The verdict is out, we now know that many of the diseases we suffer today are a result of what we ingest! This self-study workshop is based on the understanding that all of life is connected, simply put, di’gum’hi’ki’ ungaw hu’yah (Washiw for all my relations), meaning, that we are all related–we, meaning all beings: those that fly; those that swim in the waters; the creepy crawlers, the 2-leggeds, the 4-leggeds, the plant nations, the rivers and lakes, the mountains & valleys, the rock people–all of us are related. This understanding is demonstrated in Native/Indigenous teachings around the world as well as in Ayurvedic medicine teachings where every being is made of some combination of elementals [earth, fire, water, air, ethers] and categorized into three types of energy circulating systems which governs physiological activity. These energy circulating systems are called doshas [body constitution], and are very much interconnected with our cognitive, and emotional/soul functions. Everyone has a dosha; in other words, everyone is made a some combination of the elements and when understood, one can learn how to be vital at every stage of life. While this course is not an Ayurvedic course, we do refer to many of the constructs that underlie Ayurveda because these ancient teachings are based in Ancient/Indigenous wisdom, and while there was no deconstruction of dead corpses to validate the conclusions, they are unequivocally scientifically sound.
Understanding your body's unique constitution, or primary dosha or combination of doshas will illuminate your awareness of proper foods for your particular constitution and start to shed some light on the ways that you tend toward imbalance. It is also important to note your current geographic location and climate, the time of year, the environmental season, and season of life in order to determine what is the best form of nourishment and what is needed to restore balance in the physical body. The over accumulation of toxins in our body will lead to excess ama in the body which can then manifest as in disease. Addressing the toxins in our body is absolutely crucial. Our body tells us when we have an overaccumulation of toxins–learning to listen and translate what our body is communicating requires presence. However, many of us have been taught to ignore what our body is telling us and to rely on medical doctors to diagnose and treat our ills. While treatment may be necessary, it does not address the underlying issues that got us there to begin with. Our bodies were designed to function as an extension of nature, for example, our circadian rhythm is designed to wake us up at first light and initiate sleep when the sun goes down. Yet, our modern lifestyle is so very much different than the natural rhythms of nature and pushes us to jumpstart our day with caffeinated beverages and end it under the blue lights of our favorite technology until wee hours of the night.
How did we get so disconnected from our own bodies that we could not see the accumulation of toxic “food”, inflammation and other substances including those we call “medicines''? Toxic accumulations that result in high incidence of liver and kidney damage; heart disease; high blood pressure; obesity, depression, bi-polar, and a whole host of other conditions that are meticulously studied and categorized into a never-ending collection of diagnosis and treatment schemes leading to some form of pharmaceuticals [drugs]. How did we become so reliant on medical “experts'' to fix our ailments to the point of ignoring what our body is screaming out–STOP ALREADY WITH THE CHEMICALIZED AND PROCESSED “FOOD” PRODUCTS, THE WHITE FLOUR, SUGAR, AND RANCID OILS! But there’s no going back, we cannot dictate the life circumstances that have resulted in the current state of health that we find ourselves in today–we can however change the trajectory from which all those circumstances have resulted and feel increasingly vibrant, even as we grow into our elder stage of life.
This Food Is Medicine journey is a trek into deeper levels of self-understanding. It is an exploration into what our bodies are capable of if given the right nutrition and environment. We will be embarking on a deep dive into your/our relationship with food and how we may need to change it with new awareness and an open conscious mind to address the areas of our relationship with food that must be addressed and all that surrounds our ability to make those changes. The explorations presented in this workshop addresses wellness at a body, mind, soul, and spirit level. It addresses not only what we put into our bodies, how we ingest it, how we transform it into fuel/energy for optimal functionality (or not) and furthermore, what we expose ourselves to daily that maintains or inhibits our ability to be well and thrive. Moreover, it promotes vitality, longevity, and self-empowerment, a medicine of prevention.
Note: This work is life work. There is no beginning or ending to it, no deadlines, or graded steps to follow, it is not a cure for your ailments–but it will impact them. It is not a substitute for any treatments, medications, or therapies you may be involved in, but it may alleviate the need for them. This work is based on the understanding that we can heal ourselves and promote more vitality in our own lives in order to be the best we can be. We do not recommend any change in any particular treatment you are currently under. This is an invitation to learn about your body and begin to make lifestyle changes that could improve your overall well-being and life.
