Having deposited me at the hospital after I went into labor with my firstborn, my husband snuck around the corner with my father to grab some Indian food. Everyone had missed dinner given the excitement of my water breaking.

When Papa suggested that they order a bottle of red, my husband looked at him like he was from another planet. It was going to be a long night at the hospital; wine was certainly out of the question. Caught in a severe generation gap, my father thought that his son-in-law gone stark-raving mad. How did a night at the hospital, long or short, concern him? Birthing a child was a mother’s work and seeing her through the process was her mother’s work.

Traditional Versus Modern

Old northern Indian custom dictates that a woman return (from her husband’s home) to her maayka or mother’s home to give birth to her first child. In previous generations the birthing room was a strictly female zone flanked by the women of the household. It was considered taboo for any man (including the father-to-be) to be near enough to witness the ‘sounds’ of a woman’s labor. Both my parents were thrilled to host this time-honored tradition but had not yet come to terms with the reality of the modern age in which husbands typically ‘manage’ the birth process.

Thanks goodness though for the modern age. Considering my own mother had borne three children of her own, she was considerably squeamish about the procedure. Please can I stand on the head side, she begged. Amused by her reticence given her usually confident personality, I remained content with her sitting next to me and stroking my hair through contractions. Although she felt guilty later, it was a blessing to feel her hand tightly clutching mine as she recited the Gayatri Mantra, an ancient vedic prayer, throughout the birth process. It built one of the most important memories of my life, one that highlights the value of a mother’s love for her daughter.

All References Point to Mom

I have a deep affinity for the land of my birth. An Oedipal society, we grow up respecting India as our true mother and like most Indians I know, I am a strong believer in that life produces no coincidences. Ilya, my own daughter, was born the next morning to the musical rhapsody of A.R. Rahman’s famous patriotic song Ma Tujhe Salaam (we salute you our mother i.e. referring to ‘Mother India’). Nothing could have been more appropriate…it was India’s fifty-first anniversary of independence. All references that day pointed to mom!

Goddess Energy

My grandma, who had spent most of the night guarding the door to the birthing room in her best effort to maintain the tradition of the female birthing zone, stepped in to comment on her great granddaughter’s lusty cry. To her it showed promise of another confident girl-child to continue the line of strong women in our family. She gave her the middle name Devi, after that of her own mother. Devi, translates as ‘goddess.’ My grandma has a soft spot for female offspring; she believes that they symbolize the auspiciousness of goddess energy coming into your home.

My husband clicked a photo that morning that never fails to remind me of the interconnected bonds between daughters and mothers. The picture shows four generations of the women in our family: Pushpa (my grandmother), Veena (my mother), Reenita (myself) and Ilya Devi (my daughter). We are each a product of our mother’s work.

In India it is believed that the Ganges was released to the earth through Lord Shoiva’s tresses, and that hair symbolizes strength in men and beauty in women. For thousands of years,Ayurveda has offered natural approaches to hair care,designed in part to maximize thickness.These appraches also keep the head cool.For example,because internal heat is expelled through the top of the head, Ayurveda warns against applying hot water to the head because it weekens the hair roots and encourages encouraging emotional irritabilitiy and "hot-headed-ness." Higher levels of internal heat correspond to less hair,which is why pitta types tend to have thinner hair thankapha and vata types. ayurvedic beauty rituals for thr hair and scalp use cooling oils and other pitta-balancing herbs,fruits,nuts, and flowers that focus on removing heat,strengthening hair follicles, and promoting thickness.Asana,pranayama, an dabhyanga techniques also focus on releasing heat through the crown.

Basic inbalances in the doshas can lead to problems of the hair and scalp.Vata balances can cause dry ,brittle , or flyaway hair and dandruff.Pitta imbalances cause itchiness in the scalp or pemature greying an dhair loss. Kapha imbalances dull the hair and scalp with excess oil secretions,which sometimesresult in large flakes of oily dandruff.

Ayurvedic hair care is entle.Hair is not washed every day because daily cleansing strips the scalp of natural oils and encourages the sebaceous glands to produce excess oil.Instead of washing the hair often and then using multiple productsto restore shine and softness,hair is washed less frequently and is condditioned with oil prior to shampooing.

