Pranada Ma

06/04/2026

“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
~Maya Angelou

“The wound is where the light enters you.”
~Rumi

05/30/2026

Ayurvedic Oil Bastis are one of the best kept secrets of Ayurvedic Bodywork in my humble opinion.

Oil Bastis use warm oil to nourish and ground the energy points and centers of the body.

They bring circulation and balance the flow of energy.

Bastis are dough rings made into a resevoir that hold the warm herbalized oils inside.

These oils are chosen to be specific to the condition of the client based on 1,000's of years old knowledge.

They nourish the tissues- connective tissue, joints, ligaments, tendons, bones, spine, disks.

Each basti tends to a different area depending on each clients needs.

Classically these are used in multiple treatments given over a short period of time to provide deep healing and long lasting changes. They can really help strenghten where there is degeneration.

The navel basti helps the flow of digestion and is so lovely for nervous stomach, stress, constipation and any vata digestive issues.

These are SO RELAXING!!!

They are my favorite treatments to receive because of how deeply grounding they can be for the nervous system an

Book one in Southern Oregon online https://pranadama.com/ayurvedic-massage-bodywork/

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05/30/2026

Why did I wait so long???

I can't believe I waited a year to do this!! What was I thinking??

Wow, this just drops me right back into my body like nothing else.

I feel so much better!

I feel so much more grounded!

These are the comments I consistently hear after Ayurvedic Body Therapies 🥰

And I'm definatley not saying that to brag... it's really that these therapies are just pure magic.

There is something ancient and sacred about them, something in the lineage that just comes through as if they carry a prayer and the blessings of the ancient sages of Ayurveda. Because I believe they do!

The classical traditional oils I'm using are truly beyond words. I've got gallons of over $200 oils in my office.

Why? Because each oil has a specific indication and use depending on your constitution and imbalances. These oils are written up in ancient texts as literal medicines.

Did you know classical Ayurvedic oils are cooked on low heat for days? They are very rich in anti-inflammatory herbs. "Anti-aging herb", herbs amazing for skin health, nervine herbs...

In fact, the herbs are decocted into water first and then the herbs are decocted into the oil and the water decoction is also added to the oils. Then they are cooked on low heat for many hours. Until all of the water is evaporated.

Why this elaborate process? Both the water soluble and the oil soluble properties of the herbs are infused into the oil, maximizing their healing abilities. The texture and viscosity becomes extremely smooth and soft and the viscosity is just out of this world.

As a massage therapist, once I used traditional oils, I couldn't stop. Despite the price of such elaborate traditional processing. Only the best for my clients! And me!

If you haven't tried Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Kati Basti or Bliss Therapies you probably have no idea what your missing. They are just so grounding, nurturing and nourishing. I literally see it on my clients faces when they walk away.

Touch and the earthy smell and warm weight of the oils just grounds people right back into their bodies.

I highly recommend these therapies to anyone who is feeling stressed, depleted, overwhelmed, nervous exhaustion, insomnia, drained, anxious or just plain dry.

05/26/2026

Eyes are a seat of Pitta 👓 🔥

Pitta dosha which is comprised of fire element has a home in the eyes.

Pitta helps bring the light of vision to our eyes through Alochaka Pitta. This subtle essence of Pitta helps our eyes see and digest visual impressions.

Because eyes are the main seat of Alochaka Pitta, eyes have a firey nature!

You may have felt at times prone to red eyes, burning eyes, inflammed or dry eyes, sensitivity to light, allergies or even headaches that seem to start from the eyes.

Now take modern life where we are just bombarded daily with sense impressions, especially if we spend time on a screen. A screen with a light- which if you think about it is rather firey itself.

This is why the eyes love the cooling soothing energy of natural herbs like rose!

One of my favorite things to do for my eyes- and for my Ayurvedic bodywork clients' eyes, too, is to place two cotton pads soaked in pure rose water over the eyes. Then, I rest for 10 minutes or more to cool and relax the eyes.

Rose has a cooling energy and is very soothing, gentle and naturally anti-inflammatory. Rose is lovely for eyes for both health and beauty alike.

Once I remove the rose pads, I use them to gently cleanse the eyelid margin area around the eyelashes too.

I sometimes spritz my eyes with pure rose water during the day, too, for a quick refresh that feels so soothing, especially when I work on a computer screen.

I recommend using organic cotton eye pads because conventional cotton is heavily sprayed. I don't want pesticides on my eyes!

If you try this, make sure you use pure rose water (without fragrances or essential oils added). Pure rose water is nothing but rose hydrosol. You can find it at your local natural foods store. I use Heritage brand and buy it by the gallon 🥰 😛

Apply rose pads to cool and protect the eyes after computer work sessions, sun exposure, hot workouts or as part of your beauty care routine.

Learn more by signing up for my newsletter from my website link in my bio for more healthy tips from Ayurveda for stress relief, anti-aging, perimenopause and natural living!

