February: Vajikarana Rasayana VALENTINA

Nurture Your Sensual Side

Rasayana, or rejuvenation, is an important aspect of health in Ayurveda. Everything in our lives has the ability to either restore or deplete. Our wellbeing is influenced by the foods & herbs we ingest, the activities that we participate in, the people we surround ourselves with, to even the music and media we invite into our lives—they’re all capable of building a balanced & fulfilling life, or causing damage & destruction. I’ll take balance and fulfillment, please!  Rasayana helps restore the body’s vitality, health, and youthfulness through a  nourishing & nurturing lifestyle. This protection & support comes in the form of meditation, breathwork (pranayama), appropriate exercise, eating with the seasons, doshic balancing, ensuring a strong digestion (agni), self oil massage (Abhyanga), herbs….and yes, appropriate sex.

Connecting to your sensual side, isn’t about having a lot of sex. That can be included! But, only if it’s supporting and rejuvenating your spirited Self. Nurturing your sensual side is a way to heal, detoxify, and recharge your creative expression. 

Here are a few ways to sooth your soul, connect to your sensuality, and build that ojas mojo:

•Prioritize intimacy. Find ways to incorporate intimate connection before, during, and after sex. Or maybe don’t even have sex at all! Simply focus on connecting by syncing the breath while eye gazing, massaging one another, talking, or simply holding your beloved. Get creative & fun with other ways to connect deeper through intimate moments. Clothes are optional. 

•Yoga, meditation, and pranayama (breathwork), oh yes! Meditative and mindful acts directly affect the nervous system. Chronic stress (eh hem, modern society) affects all aspects of your body, and is damaging to your sexual & reproductive health. When you’re stuck in high gear, your body and mind aren’t able to let life flow. When you’re able to tap into calmness, you’re better able to connect to intimacy, pleasure, and a deeper expression of yourself. Incorporating pranayama, yoga, meditation and mantra chanting will help regulate the nervous system allowing for pleasure exploration. These practices will help build connection to how you feel, which is important in being able to receive pleasure…in all forms.

•Put the phone DOWWWWWN! Seriously. Just put it down. And away from you. Be committed to becoming present. And sometimes, that starts with putting the phone down. All the way down. The more we’re connected to our screen devices, the more disconnected we become to ourselves & others. This disruption in connectivity decreases our sensitivity to pleasure. Instead, focus on the wider view around you by strengthening your senses. 

•Try these soothing, sensory practices throughout your day to help build connectivity to yourself, your surroundings, and your pleasure experiences:

*Notice something beautiful around you, and spend several minutes gazing at the object. Spend time deeply seeing it’s patterns, colors, and sitting with how it makes you feel. 

*Listen to nature! It’s happening all around you. Sit quietly and just listen. Nature is always busy, surrounding us with an orchestra. Often, we’re just too busy to admire the music. Maybe open a window (depending on the season) to allow in the sound of birds singing, crickets chirping, rustling of leaves blowing, the sound of water or rain.

*Infuse your living space with the smell of natural elements. Not only are natural smells-rain, fresh air, sea salt breeze-an aphrodisiac, but it’s very grounding & pleasureful to our bodies. Lightly spritzing rose, vanilla, vetiver, jasmine, ylang ylang, or sandalwood are also lovely ways to bring in natural elements.

*Eat your food slowly. Savor the flavors & textures. This is also a great time to notice the  beauty that surrounds and, if possible, eat with a view of the outdoors. If that’s not an option, consider adding a beautiful plant to the space. 

•Bring out the warm oil! Abhyanga self-massage is a beautiful way to nurture and connect to your sensual side. Check out November’s content for a video demonstration. 

•Follow a seasonal sex prescription. That’s right! Ayurveda has a seasonal sex prescription, and has laid it all out for you. Sex is seen as a spiritual experience between you and your partner. It’s not only a physical act—your mind & soul also need to be included in the experience. So, choose wisely! Be picky. You’ll be sharing a sacred part of yourself, and that’s a big deal. Sex is a heating activity, that if done too often (or with wrong intention) can be depleting and aggravating, causing imbalances. However, Ayurveda teaches us that daily sexual activity during the winter months (now!) can be beneficial if done with proper intention, and through incorporating rasayana practices to help build ojas. What are rasayana practices? Everything mentioned here! It’s time to get your rasayana on. 

