Namaskaaram to you~

With sadness and concern, the staff at Rasa Ayurveda received the news that my son–Gabe, 19 years old–was terribly injured in an accident in the U.S. in which he lost both of his legs.

Since then, our Rasa Ayurveda family has been a wonderful support and source of abundant prayers for Gabe’s survival and recovery. We’re all hoping Gabe will be able to return to Kerala for a visit and further healing sometime soon. To learn more about Gabe’s progress, visit the blog:

http://gabesalive.wordpress.com

Prayers for Gabe

Sanju and Dr. Geetha have teamed up to formulate a new bathi incense–dedicated to Gabe–and hand-rolled by the staff. The first batch will arrive in the U.S. any day now. And of course, everyone at Rasa Ayurveda has dedicated themselves even more vigorously to their work, so that while I stay by Gabe’s side for a little while longer, the clinic is open and ready to receive patients and students for another fantastic year of traditional healing in Kerala.

We welcome you to visit Rasa Ayurveda soon~

Niika Quistgard, Director

Niika Quistgard :: Jun.18.2009 :: Culture, Spirituality, Rasa Ayurveda News :: No Comments »

Namaskaaram to you~

The weather in Trivandrum is hot and dry now, so it’s a good time to re-thatch the treatment rooms on the roof at Rasa Ayurveda. It won’t be long until monsoon begins in June, the classically perfect time to take traditional therapies.

Kerala, as you might know, is often referred to as “Land of the Coconuts.” This natural resource is incredibly well-utilized in food, medicine and other practical needs, and thatch construction is a good example of how valuable the coconut tree is to life here.

While the bulk of materials making up the treatment rooms at Rasa Ayurveda are made of coconut, the structural frame is not. The frame is built out of  kattaadi poles. A kattaadi pole is a de-branched “kattaadi maram“– kattaadi tree!–a tall, straight tree grown in Kerala and neighboring state, Tamil Nadu. Kattaadi means “sway in the breeze,” which is delightfully apparent when you are lying on the treatment table under the thatch and the wind blows a little,  and the whole room seems to respond–almost inhaling and exhaling–with the fresh breeze.

To build the structure, the kattaadi poles are first fastened to the building and to the tall coconut trees standing nearby.The kattaadi are tied together where they intersect with kayar, a strong, flexible rope hand-made from coconut husk fibre.

Waiting nearby are several tall piles of coconut palm panels which have been fashioned by hand. The long coconut palm leaves–tenga ola–have been cut in half lengthwise, and the fronds of each side have been woven to form a wind and water repellent panel.

Tenga Ola panels waiting to be tied in place

After the frame outlines the floor plan and room size, these woven coconut-leaf panels are laid–overlapping like roof tiles–to form our roof and walls. The panels are held in place with strips of varukana, sharp-ended fibres from the palm tree which can be forced thru the coconut-leaf. Then each varukana  is twisted in a particular way to make sure those woven panels will stay put thru sun, wind and rain for the next two years!

Cutting varukana for tying panels onto frame

SO much effort goes into creating a beautiful, protective and biodegradable treatment space, in harmony with our natural surroundings.

We hope you’ll come and enjoy taking  treatment in the traditional thatch treatment rooms at Rasa Ayurveda.

Special discounts from June 3rd until July 9th apply to all first-time patients to Rasa Ayurveda. Email us for more information.

Stay tuned for further updates as we carry on with preparing for the new season at Rasa Ayurveda Traditional Healing Centre for Women…!

~

by Niika Quistgard, Director

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Niika Quistgard :: May.01.2009 :: Environment :: No Comments »

Happy Earth Day!

Photo: The paddy field, adjacent to Rasa Ayurveda.

Our Mother Earth is even more vital to our survival than–well–our actual mother…! We all arise from Her,  take all our sustenance from Her, and rely on Her to deal with our wastes. And ultimately, our body returns to Her. Whether we personally feel the great connection or not, our relationship with Mother Earth is unarguably intimate and interdependent…

At Rasa Ayurveda today, we are doing a bit of spring cleaning. We’re closed for the hot season until June 3rd–when monsoon begins–so we’re taking this time to tend the grounds, expand Rasa’s rich collection of medicinal plants, and create a new coconut-leaf thatch structure on the treatment roof.

