In the Midst of a Pandemic
Greetings,
I hope this message finds you safe and well during this transformative time. COVID-19 has impacted our lives in unimaginable ways. We have had to learn to line up just to buy groceries, to homeschool our kids while attending meetings and classes online, and to find different ways of staying active and healthy. We’ve incorporated new terminology like “social distancing” and “shelter in place” into our everyday conversations, and added face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer to our daily accessories. While we don’t know what the new “normal” will look like once the pandemic has subsided, we do know there will be some significant changes, and I am hopeful that this is the storm before the calm as we move into a more humane, heart-centered way of being.
One of the major impacts to HEAL Ayurveda is our inability to offer body therapies right now, ironically at a time when we could use them most. Rest assured, we will be eager to get our healing hands on you once we open up again!
Our “doors” do remain open, however!
We are now offering Telehealth Consultations 7 days a week!
We’re available to consult with clients new and old about managing symptoms, about how to live well and eat healthy even during a quarantine, and most importantly, to offer SUPPORT and a GOOD LISTEN to anyone who needs it right now. Consultations are such an important and necessary part of Ayurveda as it helps us learn about all aspects of our client’s life.
One of the most significant ways Ayurveda differs from conventional medicine is that Ayurveda treats the whole person, not just the symptoms.
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What’s New
Over the past two years my role as a faculty member of the Ayurveda Program at the Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCUHS) has increased significantly. When I joined the faculty as a Clinical Instructor in 2017 we had nearly 40 students. Last week we held a welcome orientation for 120 students! SCUHS has been voted the #1 US-based Ayurveda program for the past 3 years, and I’m honored to be a part of the team. Meanwhile, I have continued to build my private practice at HEAL Ayurveda. However, with the increasing demands at SCUHS, I unfortunately have fewer days that I am available in West LA.
On the bright side, this has allowed me to bring on two new practitioners and together we now have availability 7 days per week!
I would like to introduce you to Lisa Rae Jacoby and Steve Reding. Both of them were outstanding students and graduates of the Ayurveda program at SCU where I had the opportunity to mentor and teach them. They are passionate Ayurveda practitioners, each with their own areas of experience and expertise to offer.
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Lisa Rae Jacoby is an enthusiastic Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner who believes in educating her clients on how to create balance in every aspect of life and the reasoning behind it.
Lisa began her journey in medicine as a
Certified Ophthalmic Assistant from the Academy of Ophthalmology in 2006. In 2014 she broadened her ophthalmic surgical assisting experience by working for a mobile eye surgery company, where she travelled throughout the U.S. and assisted many surgeons in cataract, glaucoma, retina and lid surgeries. In 2016 she was led to California, which changed everything! While addressing her own imbalances, Lisa attended therapies including a 10-day silent meditation, known as Vipassana. Afterwards, determined to go back to school and continue as a health care provider, she stumbled across Ayurveda. 2-clicks later she had an interview with a woman named Naomi at the Southern California University of Health Sciences
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Finding herself accepted and enrolled into a program that she knew nothing about was a big risk, as Western medicine was the only awareness that had occupied her practice. “When I first became intrigued with Ayurveda, I saw so clearly through a pin-hole of what Ayurveda was all about and now my entire field of vision is embodied by this ‘Science of Life’ and how it plays a role in every aspect of life. It is balance that we seek, but how we learn to get there is key.”
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Steve Reding, CAP, CMT, RYT, MA, is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, massage therapist, yoga instructor, and community wellness educator. Upon completion of a Master’s degree in psychology, he began his healthcare career as a mental health counselor in New York City. After becoming more interested in the prevention of mental illness, he relocated to take a position at UCSD as research coordinator for a series of schizophrenia prevention research studies. This work led him to believe that stress management should be the primary focus for symptom prevention for all mental health problems. Seeking to expand the options available to assist his clients, he began Ayurveda education. Steve now integrates his education and experience to help clients with stress management, cognitive enhancement, men’s health, healthy aging, and much more. He emphasizes health empowerment and encourages clients to be their own best caregivers. A natural educator, Steve enjoys sharing his knowledge with others. He has presented to social workers, chiropractors, massage therapists, and others on topics ranging from the use of Ayurveda for social workers to growing medicinal herbs at home. Steve is available for Ayurvedic consultations, bodywork, and educational workshops.
Bodywork and massage modalities:
Abhyanga, basti, deep-tissue, myofascial release, pinda sweda, shirodhara, Swedish, trigger-point
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One of the key ingredients used in Ayurveda is ghee, sometimes referred to as clarified butter. Ghee is used medicinally, in cooking and for internal and external body therapies. In a nutshell, ghee is unsalted butter minus the milk solids. When butter is prepared in this way, the health benefits abound, sounding almost too good to be true. Ghee has been touted as the “Golden Oil” by Ayurveda practitioners for centuries and more recently westerners have jumped on the ghee bandwagon. Ayurveda considers it a
Sattvic
food promoting positivity, health and personal growth. Here are some of the important benefits:
- High concentration of butyric acid which lowers cholesterol, aids in digestion, improves immunity, and reduces inflammation
- Lubricates the joints to improve flexibility
- Contains heart-healthy fats and Omega-3 fatty acids
- Contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which helps fight cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and is a good source of vitamins A, D, E and K2
- Excellent to use for high heat cooking as it has a high smoke point and won’t break down into free radicals
- Easier to digest than butter for lactose intolerant people
- Aids in absorption of nutrients from herbs and spices making it medicinally useful
Ghee can be found in most grocery stores, but it can be a little costly. While we are stuck in the house and cooking more, this is a good time to learn how to make your own ghee. It’s simple! Be sure to start with good quality UNSALTED organic butter.
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Our Recs for Immune Support
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