the possibility of biding good riddance to the pandemic this year, we are thrust into facing an existential crisis for Ukraine/Ukrainians and maybe for other parts of Europe.  

Though I was blessed to grow up in a free and democratic India, I remember chanting our freedom fighters' names from the age I could speak. Russill and I continue to stand united in supporting Ukraine and her people. Message us if you are interested in learning about the organizations we have supported in their efforts to ease this humanitarian crisis. 

About a week ago here in the US, the infamous Chris Rock slap has dominated newsfeeds and made headlines across the globe. This incident affected me deeply, as it seemed to have triggered my childhood trauma. It took me a couple of days to get clarity on my trigger, and once it came to the forefront of my consciousness, I could stop being weepy and sad. Thanks to my frontal lobe and spiritual practice, I could move forward rather than being sucked into a vicious cycle of sadness, anger, and self-pity. 

A note about self-pity at the outset, although it might seem harmless, research cautions us that self-pity typically arises when we attribute our sense of failure (disempowerment) to external factors that we believe are uncontrollable.

Now here is some good news: 
*On March 29th, the United States, as per the CDC's (center for disease control) guidelines, has relaxed the COVID travel rating for India from Level 3 to Level 1. 
Yay! We can now get ready for the Jan 2023 India pilgrimage with our group and have opened registration. 
*My hubby & I gratefully celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary: the Universe gifted us with a perfect day of sunshine and fun.
*Our family back in India welcomed a brand new baby girl a few weeks ago, and I am a grand-aunt:)
Spring is here! It is the season when plants awaken and put out their new leaves as they begin to warm our hearts with colorful flowers. 

It is also the time for Spring clean: a tradition that dates back to ancient times across the globe, particularly in the Middle East, North America, and Northern Europe.

When we think of Spring cleaning, what comes to our minds is the practice of meticulously cleaning our homes, closet space, nooks and corners, etc. 

What about our body and mind? When do we do that? Daily, of course, but earmarking a time of the year to focus on cleanse that is not just limited to the physical but includes our mental and spiritual aspects is crucial to incorporate into our lives at least once a year. And Spring is the perfect time to do so :)

When people think of a detox or a cleanse, the thought that usually jumps-out is, "oh, I will need to give up my favorite comfort foods, boohoo :(."

If you have worked with me, you know that I am a big proponent of "Diets Don't Work!" 
Likewise, when it comes to a cleanse or detoxification, my training as a health coach has helped me think outside the box where we focus not on giving up but on adding and enhancing! 

Why? 

Though our brain is extraordinary, and our frontal lobes are the crowning glory of the human species, we are hard-wired to focus on the negative more than the positive: this is known as negativity bias. And it happens to the best of us. 
In other words, every human being, regardless of how evolved they may consider themselves to be, has to deal with it. We face a double whammy when it comes to health, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. 

Allow me to explain. 

Negativity bias is a significant problem, especially when dealing with our health because we use reasons (often convincing ones) to justify our habits rather than proactively changing them. 

Believe me, I go kicking and screaming when I encounter change as well.

With this in mind, Russill & I have created a 21-Day Cleanse Made Simple. This fun, doable class is designed to create a sense of deep community, and it is not going to be an exhaustive to-do list, but each day, you will be guided by accessible and attainable things to act upon. 

Finally, whether you are a vegan or a person who enjoys eating animal products, this cleanse can be helpful for you. Our aim is not to convert you to one way of eating or the other. Instead, to guide you to a place of centeredness and peace from the comfort of your home. Moreover, the uniqueness of this cleanse is the focus on the holistic approach to health because viewing health solely on the physical or emotional, or spiritual level is not healthy.

Russill and I would love for you to join us both on this cleanse.

​Please scroll down below for more information and enrollment. 
​
💟 Asha

 
​A week ago, I was invited to a radio interview focused on Valentine's Day. 

I welcomed the change of topic, went into a headspace, started researching the history behind this day, built my upcoming (Feb 12th) online cooking class around it, and am now blogging about it!

Let me start with a brief history: St. Valentine was a real person martyred in the 3rd century and recognized by the Catholic Church as the patron saint (1) of lovers, people with epilepsy, and beekeepers. Several stories associate him with romantic legends, but scholarly accounts say that there is little truth in that. 