When you visit Rasa Ayurveda, you might be impressed with our biogas plant which is now humming along, effortlessly generating cooking fuel from daily food scraps. We’ve had several visits from researchers recently who want to learn more about implementing this simple, effective technology in other parts of the world.)

We’re currently expanding our organic vegetable garden, and are gearing up to introduce a hive of Kerala’s tiny honey bees to the Rasa Ayurveda family.

Truly, every day is Earth Day! But today’s an especially good time to tell you more about the patch of Earth around Rasa Ayurveda…

We’re just beginning our efforts to raise money in order to complete our purchase agreement for the land we occupy. We’re also hoping to  acquire the paddy field (pictured above) adjacent to Rasa Ayurveda.

Why the paddy field?

Though not considered as valuable as buildable land, the paddy field is very important to the health of the local ecosystem. It provides a home for countless medicinal plants and an amazing variety of bird life. The field allows for drainage of the surrounding area, channeling rain waters toward the Karamana River which protects the surrounding area and homes large and small, built from both concrete and mud.

The paddy field is a place to grow food, including traditional varieties of medicine rice– a place to put water buffaloes to pasture, and now–during the hot season, the field is a popular place for boys to play cricket and connect with nature in the process.

As part of The Mutashi Project (our effort to sustain native plants and traditional medicine into the lives of the next generation), we’ve been interviewing women all over the Trivandrum area about their use of local plant medicines. When we ask them about any obstacles they face toward continuing to use grass roots Ayurveda for the health needs of their families and themselves,  the most common answer is: “The plants are getting hard to find. Many plants are not available. The land is disappearing; everything’s built up and there just isn’t space for the plants anymore.”

Sadly, there have been recent attempts to fill the paddy field. Although we understand that this practice is harmful and illegal, practical reality being what it is, it appears that the only way to save the field is to purchase it. We want to protect the field from further harmful development.

Good fortune smiled on this desire today, April 21st, official Earth Day. This morning, Sandia Bachman, a veteran Rasa Ayurveda patient and student from Chicago, IL, called to explain that she recently offered her time to lead a gathering intended to increase the prosperity of all those attending. At the end of the evening, she was inspired to announce that those who wanted to could make a donation toward saving the paddy field…! People were happy to give, and she’s sending a check this week. We’re one step closer to our goal of preserving the field for human, plant and animal communities.

Thank you Sandia, for inspiring others to help save a patch of Kerala! We’re grateful to you and all those who donated, and we’re delighted that this good news happened to come to us on Earth Day, a very good sign…

Everyone’s life is born of and sustained by our planet’s vitality, so at Rasa Ayurveda, we hope you’ve found a chance to enjoy and be healed by Her bounty today, a chance to allow your senses to connect with the sweet energy of Her living landscapes, plants, animals, waters, minerals and atmosphere that make our home, our food, our medicine and our playground–every day!

~

by Niika Quistgard, Director

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Niika Quistgard :: Apr.27.2009 :: Environment, Medicinal Plants :: No Comments »

Namaskaaram to you~

At Rasa Ayurveda, we treasure our staff members!

Every year in early March, when the annual temple festival season heats up–along with the temperatures– and our season of healing winds down. The staff take a bit of a break before coming back together for trainings and preparations for Rasa Ayurveda’s re-opening in June.

But before dispersing, we the whole Rasa Ayurveda family came together to enjoy a full weekend of fun! The first day featured a schedule packed with games and competitions–all directed by our own Dr. Geetha, and fueled by a treat meal sponsored by the staff.

The second day, we visited a lovely tourist park,”Velli”–on the other side of Trivandrum–for a boat ride, a little time on the beach and lunch in a “floating” restaurant.

The entire two days was a blast! We shared a lot of love and tons of laughs!

We really enjoy our work at Rasa Ayurveda, but we also know the value of having fun once in a while…!

~

by Niika Quistgard, Director

Niika Quistgard :: Mar.08.2009 :: Rasa Ayurveda News :: No Comments »

When you come to Rasa Ayurveda, you’ll have the chance to see, smell, touch and experience the healing power of traditional medicinal oils like Murivenna, Mukuttu, Pinda Tailam, Chinjaadi, Karpooradi and Bringaamalakaadi, to name a few. In the last few weeks, we’ve filled five big bharani–traditional, glazed ceramic containers–with golden, ruby and emerald-hued healing oils, hand-made in the traditional way.