05/04/2026

Gosh, my mind is blown reading more about coriander today! I guess it is often blown when I read about herbs.

I know of many benefits of coriander: for digestion, urinary tract and heat, burning sensation, thirst etc...but reading more on it just now it really makes me see just how much an ordinary kitchen spice is so much more than meets the "eye".

I noticed the traditional coriander seed eye wash felt better than any other eye wash I did when dealing with an eye inflammation, so I was curious and read up on it today. It has snighda quality- some oiliness - nice for dry eyes.

Turns out even modern science and medicine praises coriander for eyes.

I didn't realize how coriander is also super rich in Vitamin A, which helps slow eye aging and vision loss and helps keep eyes moist... and is excellent for corneal health, or that its rich in lutein, beta carotene, other carotenoids, iron and vitamin C... all incredibly good for eyes!

Not to mention it is antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant and anti-microbial in general and, of course, very anti-inflammatory.

Coriander seed infusion is traditionally used in Ayurveda for chronic conjuntivitis.

I used a Dhanyaka Hima cold infusion for eye wash in eye cups, but you can also just boil 1/2 tsp of seeds in a cup of water and strain and cool to room temp to wash the eyes with eye cups. Though the cold infusion of crushed seeds over night is said to be even more cooling and hydrating. (The tea must be cooled and strained very well so there is no sediment left)
.. the cold infusion just tastes sooo good too with a little sweetener. It will be the perfect summer beverage! (See my earlier post about Dhanyaka Hima/coriander cold infusion).

Not to mention those little round seeds have been shown "evidence based" to reduce LDL cholesterol, help blood pressure and triglycerides and are very potent in lowering blood sugar, so much so that those on diabetes medicine have to watch it.

All this and way more in a humble kitchen herb ❤



P.S. This post is not meant to be medical advice. Please see your provider if you have a medical condition.

05/03/2026

Have you heard of the Iron Fish?

You boil it in your soup, oatmeal, stew, tea, whatever for 10 minutes, and it adds a dose of absorbable iron to your day.

Have you tried this? I'd love to hear your experience in the comments if so!

04/17/2026

It was an honor and a blessing to be featured as the first Member of the Month by the esteemed California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine 🙏😃

A link to the blog article below 👇

Thank you to CandiChinwe for her lovely interview and writing and dedicated volunteer work for CAAM 🙏

If you are an Ayurveda student or professional, check out CAAM yes, you can be a member from out of state too. They offer so many benefits and educational opportunities and I'm a major fan!

https://ayurveda-caam.org/blog/the-story-of-pranada-ma

How One Healer’s Transformative Journey Can Inspire Your Own—The Story of Pranada Ma Feb 23 Written By Chaitali . What happens when curiosity, challenge, and ancient healing arts collide? For Pranada Ma, it didn’t just change her life—it redefined her mission. Stepping into Ayurveda wasn’t...

04/15/2026

04/14/2026

Triphala Eye wash has many benefits for eye health.

Triphala is an herbal formulation commonly used in Ayurveda for everything from digestion to skin care to eye health.

It consists of 3 fruits known to have antioxidant, bioflavonoid, anti inflammatory, antimicrobial and cleansing and healing properties. When the 3 fruits (amalaki, bibhitaki and haritaki) are mixed together, they are called Triphala and are said to have a special affinity for the eyes 👀

You can wash your eyes daily in the evening or try it once a week for a refresh.

Benefits:
Cleanse the eyes
Moisten the eyes
Reduce eye strain and fatigue
Calm Inflammation
Strengthen the eyes
General eye health care

How to do Triphala Eye Wash:

- I like to rinse my eyes first and make sure they are clean of gunk or dust.

- Prepare your infusion by boiling 1/2 teaspoon of Triphala powder into 1 cup of purified or distilled water. Boil for a few minutes, say 3 minutes.

-Let the main sediment settle for a few minutes to make it easier to strain

- strain the infusion through an unbleached coffee filter or fine muslin cloth. Strain until there is absolutely no sediment left in the liquid. I recommend straining 3x from my experience.

- let the liquid cool to room temperature

- pour into eye cups 3/4 full and place over the eyes. Tilt the head back and roll the eyes around for a few minutes to let the liquid disperse all over the eye. You can also blink a few times. It might sting slightly for a couple of minutes

- that’s it! You can boil your eye cups to sterilize them. Make sure everything is clean and sterile as possible. Clean eyes are happy eyes. I like to use a separate cup for each eye to avoid spreading any microbes between eyes.

-This can be done daily to refresh the eyes or weekly.

- If you have an eye condition please do not try this until you consult your licensed eye doctor and an Ayurveda Practitioner.

- Do not perform if you have an eye injury. Please consult your eye care physician.

Note: None of my social media posts are meant to diagnose, prevent or cure any illness. Always consult with your physician if you have any health condition.