All the same, the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer in his poem "Parliament of Fowls" (the title sounds anything but romantic), associated Saint Valentine with romantic love (2), and since then, he (Valentine) has been stuck with it!

Whether you love this day or hate it, here is my take on it. 

Despite the insane commercialization, being a sucker for romance, I have a soft spot for it! Having said that, my sweetheart and I have been married now for 33 years, and not once have we exchanged Valentine's day cards nor bought gifts for each other on this day. 

So how then do we celebrate? 
*If our work permits, we try to take off the day and hang out with each other 
*We cook each other's favorite dish 
*Cuddle up as much as we can throughout the day. 
*We make it a point to recall the very first time we met & how we fell in love with each other. 

In my case, the overwhelming feeling of love was accompanied by guilt as well, as my sweetheart was a bald monk when I first laid eyes on him. And he was my first love. 

Well, I will admit I have had my share of school-girl crushes, but the feeling of romantic love that took over me was new, thrilling, and intoxicating. 

You might say that I was head over heels in love. Ooh, I didn't mean to reveal so much, but you know now :)

Now the question is must you celebrate Valentine's Day? Of course, I would encourage you to do so, in your way, nevertheless make it special. 

Who does not want to love and be loved? It is a tremendous force in the Universe and crucial for our well-being. 

And what if you are single? I believe that this day can be your day to celebrate as well. It is the perfect day to indulge in self-love and self-care!

This year Valentine's Day happens to be on a Monday, and most of us may be working, so it is the best excuse to start preparing for your romantic dinner on Sunday itself. 

Then, even if you have to work on Monday, you can enjoy hanging out in the evening with a romantic meal from the comfort of your home. 

Of course, it does not have to be complicated at all.

This coming Sunday, the day before Valentine's Day, I plan to do precisely that. I am excited because I will be cooking not only with my sweetheart but with several of my online cooking class students who are all across the country, and some living outside the US. 

Here are a few tips to make your Valentine's day extra special at home: 

* Bring out you're fine china, 
* Light candles, play your special song 
*Make sure you dress up by wearing your best outfit that makes you feel gorgeous / handsome
*Create a beautiful table setting with linen table cloth / napkins
* Sprinkle fragrant-smelling flowers like fresh rose petals 
* And if weather permits, have it outdoors on your patio or balcony. 

Check out the radio interview below for recipe suggestions.

I believe you will agree that the idea is to create an atmosphere that feels sensual and pleasurable. Make it memorable! 

I would love to hear some of your suggestions to make this day significant. So now, don't be shy, and please leave your suggestions and comments below... 

Love, 

Asha
​​

A sweet Korean lady introduced me to Kimchi 30 years ago! Like me, she was new to N. America, and both of us were not only fresh off the boat but dearly missed the food that we grew up eating.  

Although Kimchi is not an Indian dish, the flavors resembled the foods my mom would cook. 

I am unsure if my Korean friend made the Kimchi herself or if it was store-bought. Regardless it was very generous of her to share it with me, as we were both living in a Zen center and trying to make our way in the US. 

I was so starved for spicy food, which is why, the moment she offered me some Kimchi, I wolfed it down without a second thought of wanting to share with my beloved. But, you see, like me, Russill was missing spicy food as well, and both of us made it an unconscious habit from the time we were married to share almost everything. Most often, it included even sharing a piece of gum. 

Anyways to make it up to him, I pled with my new friend for a few more spoonfuls of her mouthwatering Kimchi, and she was once again generous to share it with us. 
​
Since then, both Russill and I, whenever we could, started indulging in this gut-healthy goodness (see benefits below). But until six years ago, it never occurred to me to make it at home. I guess I was terrified of the fermentation process. 
​
Surprisingly, I found it relaxing to make it and equally enjoyed checking on the fermentation action! However, I confess if you plan on making a large quantity, it can be a chore, mainly preparing the veggies. So be sure to get your family or friends involved and make it into a fun affair. 

If you love spicy food, Kimchi is a must-have in your fridge. What's more, it will last you for a long no, let me rephrase it a very long time! For instance, I made my batch of Kimchi last September, and I still have half a jar left. 