Begin your practice of Ayurvedic hair care by brushing your hair thoroughly every day.Wash it only once or twice a week.(This can be hard to get used to at first,but you’ll soon find that washing your hair less often rebalances the flow of natural oils to your scalp,making your hair shiny and well-conditioned.Then try this natural,tridoshic conditioner to keep your hair strong and beautiful.

Coconut and flower hair oil

Oiling is the most important part of Ayurvedic hair care. Not only does it beautify the hair and scalp,it helps to reduce heat from the head, thus promoting sleep and relaxation, improving memory,and increasing your all-around vitality, or ojas. Use this basic oil to condition your hair before shampooing,or,if you prefer,purchase traditional Ayurvedic oils that contain bhringraj,brahami,or amla.

1/2 cup coconut oil

2 tablespoon rose water

1/2 cup mixed fresh flower petals hibiscus,marigold,rose,or jasmine

1.In a small saucepan,bring the oil to a boil. 2.Add the rose water and flowers,return to a boil,and cook for 3 minutes. 3.Remove fro the heat. 4.Let the flowers steep for one dar,then strain the oil through a coffee filter or a double layer of cheesecloth and store in an air tight ocntainer. To oil your hair,gently massage 4 to 5 tablespoons of the oil onto the crown of your head and into your scalp.Comb the oil out to the ends of the hair.Apply a turban made from a towel or plastic wrap so the oil really penetrates. Leave the oil on for at least 20 minutes,or overnight.When you shower again,wash and rinse your hair several times to remove the oil.

From the book:Inner Beauty by Reenita Malhotra Hora

In India,bathing represents a cleansing not only the of the physical body but also of the spiritual self. Many purification rituals are associated with bathing;it is believed that ritual bathing in the waters of anges River will purify the soul. In the simple ayurevedic context, a bath taken in the morning following self-massage is likened to bathing in Ganges.

In addition to claensing body and spirit, bathing is also associated with numerous other benifits to the mind and body. The Ashtanga Hridayam, one of the ancient ayurvedic texts,tells us that bathing improves sleep,appetite,sexual vigor,life span, and enthusiasm. The royal queens and princesses in ancient India were bathed in milk and fresh herbs to moisturize their skin until it glowed.To these day in India,special ingredients are stirred into a hot bath to customize it for dosha,time of year,or other considerations.E.g.,in the north,mustard is added to bath water in the winter months for a warm dip that balanceshapha dosha,which can become aggravated in the late winter and early spring.

Bathing rituals are also believed to significantly impact health,especially over a long term.e.g.,warm water is believed to strengthen the body,while the face and head should be rinsed in cool water,as these area that natually releases heat. Applying hot water to the head is believed to disurb the releases of heat from the crown,thereby weakening the hair roots and encouraging emotional irritabilitiy and "hot-headed-ness."So while you can relax in warm shower or bath,remember to wash your hair and face with cool water.Try the recipe for your dosha,or the one appropiate to any imblance you are feeling.The mixtures can also be made with a little water or ground into a paste for use as a shower scrub.

Pitta fresh herb & flower bath

An herb and flower bath is perfect for smoothing easily irritated pitta.You will be natually perfumed with the fragrance of a Vedic garden. This is especially good in summertime,when pitta infuence is at its peak.Add 1/2 cup marigold,rose,or jasmineflower petals and a handful of cooling fresh herbs such as mint or coriander to your bath.Adding a couple of table spoons of lemon juice or white vinegar will help balance excess oil and get rid of blemishes.

Kapha mustard & fenugreek bath

This combination of herbs is herbs is traditional in the cold winter and winter monsoon season of the Punjab region. Use year-round,but especially during the late winter and through spring,when kapha influence is at its peak.Add 3 tablespoonfuls ground muster and 1 tablespoon fenugreek powder to your bath.

vata milk & rice water bath

The tadition of bathing in milk was begun by qweens and noblewomen in ancient India.Milk contans protains that are vital for nourishing the skin,and rice starch softens the skin, and rice starch softens the skin and relieves stress.In a bowl,mix 1 cup powderedmilk with 1 cup rice starch.Stir in 2 tablespoons of rose water for fragrance and softness.dissolve the paste in your bath.