My brother and partner here at Rasa Ayurveda – ‘Sanju‘– has a background in traditional Siddha Vaidya medicine, so closely related to Ayurveda. Mukuttu is a Siddha formula, and is a good all-purpose massage oil, indicated for many rashes and skin diseases. It’s balanced and cooling yet slightly penetrating, and–with the right tweak of ingredients–calms Vata dosha as well. Mukuttu means “three,” and refers to the base oils castor, coconut and sesame. Twenty eight herbal and minerals ingredients form the kalka in this formula, including coral, Licorice, Indian Sarsaparilla and Vetiver.

In traditional oil-making, the kalka is the pounded mass of dry or fresh ingredients which are mixed with some liquid–(in the case of Mukuttu the liquid is milk)–then stirred into base oil(s) and cooked until reaching a certain consistency or “point.” For every oil, there is a particular moment when it should be removed from the fire to ensure it will suit its intended use. Oils made for internal application, body application, and head application are each considered properly finished at a different moment of readiness. This photo by Elisabeth Roberts shows Sanju and I checking the “point” of a batch of Mukuttu. By feeling and listening to the sound of the kalka between our fingers, we can  assess the point, and–with Grace behind us–take the oil at the perfect time, then strain it into a fresh vessel, ready for use.

The kalka for each oil formula has slightly different characteristics, so it takes time and experience to learn when the correct point is for each oil formula. Sanju has mastered correctly reading the “point” of the kalka, which is one reason I enjoy my chance to stir the urali (bronze oil-making pot) under his watchful eye as Rasa Ayurveda’s main oil-maker and teacher of oil-making.

When made correctly, Mukuttu has a lovely rose crystal color, and an attractive fragrance. On the skin, it’s very soothing and protective, yet stubtle enough to deliver the oils’ effects thoroughly to the superficial dhatus.

Here’s what one patient–Mary Fleischman, from Seattle–had to say recently:

“After seeing Ayurvedic oils being made right before my eyes at Rasa Ayurveda, I felt a deeper power in receiving my therapies. What a realization! I was not only being treated with healing oil formulas containing ingredients designed to bring balance to my tissues, but also with the palpable energy of the joy, thoughtfulness and dedication in the people involved in the preparation of every hand-made drop. Caring, healing energy was being created for me even before I lay down on the therapy table, starting with the collection of botanicals, fuel and skillful combining of time and ingredients in a big, beautiful traditional pot, stirred over a coconut husk fire with loving intention.”

Medicinal oil making is our favorite activity, so we are truly delighted when women like Mary get benefit from our labors. As long as we have patients to treat, we’ll be making oils in this way.

~

by Niika Quistgard, Director/Managing Director

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Niika Quistgard :: Feb.01.2009 :: External Medicines :: No Comments »

Can you believe it?

It’s Rasa Ayurveda’s 1st birthday!

Here are our favorite local kids enjoying masala doshas at our inauguration celebration one year ago. They look good here….happy and fine. But you should see them now!  In the last year, they’ve grown up a lot. They’re taller, more confident and dare we say it?–smarter, too!

Like Anjana, Kirtana and Bharti, Rasa Ayurveda Traditional Healing Centre has grown tremendously in the last 12 months.

The birth of Rasa Ayurveda was blessed by many who value our mission to:

~Provide a nurturing environment where women can heal thru all the senses and the mind,

~Teach a practical, effective Ayurveda,

~Preserve traditional knowledge, practices and medicinal plant species,

~Promote personal, healthy ecological relationship to our natural world,

~While treating all with respect and affection, in reverence for life’s expression.

 We opened Rasa Ayurveda on January 14th, 2008 to receive our first patient, and since then,

GREAT THINGS HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED:

Groups of Ayurvedic students received the experience of a lifetime: taking traditional Ayurvedic therapies and training in the theory, medicine-making and performance of traditional healing techniques; discovering the beauty of traditional spiritual, cultural and culinary practices, and connecting with local Malayalee women.