Tips for storing it:
a) As noted in my vlog, store it in airtight glass jars, and after the fermentation process is complete, refrigerate the glass container. 
b) Ensure to use clean and dry spoons to dish it out and replace the jar in the fridge. 
c) I keep mine in the lowest shelf way in the back of the fridge. 

A word of caution: Homemade Kimchi needs extra caution, for it need not come outright.  You can know this by the odor and the color of the veggies. If it is foul-smelling or it does not appear suitable, please discard it! Also, remember that it is a live culture, and take extra precautions during the fermentation and storage processes.  
​
And here is the list of ingredients:
* 1 large green cabbage
* 3 large carrots
* 1 pound daikon radish 
* 1 large yellow onion 
* 8 cloves of garlic
* 2 green apples
​* Red Chili flakes 
* 1 TBS ginger
* Celtic Salt 

​Are you now ready for some of the health benefits of this humble yet excellent probiotic food?

1. Plant-based Probiotic: As Kimchi is a fermented food, it is brimming with numerous beneficial bacteria, but the predominant one is lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Hence it is considered a plant-based probiotic with similar benefits to dairy products such as yogurt (1).  Therefore, it can be a good option for vegans as well. 

2. Could Improve Gut health: in the above paragraph, we learned that Kimchi is probiotic-rich food. If you are not too familiar with what are probiotics and how they are beneficial to us, here below is a quick summary: 

Probiotics are microbes that combine beneficial bacteria and fungi that live in your body. They are good bacteria. And yes, we have both kinds in our bodies. 

Recent studies claim the number of bacteria may be very similar to the number of cells in the body (2).
Still, other studies claim that we house lot more bacteria than human cells. How about that?

​For a microbe to be qualified as a probiotic (3), it needs to:

• Be isolated from a human.
• Survive in your intestine after ingestion (being eaten).
• Have a proven benefit to you.
• Be safely consumed.

So there you have it! 

An excellent way to increase the good bacteria in your gut is by consuming probiotic-rich foods and beverages. 
However, here is a News flash: every single human being's microbiome is unique. Therefore, what works for one need not work for another. 

3. Powerful antioxidants: Although there are various ways of making Kimchi, traditionally, it is made with cabbage, garlic, ginger, radish, carrots, and scallions. These veggies are a nutritional powerhouse and potent source of antioxidants. 

Antioxidants help with cell repair, reduce the aging process, assist heart health, and even protect against certain cancers. However, scientific studies point out that it is better to obtain antioxidants from a well-rounded diet than supplements (4). 

4. May support Immune health: Quite a few of you reading this blog may be aware of the connection between gut bacteria and digestion. But, are you also familiar with the relationship between your body's immune system and the microbes that exist in your intestines? 

About 70% of the immune system resides in your gut (5). 
Earlier, we explored how Kimchi could help your gut health. So we can say a healthy gut equals a healthy immune system. 

FYI, I work with students who have suffered for decades from issues such as constipation or irritable bowel syndrome. And it is an absolute joy to be able to reverse it in a matter of few sessions. 

Moreover, almost all of them say that the relief is not just in their bodies, but their mental clarity improves. This additional benefit is not surprising at all. Why? Because numerous institutes, including Harvard and John Hopkins, have and continue to research the gut- brain-mental health connection. And the verdict is that microbes affect the way we think and feel. 

5. Economic and easy to make: Like most homemade food, Kimchi is economical and easy to prepare in your kitchen. And a sixty-four-ounce jar of Kimchi could last several months for a family of two or more. 
​
Giving you a heads up that I have a delicious salad recipe in my upcoming book with homemade Kimchi. 

I trust you have enjoyed reading this blog :)

Feel free to share your comments below, and do reach out to me if you need help to manage your waist with taste or take your health to the next level. 

Warm wishes, 

Asha

"Please, sir, can I have some more?" Remember that famous Dickensian line? Well, "mor" is the traditional Tamil name of this delicious summer probiotic that you can learn to make in this vlog. And your kids, including the grown-up ones, will be begging you for more:)

Fourth of July message below the video...