From the book:Inner Beauty by Reenita Malhotra Hora

Apricot oil is a natural remedy for energy-draining dehydration.Summer heat and dry air conditioning sap moisture from the mucous membranes,which impairs the absorption of energizing oxigen from the lungs.But when diffused in steam and inhaled,the oil stimulates the secretion of mucus in the throat and esophagus,hydranting airways to bring on asurge of vitality."

Invigorating steam bath: Place 3 drops apricot kernal oil on the showerhead.Run hot water for two minutes to diffuse the oil in the sream,then turn on the cold water.

In the West we think of a balanced meal as one which combines carbohydrates, proteins, fats and so on. In Ayurveda, a balanced meal is one that comprises all six tastes. We can then further tailor to dosha balancing needs by having more of some tastes than others. A healthy person is able to enjoy all of the six tastes, but if vikruti (imbalance) exists then we might develop an aversion to foods with similar qualities as the doshas that are imbalanced. These foods are then no longer palatable, no longer medicinal and in fact become unhealthy for us. So, we need to reduce these and use other foods as medicine to rebalance.

There are six tastes in Ayurvedic cuisine -

Sweet Foods with a sweet taste are calming and soothing to the system. Their grounding qualities balance Vata and their cooling qualities balance Pitta. But taken in excess, these foods will imbalance Kapha creating heaviness and slowing digestion. Sweet foods include sugar, honey, milk, sesame seeds, fruits and vegetables with a naturally sweet taste such as bananas, yams or fennel and also carbohydrates such as potatoes, rice or bread.

Bitter Foods with a bitter taste create lightness and clarity. They balance Kapha and Pitta but taken in excess, they aggravate Vata inducing dryness in the skin. Bitter foods include olives, dark leafy green vegetables like spinach or mustard greens, and coffee.

Sour Foods with a sour taste stimulate digestion. Their warming qualities balance Vata but taken in excess they will disturb Kapha and Pitta increasing body weight and skin sensitivity. Sour foods include yogurt and sour cream, citrus fruits, tomato or fermented foods such as vinegar and pickles.

Pungent Foods with a pungent taste decongest the system increasing digestion. Their drying and heating properties balance Kapha but taken in excess, these foods can disturb Pitta and Vata creating excess internal heat and dryness. Pungent foods include garlic, onions, wasabi and hot spices like ginger, cumin and black pepper.

Salty Foods with a salty taste are calming and enhance digestion. Their warming qualities balance Vata but taken in excess, they can disturb Kapha and Pitta leading to water retention and internal inflammation. Salty foods include seaweeds, salted chips and foods, and soy sauce.

Astringent Foods with an astringent taste create lightness. Their cooling properties balance Pitta and their drawing properties balance Kapha but taken in excess these foods can disturb Vata creating dryness and flatulence. Astringent foods include pomegranates, aloe vera, green grapes and chickpeas. All the six tastes translate into one of three post digestive tastes: sweet and salty tastes end up as sweet tastes and are digested in the stomach by the Kapha dosha. So, these foods should be eaten first, which makes a great case for having bread before a meal! Sour tastes remain sour and are digested in the small intestine by the Pitta dosha. These should be eaten next. Pungent, bitter and astringent tastes all end up as astringent and are digested in the colon by the Vata dosha and should be eaten last.

In the West, meals are typically served in courses. But in India small portions of food representing each of the six tastes are put together on large platters called thalis. This way, we can pick and choose what food to eat in the preferred order and also adjust our intake of the tastes according to the doshas we are aiming to balance.’

– Taken from ‘Inner Beauty ‘Discover natural beauty and well being with the traditions of Ayurveda”

There are no “bad” foods in Ayurveda—there is only the idea of balance. A harmonious diet balances not only nutritional qualities, but tastes and even the heating or cooling energetic effects of a food after it is digested. It takes into account single raw materials such as fruits, meats and vegetables as well as they meals that they combine into once they are cooked. While there is an emphasis on fruits and vegetables, and many Indians are vegetarian, Ayurveda in itself does not prescribe vegetarianism. In fact, a whole array of meats and fish are emphasized in the ancient texts.