We’ve received patients from America, the Netherlands, and Japan this year for traditional treatment thru pancha karma and rejuvenation.

We developed our collection of live medicinal plants to include more than 120 varieties, including many rare species.

We installed a biogas plant so all our daily kitchen food scrap waste is transformed into cooking fuel and plant fertilizer.

We’ve been able to sustain the families of our 14 staff members by giving dependable salaries, nutrition and Ayurvedic care.

We’ve given free or low-cost treatment to local patients.

 We’ve organized educational cross-cultural interaction meetings, allowing western and local women to meet and discuss the value of growing, caring for and using local plants as healing medicine.

 We’ve made our own treatment oils and internal medicines in the traditional way–by hand–from freshly-harvested botanicals.

All year, we’ve seen incredibly rewarding clinical results, and all year, patients and students have been leaving Rasa Ayurveda reporting a deep and healing reconnection with themselves, with others and with Mother Nature. Women are leaving Rasa Ayurveda with more health, more happiness, a broader persective on life, a stronger sense of self,  an easier joy of living and a readiness to contribute to the goodness of our world.

WE CALL THIS SUCCESS!

And so, we offer our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation:

~ For understanding the value of Rasa Ayurveda–often from nothing more than a peek at our website: Every one of Rasa Ayurveda’s beautiful patients and students who chose to spend their time here with us

~ For abundant time, skill, creativity, love and dedication: Our staff and their families

~ For the sweetness, support and traditional knowledge that makes Rasa Ayurveda uniquely wonderful: The local Malayalee people

~ For sponsoring full scholarships for some very lucky Ayurveda students to experience treatment and learning at Rasa Ayurveda: A generous Anonymous Benefactor

~ For letting their students know about Rasa Ayurveda: The Ayurvedic Institute • California College of Ayurveda • Bastyr University • Kanyakumari Ayurveda Retreat & Education Center • Kerala Ayurveda Academy • Mount Madonna Institute College of Ayurveda • Rocky Mountain Institute of Ayurveda

~For believing in the value and possibility of Rasa Ayurveda from the earliest days, and for lending their love and practical support: David Crow of Floracopeia • Dorry Bless & Howard Speirer • Bindu G. Nair • Gopan Kumar and family • Debra Walker • Jessica Misuraca • Gabe Goreham • Kaitlin Quistgaard • Mickey Kumpf • Amy Orrell

And to all who made contributions in their own ways, whether known or unknown….

From myself, my brother and partner Sanjeev Kumar (’Sanju’),

and all the dedicated staff here at Rasa Ayurveda…

We Thank You!!

Thank you!! Thank you!!

~May you be blessed in all ways~

~

by Niika Quistgard, Director/Managing Director

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Niika Quistgard :: Jan.15.2009 :: Uncategorized :: No Comments »

Karthika –a beautiful night of lamp-lighting–was celebrated here tonight. A Tamil festival, Karthika arrives very close to the Winter Solstice, when Mother Nature Herself invites us to remember that–as individuals and as a vast human family– we have the power to leave darkness behind.

At the end of the day on Karthika–after a bath and a change into fresh clothing–a prayer of dedication is offered to the Divine. Countless brass and clay lamps are filled with golden sesame oil and fitted with white cotton wicks. The gleaming lamps are carefully carried outside and arranged  in harmonious designs in front of one’s home.  At least one lamp is placed on every side of the house, eliminating any chance for darkness to hide.

At sundown, the lamps are lit with reverence by sari-clad women and dhoti-donning men. Children enjoy fireworks, playing and laughing in the sparkling, festive streets filled with neighbors, family and friends. Later, when the flames flicker low, families come inside for a celebratory meal of kaachil, a large tasty, root that turns from white in its raw state to a violet color when steamed, served sprinkled with lots of cracked black pepper. Karthika is the one night of the year children are allowed to drink tender coconut water after dark, and they enjoy this cooling treat immensely.

What brings light to your spirit and life?
What do you feel drawn to do that will bring more light into the world?

It’s essential to our healing that we act on our desire to walk into the light. That we strike the match and ignite the flame inside us that allows us to say “Yes” to life and to recognizing our unique gifts so we can offer our best energies to increasing the well-being of Bhumi–our planet Earth–and all Her beings.