In the spirit of the Fourth of July and the celebration of summer, we offer you a healthy beverage that can soften the effects of heat. But, we also acknowledge the sadness of so many people worldwide, including here in America. People are facing extenuating circumstances, such as the fires and heatwaves on our west coast. And there are the grave discoveries of the genocide of indigenous people in Canada.

As we celebrate the Fourth of July weekend in N. America, the celebration of independence, we consider what is fundamental to the human spirit. Regardless of our nationality, we all want freedom and the ability to make choices, even if we make wrong choices and learn from our mistakes.

Cooking, too, is about freedom. We might learn from someone how to make a recipe, and the very first time we try it, we follow the instructions to a T. Once we've learned the recipe, we exercise our freedom. For example, we might choose to use a bit more salt or less chili to suit our taste. 

In this way, cooking models life. We learn from others and then find a way to integrate that teaching into our lives. And each time we recreate the recipe, it is a bit different. This freedom, including the freedom to mess up, keeps us in the present moment and gives us that distinctive sense of being alive.

My husband, Russill, and I have made N. America our home. As American citizens, we celebrate the fourth of July, loving the fireworks, music, and the sense of community we share with our fellow Americans. We love that special feeling of being out in the open and knowing that democracy protects our rights and dignity.

No matter who we are, we all want to live freely, make choices, and get better at exercising our options.

Sometimes, we pay the price for the choices of others. For example, it is hard to know whose responsibility it is for the excessive heat and wildfires happening in California. And there is the tragic collapse of the building in Miami. In comparison, other similar events are happening around the world. Humans and other beautiful species are being affected, sometimes annihilated.

And so, while celebrating freedom and all the good vibes of this memorable fourth, combined with the sadness of so many difficult circumstances of people worldwide, including here in America, we share this recipe with you.

Enjoy it and share it with others.

Love - Asha

PS. This beverage recipe is from my upcoming 2nd book, which explores brain-body health, food politics, recipes and more... 

Dear friends,

This usually festive time of the year is dulled by covid. We just returned from a drive to downtown Austin and were struck by how different the vibe is despite the lights and decorations. 

While we cannot make light of what is for so many their worst Christmas season ever, we also feel it is crucial to find some simple way to lift the spirit. We hope what we share in this video is taken in that context.

Recipe Ingredients: Cocoa or Cacao powder, sweetener, milk, and heavy whipping cream. Watch the video for an additional mystery ingredient.
​

​Our prayer this holiday season:

In the name of all that is good, we pray for the health of all the people on our planet. May we achieve worldwide herd immunity to covid, and normal activities resume for us all soon. 

In the name of all that is wise, we also pray for our planet's health, that we may be more attuned to her requirements for a sustainable ecosystem. 

Last but not least, and in the name of all that is holy, we pray for health, protection, and continuance of all remaining species on our precious earth.

Finally, in the name of all that is joyful, (watch the video…)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
And Happy "Holydays" To All
Channukah, Kwanza, et al.

​Russill & Asha

It's that time of the year, here in the US, to think about family. We like you to feel that that you are part of our extended spiritual family.

I am passing on a recipe to you originally inspired by Russill's mom that I've developed with my own unique flavor. Here are the ingredients. Watch the video below to create.

If you don't do eggs, you can substitute with an alternative, or enjoy it just as a mint sandwich.

Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving, or if you reside outside the US, a day of gratitude perhaps.

​Love -- Asha

Please share your comments below...

Noted author and teacher Wayne Teasdale passed on that further shore on Oct 20, 2004. It was devastating for us. He was our best friend, and he was instrumental in our coming to America.

Part Irish and part Italian, his wit and wisdom came through almost every moment. He never missed a beat when it came to making a joke. "And there's truth in humor," he would add, with a twinkle in his eye.

Image 1: Not long after we arrived in the US (top picture), we lived with Wayne at Hundred Acres Monastery in New Hampshire. We were strict vegetarians at the time, and since Wayne had taken the vow of Sannyasa from Bede Griffiths, he said he would observe the same diet as we did. But Wayne loved chicken. And Jennifer, the monastery cook, made the best. Wayne said it was sufficient for him to smell it.

One day, Russill needed to use the restroom during the meal. The door was slightly ajar, and when pushed, revealed Wayne wolfing down a large leg of chicken. Russill called out to the rest of the community to come to check out the scene. There was gravy dripping all over the floor, and Wayne had sauce on his face.

