Couscous originated in the Berber tribes of North Africa and became a staple throughout the region. The Arabic word “kishusu” was a derivative of the Berber language. It came into existence between the11th century fall of the Zirid Kingdom and the rise of the Almohads in the 13th century. The first published mention of the food was discovered in an Arab cookbook in the 14th century. It was a popular food because it was easily prepared and convenient for nomadic tribes.

I’ve always had a compulsion to rid my closet of excess materials–clothing that has never been worn, books that have never been read, and papers that don’t provide any value – emotional, informational, or otherwise. While friends and family continued to collect clutter, I remained baffled at how they could sleep at night with messy bedrooms, kitchen cupboards so full they couldn't close, and desk drawers stuffed with random gadgets and trinkets that would never be touched again. Over the years, I believed myself to be the odd one out, forever plagued with a compulsion to clean.

Every single morning for the past nearly 11 years I have treated myself to one of Ayurveda's oldest secrets for health and longevity. With herbs and warm oil in hand I rub my entire body down with a gentle massage which has helped me to retain elastic skin and a vibrant body. Abhyanga is the Ayurvedic term given to describe warm oil self-massage (often with herbs) and it is simply heavenly.

Gemini is the sign of the twins. It is a very mentally oriented sign which can often manifest as a sort of “dual nature.” Communication is a strong suit for the natural Gemini and ruled by Mercury the messenger we find Gemini governing largely the throat chakra as well as standing at the helm of right and left brain integration (or disintegration).

The next time your stomach’s a little under the weather, or you’ve just been dining on too many calories and need a filling meal that gives you respite – you need to assemble just two main ingredients – curd and rice – and make a simple yet tasty dish, curd rice! Oh, and curd is just another name for yogurt!

Wellness Wednesday 60: One Legged Down Dog / Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana

Benefits:

Calms and clears the mind.

Helps strengthen arms and shoulders.

Helps with balance.

Foundation and general alignment:

Start in normal Downward Facing Dog, put weight on both hands and one foot, raise other foot up into air and line it up with back and arms.

Weight is evenly distributed through hands and foot.

Arms are straight but not hyperextended.

Trail running is often a reprieve from more than just the hard-impact roads and tracks that I occasionally run–it’s also a respite from noise, traffic and congestion, and a welcome back into nature, soft trails, technical terrain, and peace. Even if you don’t run, walking along trails can often be a far more serene experience than walking on sidewalks or along the road. Don’t believe me? Here are 7 reasons why you need to get off the concrete and back onto trails.

For centuries, the people of Mexico have used the flat leaves (or pads) of the prickly pear cactus as a food staple. The pads, called nopales, come from the family of cactus known as Opuntia ficus-indica and are an economically important source of income throughout Mexico. 

The word “dopamine” gets thrown around a lot these days, especially with the rise of mental illness. After experiencing some depression myself, I decided to do some research on the science behind this neurotransmitter and some ways we can keep our levels in check. 

Dopamine deficiency is often classified as feeling unmotivated. You’re not necessarily sad, you just don’t feel as excited about things as you used to, maybe even a little bit numb. 

Aaah, it’s June. By the way, that was a sigh of pure relief. I can already feel the relaxation settling into my soon-to-be well-rested bones. June is such a surprisingly pleasant month for numerous reasons—my absolute favorite reasons are because the weather is just dreamy, and this month marks the start of summer. To kick off your fabulous summer with your fabulous loved ones, be sure to immerse yourselves in some (or all) of these totally June-tastic activities.