As a compliment to living a more Intentional lifestyle, I continue to seek holistic approaches to my own day-to-day living in one of the most hectic places I know - New York City. I created Intentionally Green to show people how to make intentional choices to reduce their carbon footprint on the Earth while maintaining their lifestyle - without pressure or guilt. So I didn't want there to be any sort of pressure associated with adopting a more holistic lifestyle either.

Enter Ayurveda - the science of life or the knowledge of life. Ayurveda is an ancient holistic practice that encompasses four pillars of health. By focusing on these pillars - including diet, breathing and meditation, individualized exercise and proper sleep, Ayurveda addresses the root causes of imbalances that lead to disease. And treating the cause and not just the symptom has always just made more sense to me.

A family member has been prescribed so many drugs it's scary - andhalf are simply to relieve the symptoms created by the other drugs he is taking!! That makes no sense to me. So instead of saying - "you have water retention in your ankles - take this diuretic", an Ayurveda practitioner would do an in depth analysis of what is out of balance and decide from that basis what treatment would be called for. And the best part from an Intentionally Green standpoint is that most of the remedies come from the kitchen and garden (diet, essential oils, and herbs). Isn't that better than spending extra money on organic produce, eliminating substances like high fructose corn syrup and using non-toxic cleaners in your home, only to take some chemical concoction that is created in a lab and prescribed by your physician? And the best part is that there are no side effects or lengthy disclaimers when I suggest to someone to start their day with a glass of lemon water or use grapeseed oil on their salads instead of olive oil.

So I encourage you to think in an Intentional and Holistic way as you go about your day. I think you will find the simple changes you make will have a terrific impact on your life.

If you are curious about Ayurveda, please email me and I will be happy to discuss the fundamentals with you. My email is JCatzin@IntentionallyGreen.com.

Namaste,

Julie