But we thought you were vegetarian, Wayne, Russill teased him. Yeah, but only part-time", he quipped.

Image 2: We taught alongside Wayne all across the US, Canada, and internationally until he became ill with cancer in 2002. We moved to Austin to care for him but sadly, he died before he could relocate.

During every single one of our retreats, we created skits that we enacted together. Here, Asha is an air hostess for Air India with a crazy Indian accent. Wayne was cabin steward with an equally hilarious Indian accent and a bobbing head. Russill played an orthodox Brahmin who unknowingly ends up with a non-vegetarian meal and gets his mantras mixed up.

Image 3: Bede Griffiths came to live with us in Vermont after our Hundred Acres Monastery stint. Many famous people came to visit, including contemplative outreach founder Fr. Thomas Keating and folk legend Arlo Guthrie. We were all on a strict diet due to Bede's health condition. It was the time Asha was inspired to begin her lifelong passion for nutrition and holistic health. We sneaked out with Wayne sneaked for ice cream and fries. 

We love him so much! And we still miss him terribly! 

If you are interested in his books, consider reading The Mystic Heart or A Monk In The World. They are both inspiring reads. Click an image below...

The latter is far more dangerous than the former. Why? Because you and I cannot control what others say or do, including our loved ones. However, you and I can control our own thinking. 

Controlling our thinking is not easy. Nevertheless, it is an art that needs to be mastered if we want to be genuinely happy. Controlling our thinking is also necessary to fulfill our soul's calling. 

Regardless of how successful, influential, and happy a person may appear to be, all humans are affected by self-doubt, if not daily, at least from time to time. 

Self-doubt is a human condition and a human affliction.

The best of the best among us see this condition for what it is, and they do NOT let their self-doubts stop them from living out their true potential. Nor do they make their fears drown out their dreams and aspirations from being achieved. 

 "Everything you want in life is on the other side of fear."  -  Jack Canfield
​
Growing old is part and parcel of life. It is a fact that our body ages! Changes such as wrinkles, age spots, and blemishes happen whether we cover it up with makeup or a facelift. 

Wouldn't you like to feel comfortable in your own skin? To do that, owning and loving the aging process is essential for growing into a happy and satisfied soul! 

Isn't that what we truly want, to age like fine wine?

In our celebrity culture and social media mania, most of us can quickly sink into feelings of envy, comparison, inadequacy, and become emotionally trapped in such beliefs. 

Don't let someone's else reality be yours!

And never let someone else's achievement, including what you have achieved, limit your life. 

Life is limitless! For life stems from the Source of all creation, which, although unfathomable, is teeming with abundance and intelligence.  

"Our Conscious Intelligence Is As Much Of Life As We Understand." - Ernest Holmes

The things we take for granted today, such as our smartphones, a small device the size of our palm that has transformed our day to day lives, was unthinkable just fifty years ago. 

A hundred and fifty years ago, such a device and today's technological advancements would have been assigned to the realm of magic or supernatural and would have been dismissed by most of us as unrealistic. 
 
What is being realistic, anyways? 

Being realistic, in our post-modern world, often borderlines on pessimism. Being realistic, however, is neither about being a pessimist nor an optimist. A realist can see things and situations for what they are. He or she knows that the future can swing either way, depending on one's choice, behavior, and action. 

When we are told to be "realistic," it often comes from well-meaning people who are afraid or shy away from living their true potential. Even worse, it can come from mean people who do not want you to spread your wings and soar high!

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt

Just so you know, I am not equating the above reframing of being realistic with not being responsible. This is a whole different subject, and it might require another blog to differentiate the two. 

Are you ready now to hear my story about being an ageist?

My young neighbor, I will call her Mia for the sake of privacy, is about 5 years old. The incident that I am about to recall to you happened a couple of years ago. 

When Mia first started speaking, a few years ago, Russill and I were amused, but it was hard for us to understand what she was saying. Exceedingly smart, she was also very engaging, making eye contact to share whatever was in her mind and heart. It was just the way the words came out: adorable, but utterly incomprehensible to me.

