Nourishing Ourselves

In January 2021 our monthly circle was themed around how we can bring nourishment into our lives. We explored how the season of winter encourages us to slow down, rest, and replenish ourselves so that we might have the energy for spring blossoming and summer’s metaphorical harvests. And yet we shared how hard it is for us to actually pause to nurture ourselves.

It was hard before the pandemic to carve out self-care practices that would nourish us, but even harder now.

Many are scraping to get by financially, or juggling life with kids at home more, working from home adjusting to working online, the fear of getting sick, straight up pandemic exhaustion. The last 11 months have been hard. With even less opportunities for babysitters or grandparents watching the kids so that parents can get a break, and not many safe options for vacations either, some body therapy treatments not being offered (yoga classes, massages, facials, etc) the way we used to nourish ourselves pre-pandemic are no longer available. Thus we again are put into a position to find a way to bring nourishment in despite the current challenges. So I asked an old friend who has made her life work balancing family life (with 3 young boys) with the ancient nourishing traditions of Ayurveda. Chrisandra Fox Walker graced us all a lovely hour of her time on how we can build our Ojas (life force) through simple means that we all have more or less access to. Like slowing down, eating whole foods (see the 3 recipes below), prioritizing feeling love, getting quality sleep, and time outside.

Hope these recipes help and if you fancy a private consultation with Chrisandra, see her details below.

To nourishment,

Tawny

Hemp Protein Ojas Bars

(a recipe adapted from Everyday Ayurveda, by Kate O'Donnell)

•¼ c hemp protein powder

•½ c almond or sunflower butter

•¼ c unsweetened shredded coconut

•¼ cup chopped pistachios

•1 TBSP plus 1 tsp coconut oil

•¼ c pitted Medjool dates (4-5 dates)

•¼ c dried apricots (6)

•1/8 tsp cardamom powder

•

Mix ingredients together in a food processor or by hand except 1 tsp coconut oil until a ball is formed. Use the extra coconut oil if a ball does not form. Press mixture into a shallow 8x8 in baking dish and refrigerate until hard, or roll into balls.  Cut into squares. Savor.

Ojas Almond Date Shake

(serves 2)

Ingredients

• 2 cups organic milk – raw, whole cow, almond*, rice, oat, hemp

• 4 dates, soaked in warm water

• 2-4 pinches each cardamom & cinnamon (can also add a pinch of nutmeg before bed for helping with sleep, fennel for helping with digestion, and saffron for even more ojas-building)

•Optional 1-2 tsp ghee

Directions

Warm the milk, spices and ghee until they just come to a boil. Lower heat. Blend milk with dates until creamy. Sip and enjoy.

Homemade Almond Milk

(1 quart)

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw almonds, soaked overnight

• 4 cups filtered water

• pinch Himalayan pink salt or sea salt

• optional 1-2 tsp flax seed oil

Directions

Place the almonds in a bowl and cover with water. Soak 6-8 hours or overnight. Drain and remove the skins from the almonds. Use a high-speed blender to blend almonds, water and a pinch of salt until smooth and frothy. Pour through a nut milk bag, cheesecloth, or other fine mesh strainer to separate the pulp from the liquid. Add flax seed oil, if desired. Store in a glass jar or airtight container in your fridge for up to 2-4 day

Chrisandra Fox Walker has studied Ayurveda & Women's Health through the California College of Ayurveda, the Center for Sacred Window Studies, with Dr. Sarita Shresta, Dr. Claudia Welch, Dr. Robert Svoboda, DeAnna Batdorff, and Uma Dinsmore-Tuli. She has taught yoga and teacher training, supported childbirth as a birth doula, and is an Ayurvedic postpartum caregiver.  

She offers guidance in Ayurvedic self-care for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood, inspired by her own journey through pregnancy and postpartum, homebirth, and raising her three boys. 

With a near twenty-year background in tantric hatha yoga, and practicing as an Ayurvedic Health Counselor, Chrisandra is passionate about supporting women in their journey of motherhood, as well as guiding families to be optimally healthy and awake in raising children to love, care for, and be nourished by their connection to Mother Nature. 

She frolics in the hills of Marin County, where she lives with her husband and three young boys.

For Ayurvedic Consultation & Care, yoga mentorship, and women-centered rituals, please email her at Chrisandra@gmail.com

Chrisandra Fox Walker