Nature is our greatest teacher. By honoring the cycles in the natural world around us, we can begin to observe – and respect – those same cycles within us.

Here at Hale Pule, we invite the sattvic power of nature into our lives through daily work on Durga Farms. Guests who attend our intensives and immersions get to share this experience by working with the Hawaiian soil and enjoying the freshly harvested food at every meal. Guests leave inspired by the healing power of nature and are often ready to start their own gardens at home. But it’s not necessary to have acres of land to become a gardener – you can start with something small, such as a window box with a few fresh herbs.

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and what happens on the outside reflects what is happening on the inside. While people often seek to address skin issues with external remedies, Ayurveda suggests healing them from the inside out.

By understanding the doshic imbalances behind common skin issues, you can make changes to bring whole-body health. Addressing the underlying imbalance will bring a calmer mind, healthy digestion and an improved relationship with the God of your heart. You certainly can’t get that from a prescription cream!

Here’s a look at three common skin ailments, their root causes and ways to bring your skin to its natural state of health.

By Stephanie Stillman

Aparigraha is one of the yamas, the ethics of Yoga. Its literal translation is not gripping, or non-attachment. Practicing aparigraha is practicing contentment, adaptability and presence. Being able to flow with life and stay present in the moment is aparigraha. It is the opposite of being attached to a past event or a future outcome.

The strength of a tree is easy to see on a windy day. The rushes of wind may rustle the leaves and bend the branches, but the tree remains firmly rooted into the earth.

You can find the same grounding in vrksasana, tree pose, a balancing posture that helps you develop a strong inward focus. Once you cultivate this sense of grounding, you will carry it off the mat into the rest of your life. No matter what winds blow around you, you can remain stable because you have developed deep roots within yourself.

By Lisa Akesson

I had been dreaming making a trip to India for years when spontaneously my friend and I made the decision to go. It was an overwhelming experience, full of positive and colorful memories that gave me hope and joy! But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

On our third day I started to feel sick. I thought it just was car sickness, but as the day went on it was clear it was more than that. After days of treating the bacteria with various medications that I would never consume at home, I finally got better. Later on during the trip when I got sick again, I knew better than to take such extreme measures.

Ayurveda offers the foundation to reclaim your natural state of health. Working with the concept of “food as medicine”, each bite offers an opportunity to rediscover what it means to be in connection with your body. And by making the commitment to cooking at home, your path to true health will become clear and simple because you are in charge of what and how you eat.

Setting up an Ayurvedic kitchen doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. In fact, you can clear clutter by giving away complicated gadgets to make room for the simple tools that cooks have used for centuries to lovingly prepare meals.

We’ve compiled a list of the essentials that every Ayurvedic kitchen should have. Once you have these items, all you need to bring a sattvic diet into your life are fresh vegetables and a little love.

By Shannon Wianecki

Before attending my first silent retreat, I wondered: what would happen? Would I go stir crazy? Would I be shocked by what I discovered inside myself? That was 10 years ago. I was a beginning yoga and meditation student and the idea of being totally silent, alone with my thoughts for nine days sounded both enticing and terrifying.

In recovery, every day is an opportunity to practice satya, truthfulness. When we practice satya on a daily basis we feel good. In a 12 Step program or on any spiritual path, Step 8 guides us to take a focused, honest look at past behaviors and become willing to make amends. Then, we can develop the best possible relations with all human beings, including ourselves. By approaching this step with humility and honesty, we can shave off the sharp edges of ahamkara, the ego. This is a practice we can do with increasing skill through life, and we never finish.