One day, as I was chatting outside with her mother, Mia tried telling me something that I simply could not understand for the life of me. Interestingly, she realized that I could not understand her. So she went indoors and came back outside sporting a child's sunglasses. She looked at me long and hard through them without a word, and then slowly took them off and hung them on her tee-shirt. It was as if she said to me, "You don't understand me, and that's just fine with me!"

For this was a bit of a zen moment. It dawned on me that I could choose to suspend my prejudices by recognizing that they are like a pair of spectacles that I can hang up when I want to.
​

MYTH 3: Hormonal disorders makes weight management next to impossible.

FACT: Hormonal imbalance makes it difficult to manage your weight but not impossible. I know this because I am living proof, as are many others. If you want to know more about my story, click here.

Hormonal diseases are a significant concern in our world today. Hundreds of millions of people are affected, many of whom are unaware that their hormones are out of order due to being underdiagnosed. This puts people at serious risks, including heart disease. An estimated 60 million in the U.S. alone are underdiagnosed.
​
Here are some related facts:

• Although women are more prone to it, both men and women are affected by hormone disorders.

 

• The problem extends to younger and younger generations, which was unheard of 20 years ago.

 

• According to the National Institute of Health, 175 distinct rare diseases affect the endocrine system, a group of glands that produce hormones.

MYTH 4: Drinking more water helps to lose weight faster.

FACT: There is next to little scientific evidence that drinking a ton of water aids weight loss. It is considered a self-perpetuating myth, and almost everyone buys into it. 

Keep in mind that your body is designed to regulate water balance to perfection. A slight decrease in water content would secrete a hormone (vasopressin), which signals intense thirst. This would dramatically reduce the amount of water that would be excreted from your body in the form of urine. 

While drinking water in and of itself is a good thing, paradoxically, drinking too much water is not, as this can lead to dehydration.

MYTH 5: Diet supplements are a safe option.

FACT: According to the Poison Control Center, most weight loss supplements are riddled with "ingredients that are contaminated, ineffective, dangerous, or actually illegal"! Mind-blogging, right?

The safe option is not popping pills, including herbal ones. It is with your knife and fork!

On this journey, your kitchen is meant to become your altar that honors your health on a day-to-day basis.

In conclusion, here are four takeaways:
​

• Waist and weight management are essential for good physical and mental health. The cosmetic effect, i.e., a slender figure and a slimmer waistline, is an added bonus: a nice one nevertheless :)

 

• Obesity, although grown to an epic proportion, is preventable. More importantly, it is reversible, regardless of your age, gender, or genetic predisposition.

 

• Eating healthy to lose weight does NOT require giving up your taste. In fact, your taste buds refine over time so that junk food actually tastes like junk. Enjoying your food and feeling satisfied is vital for being able to implement lasting changes.

 

• Healthy weight loss is sustainable only through safe habits, which takes time to develop and become second nature.

I would like to end with a quote from a philosopher who inspired and influenced noted figures like Leo Tolstoy, Mahamata Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr.
​

Recently, Russill and I sat down to discuss addressing our fears amid the stresses of dealing with the current pandemic. Many years ago, I practiced a method to address stress in my body when dealing with a debilitating health condition. Once I overcame this condition (you can read about it here), I stopped using the technique. However, I continued sharing it with students I coach. 

All through 2018 and well into 2019, my husband Russill went through a tough time as memories of childhood trauma resurfaced for him. For more than 18 months, this expressed itself in PTSD. Need I say more? I shared this method with him, and it helped him on many an occasion. Of course, his trauma therapists were essential to his process, but I offered my skills as well during this time. This technique was one of them.

Sharing a technique by itself can be dry, which is why the video offers some context and background as well. Additionally, given the need to be brief in the context of a blog post, a simplified version of the technique is shared. 
 
So often, we try and approach stress through our thinking. There is value to that. Introduced to the power of the mind when I was barely in my teens, I know the importance of such an approach. However, when stress is activated in the body, we cannot just think it away. Even if we are not stressed presently, many of our friends and loved ones are. You can support them by learning the practice I share through your own calm presence.
 
I genuinely hope that what is shared in the video offers you something of value in these stressful times. 

I look forward to your comments below ...

Love -- Asha