But Ayurvedic doctors do recommend a diet that is pure and close to nature with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fish and lean meats, combined with herbs and spices that will purify and balance the mind and body. Moreover, if you are to truly benefit from these foods then it is important that each meal reflect the natural colors and flavors of the ingredients. Poor digestion, stemming from an unbalanced diet, is one of the first signs of ill health. When your diet is out of balance, not only are food nutrients are not easily absorbed, but they can also accumulate as toxins.

Since your digestive tract is the origin for imbalances, ahara or diet is always considered to be the first order of medicine. And since preventative medicine is the only surefire way to ward off disease, eating Ayurvedically as often as you can, will help you to stay healthy for the long term. Although this healing science originated in India, Ayurvedic cooking encompasses so much more than merely Indian food. As long as it is prepared per Ayurvedic principles, it can draw from just about any cuisine. You can have fun mixing and matching your favorite foods with Ayurvedic herbs, ingredients and cooking techniques to yield flavorful cuisine. It is simple to prepare, yet easy for the body to assimilate into the raw building blocks for health and vitality.

Since I know that many of you are curious, I decided to post the video for greater visibility. Even though it is in Hindi, it has universal appeal. After all, moving pictures say so much more than words…!

India might be one of the fastest growing economies in the world but how does an   economy keep up with the rest of the world if it cannot fulfill basic human needs that  are critical for economic growth?  Food and population problems aside, the country  faces a massive shortfall of qualified teachers at all levels of primary and secondary  education.

According to the Times of India , the country face a shortage of about 800,000  primary and middle school teachers. Given India’s youthful population, the situation doesn’t look promising: 6.5% of India’s teachers retire every year; at this rate the country will be left with 350,000 primary and middle school teachers by 2011 (source: Times of India:India Faces a Drought of Teachers, July 5th 2008).

So how do we address this very serious issue?  The Times of India and over sixty Indian NGOs, corporates, schools and social organizations believe that the answer lies in the hands of educated citizens.  They have recently put their heads together to launch Teach India, a social initiative from the Times of India that brings together children in need of education and people who can contribute a little time towards teaching them.

Teach India has put a call out to ordinary citizens to spend two hours a week for a minimum of three months to teach underprivileged children who are willing to learn. The initiative aims to help undereducated children through a variety of programmes, including basic education, support classes and even story-telling. It emphasizes easy to teach programmes in which simple topics are taught to primary school children either on a one-on-one or small group basis.

Given the logistics of matching up teachers with students, the program is available only to those who can stay in India long enough to give a three month commitment. Alas, this is one of the times, when I wish I had the opportunity to go back home and put my skills to use.  For more information you can visit www.teach.timesofindia.com .

Because Ayurveda is the Science of Life, it provides a set of tools that help you live in harmony with your natural environment. When this happens you can truly maintain a state of balance. Although mothering children is a historical tradition, our patterns of living are much more complex than those of our forefathers. Which is why when we make the transition to motherhood, many of us are often jolted out of balance. Wisdom practices such as Ayurveda can come in handy to help you re-allign yourself to maintain a more positive state of emotional and physical health.

Contributed by Reenita, Ayurveda Clincian & Hybrid Mom (www.reenita.com)

But are contraceptives the answer? Not according to Pett Corby, author of e-book, ‘How to Avoid Unplanned Pregnancy Every Time You Have Sex - WITHOUT Using Contraceptive Drugs.’ Corby is actively encouraging women to be aware of the health risks of using contraceptives, especially in the younger years. Her deliberately short book offers insight into researched natural contraceptive methods that offer women advice about avoiding unplanned pregnancies without toxic side-effects. Corby has recently launched an awareness mission on MySpace to inform women around the world about the choices they have. I blogged about on www.ecoworldly.com.

And since it is World Population Day, what better time than now to check out the trailer of The 11th Hour.

The 11th Hour