Staying Connected |Akhila Health Newsletter | Vol 7 | 4.24

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SAVE THE DATE:

Akhila Wellness Series: Permission to Thrive

May 8th, 4pm PT / 7 pm ET via Zoom

Join Janet Neal for a hands-on session to explore your values and learn a practical formula for designing a life of fulfillment. "Permission to Thrive" empowers you to overcome self-doubt and create a life aligned with your values, enabling you to truly thrive!

Are you currently:

Feeling stressed or burned out?
Unclear about what to do next?
Living a life that doesn't feel like your own?

If you answered 'yes' to any of the above, this webinar is for you!

Vijnanamaya Kosha:

Wisdom Sheath & The Wise Old Owl

As we journey forward through the Vedantic philosophy of panchakoshas (five sheaths), we come upon the fourth layer: vijnanamaya kosha - the wisdom or intellect sheath.

In Sanskrit, vijnana means wisdom. Vijnanamaya kosha is at the intersection of intuition and intellect, where the conscious mind is a detached witness of the internal and external workings of the body, mind, and senses, including sight, sound, smell, and touch. This perception aligns with the annamaya, pranamaya, and manomaya koshas to support a person's approach to making choices. As a subtle body, vijnanamaya kosha functions in the higher mind aligned with the “conscience” and in concert with free will for discernment.

Several practices support a healthy and balanced vijnanamaya kosha. From the yogic tradition, following positive tenants called yamas, inspires a pure, self-disciplined, and devoted nature. Also adhering to niyamas (rules, guidelines or observances), such as not harming, lying, stealing, or overindulging, fortifies one’s commitment to balancing vijnanamaya kosha.

Individuals who are in touch with vijnanamaya kosha make wise, peaceful choices rooted in morality.

Akhila Health vijnanamaya kosha intellect workshops focus on mindfulness and the wisdom of choice for lifestyle, character enrichment, and affirmation. This is accomplished in three ways. First, sessions help participants to self-reflect and establish a daily routine in support of their optimum health and well-being. Second, they explore their personal character to develop self-confidence, self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-satisfaction. And lastly, they help shift participants from a fixed to a growth mindset while reinforcing positive thinking and choice through affirmations.

Visit Akhila Health for a complete list of our program offerings.

In summary, vijnanamaya kosha fosters personal development and inner growth fueled by morals and ethics. Through self-awareness, it extends beyond knowledge and sensory perception to provide intuition for human choice and aligns us with a deeper sense of connectedness for greater compassion, love, and happiness.

Building Good Habits - Mindfulness Tools

How can we strengthen our vijnanamaya kosha? Our senses play a big role in helping us make wise choices. Meditation is an incredibly effective tool to help self-reflect, develop self-awareness, and reinforce positive thinking. Check out this Wisdom Meditation from our featured Facilitator, Kristen Tamsil.

Owl Wisdom Meditation: Listen Now!

Get in touch with your inner owl voice by tuning into your senses. You will begin to recognize how you react to this voice, and see how this understanding can change the types of choices you make in your life.

Quarterly Challenge:

Practice this meditation at least once per week to strengthen your inner owl voice and reinforce a healthy mindset and positive choices.

TIP: Every week, block off time on your calendar to meditate - you need less than 10 minutes - and the results are amazing!

Facilitator Spotlight

KRISTEN TAMSIL

Meet Kristen Tamsil, an osteopathic medical student at Touro University California. She is excited to be working with Akhila Health to help individuals understand the mind, body, spirit connection and empower them to make a positive change in their lives. In her free time, Kristen enjoys gardening and hiking.

What does serving the community mean to you?

Serving others in my community means being able to provide for others with what I have or what I can help with. I hope to impact those around me through compassionate care and thoughtful interactions. It means sharing your own knowledge while learning new things too.

How do you incorporate mindfulness into your life?

I believe that being mindful in how you interact with the world in your daily routine can make a huge impact on how you perceive both success and challenges. I have found that writing down my thoughts helps me to be more mindful. For example, when I feel overwhelmed, I write a step-by-step list of actions I need to take to achieve this goal, and hopefully alleviate the anxiety that comes with it. When I feel lost, I write down what I’m grateful for. I try every day to better understand the way my brain works in order to break bad habits and live a healthier lifestyle.

What do you enjoy about empowering women through Akhila Health?

Through Akhila health, I am able to connect with various women of different backgrounds and stories. I am inspired by how passionate they are and how kind they are to each other. I aspire to empower them to believe in themselves every day and realize their amazing capabilities.

Seasonal Spring Recipe

Indulge in the vibrant flavors of spring with this Bright Spring Salad. This recipe boasts a delightful array of flavors and textures, featuring asparagus, peas, greens, radishes, avocado, pistachios, chickpeas, and feta. At its heart lies the versatile asparagus, rich with vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, as well as folate, iron, copper, calcium, protein, and fiber. Asparagus's fibrous nature also promotes a healthy gut, while offering benefits such as lowering blood pressure and boosting your immune system.

Elevate your spring dining experience with this versatile dish, ideal as a light dinner or a refreshing side salad. Complement its simplicity with the zesty flavors of lemon-infused salmon for a perfectly balanced spring meal.

Bright Spring Salad*

*Love and Lemons

Ingredients:

1 bunch asparagus, tender parts, chopped into 1-inch pieces
½ cup frozen peas, thawed
A few handfuls of salad greens
2 radishes, thinly sliced
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
½ avocado, pitted and diced
¼ cup chopped, toasted pistachios
½ cup roasted chickpeas
Fresh herbs, for garnish (basil, mint and/or chives)
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Dressing:

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1 small garlic clove
1 tablespoon lemon juice, plus 1/2 teaspoon zest
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, more as desired
1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and set a bowl of ice water nearby. Blanch the asparagus for about 1 minute, until tender but still bright green. Transfer to the ice water for 1 minute, then drain. Allow the asparagus to dry and transfer it back to the bowl and add the peas.
Make the dressing: In a food processor, pulse together the herbs, garlic, lemon juice, zest, vinegar, olive oil, and salt.
Add half of the dressing to the bowl with the asparagus and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Assemble the salad. Arrange salad greens on a platter, then layer the asparagus/pea mixture, the radishes, feta, avocado, pistachios, chickpeas, and herbs. Drizzle with remaining dressing, season to taste with more salt and pepper, and serve.