The lamps lit on Karthika are a symbol of tejas, the effulgence of mind that allows us to discern truth from falsehood, nourishment from empty distraction, and goodness from destruction.

When our mind is illuminated, it becomes easy to say, “Yes!” to our higher selves, and to taking positive, loving action.

When our mind is effulgent, we don’t hesitate to say, “No, thank you!” to any temptation that may arise to make decisions based in fear.

When it’s time for rest, the spent lamps are collected and brought inside. All retire feeling uplifted and refreshed in the knowledge that–with Grace as our support–each one of us has the power to kindle the light of recognition, of knowledge, understanding and inspiration.

And when we all get together to light our sacred flames, the whole world becomes beautifully illuminated…

~

by Niika Quistgard, Director/Managing Director

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Niika Quistgard :: Dec.12.2008 :: Culture, Spirituality :: No Comments »

Here in Kerala, South India, the agni-boosting qualities of this thin, spicy soup are relied upon at large wedding and other celebratory meals. (Toward the end of the meal, as you lean over your banana leaf plate feeling full of the rich wedding feast, knowing you can’t fit in another bite, someone will come around and ladle rasam into your open palm to facilitate your digestion. Slurping it down, you soon feel ready for a taste of dessert!)

Rasam is a truly delightful example of how food can be medicine. Filled with the essential oils of aromatic spices, rasam can not only boost your digestive agni (fire), it can also open sinuses and melt away mucous.

During this holiday season in the West, the weather turns wet and cold. Holiday foods are heavy and served in over-abundance. So, to keep yourself in balance, try steaming up the kitchen once a week with a fresh pot of rasam, and let us know how you like it.

There are different ways to make rasam. This is the way Jalaja – our cook here at Rasa Ayurveda Traditional Healing Centre for Women–makes rasam. And I can tell you from repeated personal experience, it’s delicious!

RASAM

VK- P+

Ingredients:
whole black pepper -  ½ teaspoon
whole coriander seed - 2 teaspoons
cumin seed – 2 teaspoons
turmeric powder – 1 teaspoon
1 dry red chili
salt -  3/4 teaspoon
tamarind paste with seeds – 1 golf ball-sized piece, soaked for 10 minutes in ¼ cup water
asafoetida paste the size of a large pea
fresh ginger –  1 ½ inch piece, peeled
two Roma tomatoes – cut into 1” chunks
1 fresh green chili
5 springs cilantro – cut into 1” pieces, including stem
2 sprigs fresh curry leaves (about 10 leaves), torn in half.
1 shallot
1 large clove garlic
coconut oil – 3 tablespoons

Method:
Prepare ingredients, by washing, chopping, etc. as needed.

Using a flat bottomed stone mortal and pestle (or a blender or food processor), add ingredients in the following order, grinding well after each addition:
fresh ginger
whole black pepper
whole coriander
cumin seed
shallot
garlic
dry red chili
green chili

As you grind, occasionally scrape mixture from sides back into center of the “action.”

Over medium high heat, heat a soup pan or cheena chatti (traditional Kerala-style small wok). Add coconut oil. Add black mustard seed, keeping a pot lid ready to contain the seeds when they pop. Stir in curry leaves and allow to fry in the oil for about a minute.

Spoon moist ground spice mix into the pot and stir.

Add tomato pieces and stir.

Sprinkle in turmeric power.

Pour in a litre of water and stir.

Massage tamarind pulp, pulling seeds to the side of the bowl with your fingers, and pour in all the liquid.

Stir in ½ teaspoon salt.

Stir in asafoetida paste.

Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes, covered.

Stir in fresh cilantro. Turn off heat, cover pot and let sit for a few minutes.

Serve hot and enjoy!

~

by Niika Quistgard, Director/Managing Director

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Niika Quistgard :: Dec.09.2008 :: Cuisine :: No Comments »

Thank you to so many who called or emailed today in the midst of all the reporting on the Mumbai terrorist episode to check on us here at Rasa Ayurveda Traditional Healing Centre for Women.

We’re happy to say that we are all well and fine here. All is peaceful here in Kerala, blissfully so in our neighborhood here on the edge of this ancient city of Trivandrum.

My brother, Sanju noticed all the emails and calls coming in today. He was surprised people were concerned about us. He said, “They don’t realize how unaffected we are. India is a huge country, and Mumbai is far, far away from here. “

We talked about how the terrorists seem to be targeting mainly posh extravagant hotels promoting a modern Western lifestyle. What we are offering here is quite the opposite: a simple, traditional environment in harmony with the local culture.

Since we don’t watch television here, our eyes and ears haven’t been saturated in media images, repetitive content, comments and analysis of the sad events of the day in Mumbai. Instead of focusing our attention on events happening in some other place, we enjoyed working right here to further our  mission: restoring and sustaining the health of women, culture and nature thru the traditional practice of Ayurveda and Siddha, Kerala’s indigenous healing arts.

Our day was perfectly lovely. We received local women for treatment, held an upbeat staff meeting with all 14 of us in attendance, expanded Rasa’s collection of medicinal plants, began collecting ingredients for the traditional oil formulas we’ll be making by hand next week and discussed the itinerary for the upcoming Women’s Ayurveda Retreat.

Our hearts go out to anyone who is suffering because of these tragic events. But here, there is no trace of suffering. Only another sumptuous Kerala day, alternating rain and sun, surrounded by Nature’s botanical blessings, loving people and the magical synergy of these that continues to bring the GRACE of healing and happiness to the patients here at Rasa Ayurveda Traditional Healing Centre for Women.

With the blessings of the present moment~

Niika Quistgard, Director/Managing Director
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Niika Quistgard :: Nov.27.2008 :: Uncategorized :: 4 Comments »

Thru AyurvedaTrip.com, we have the good fortune to enjoy regular educational exploration. Almost two weeks now into our Ayurvedic Aromatherapy Immersion trip with David Crow, today was another jam-packed and amazing day.

We woke in Kumily for breakfast and a quick tour of the botanicals growing around the family guest house we’d spent the night in. Fresh, ripe cocoa (chocolate!!) fruit tickled the tongue like a thousand ripe melons. Sweet and spicy ginger. A cinnamon tree offering moist, dark bark to chew after our meal. A round green ball plucked from a dark-leafed tree, the husk peeled away to reveal a lacy red dress (mace) hugging a shiny brown nut (nutmeg). The aroma was clarifying and calming…

Are plants not miracles?

Then, we climbed aboard our traveling caravan once again to head for a family farm where we’d meet more aromatic fruits and spices. Along the way, we stopped for a while in a tremendously beautiful, peaceful grove. Huge, prana-filled, prehistoric-looking cardamom plants grew as the understory in this well-cared for mixed-use forest.  David Crow was thrilled to capture film footage here, while the rest of us were thrilled to be sipping cardamom tea in the midst of this heavenly slice of Nature. The scene was so enchanting, I half expected  gauze-clad fairies to come dancing along past us through the green…

We later arrived at our intended destination where we were received with affection by the family who has been growing on this five acres for generations. They explained that while pesticides and non-organic fertilizers had become popular with some, they refused to use these, because they’ve observed  farmers who use pesticides having to face cancer. They don’t want to face cancer, and they don’t want to poison those who eat the fruits of their labor. Besides, they say, their fruits and spices taste better and the soil is remaining fertile with their respectful, poison-free care.

Medicinal herbs grew everywhere. We also learned about vanilla cultivation and harvest. (Yes - vanilla is an orchid!) My favorite moments were cracking open the potent leaf of the clove tree–what a fragrance!– and meeting the tiniest  honey bees whose home is a small, clay pot, hanging from the eaves of a thatched roof hut.

David Crow insisted on capturing this photo of me at the farm, relaxing in the shade (thanks, David!), draped with a vanilla vine well replant at Rasa Ayurveda, and holding a rare white jambhakhyam blossom which is so tasty to eat when drizzled with honey.

There is no greater feeling of security or satisfaction for me, than a day spent in the company of good people, exploring and enjoying Mother Nature’s infinite capacity to heal and feed our body, mind and senses.

Blessings of the Present Moment to you~

Niika

~

by Niika Quistgard, Director/Managing Director

A couple of notes:

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Niika Quistgard :: Nov.06.2008 :: Cuisine, Environment, Practitioner Education, Rasa Ayurveda News :: No Comments »