•What brings you JOY, releasing your inner child? Our modern lives are soooooo busy. Find ways to bring those activities, moments, and connectivity to joy (back) into your life. I get giddy just thinking about a kayaking or hiking trip in the mountains, international travel, or dancing with my girlfriends. What makes you giddy? Reclaim your joy! Throw your arms around your giddiness, and laugh and laugh and hug. I guarantee She missed you, too. 

Herbs Are For Lovers

Interested in exploring your inner sensual landscape? Or maybe you’ve been struggling with depressed libido, and want a little extra zing? Herbal support comes in many forms, and using herbs as an aphrodisiac might be just the ticket. With or without a partner!

Vajikarana, the science of aphrodisiacs, works on both physical and energetic levels as it aims to  nourish sensual and pleasureful pursuits. Physically, they are rejuvenatives for the nervous, reproductive & cardiovascular systems as they tonify and support body functions. Many are adaptogens which help relax the nervous system, allowing the body to be more receptive. Energetically, the heart (anahata) and sacral (svadhisthana) chakras are stimulated, opened & nurtured. This expansiveness is balancing to the energetic body, while also increasing pleasure potential. 

There’s far too much negativity around women with depressed libido. Please keep in mind that not being an erotic, prowess-tigress wanting to sexually devour your partner is possibly a mixture of outrageous societal expectations on women’s sensuality, and also a possible result of imbalance. Neither should be internalized as shame. Often, a depressed libido is caused by stress, hormonal imbalance (often caused by stress), fatigue (again, stress), blocked channels (nadis), or emotional conflicts. Did I mention stress? While aphrodisiac herbs are supportive, they should be used in conjunction with other practices for true change. It all begins with awareness & self-love.

Sex, after all, is about deep, inner-connection. Listen to your body, and only have sex if it feels right to you, in that moment. And if it doesn’t, then don’t do it! Just say, no. Your sexual energy is sacred—when and how you choose to express your sensuality is yours to own. But, if it does feel right….then light some candles, turn up the music, and become playful with some herbs to help connect to the erotic, flirty, pulsing, expansive sex creature that you are! Because you ARE all of these things. 

Indulge your senses by trying these beautiful herbs infused in a hot bath, sip them as a tea, or try them as a tincture: 

•Shatavari  •Ginseng

•Ashwagandha •Ginger

•Shilajit •Maca

•Gokshura •Hibiscus

•Saffron •Blue Lotus

•Rose

(Rose isn’t an aphrodisiac, but it is a lovely heart (anahata) chakra opener)

Wanna go shop’n?!

RASA has created a Spicy Rose Cacao sex tonic that is delicious & nourishing. The best part? It’s already made for you! With love & mantra. You can find their products here: 

RASA: www.wearerasa.com

ANIMA MUNDI creates gorgeous, organic & sustainable herb blends. Check them out for some Blue Lotus, Rose Powder, or Euphoria (libido support blend). I guarantee you’ll fall in love….with all of their products.

ANIMA MUNDI APOTHECARY: www.animamundiherbals.com

Shakti Mudra

Shakti Mudra is a powerful hand gesture used to restore vital energy, enhance connection to Self, and honor the complexities of love. It’s often used to balance the womb rhythms by reclaiming sensuality, honoring femininity, and reviving the Shakti power within. Shakti Mudra is beneficial for those healing from a miscarriage, abortion, divorce/heartbreak, or struggling with love disillusionment. Or for those who simply want to connect to their unrestrained, inner goddess, Shakti power. 

HOW TO MUDRA: 

•Sit in a comfortable posture with a straight spine

•Bring the palms of the hands together

•Slowly separate the palms 

•Place the tips of the pinky fingers and ring fingers together

•Bend the thumbs into the palm of your hands

•Wrap the middle fingers and index fingers over the thumbs

•Bring the mudra hands to the low abdomen or the heart space. Take several slow breath cycles, meditate, or mantra chant.

Always connect to your intention. Honor where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going. Hold gratitude for your immense strength, and allow yourself to feel whatever it is that you feel. Hold space for your growing, healing heart. 

Mantra with Mala

Mantra, in Sanskrit, translates as “ tool of the mind” and/or “divine speech”.  Mantras have been used for thousands of years to help deepen one’s meditation, spirituality, and to help fulfill an intention. Each syllable in Sanskrit creates a vibratory effect on different body parts (and chakras/energy centers), which is said to “knead the flesh of the body with sound”. 

Even for those who are not spiritual or religious, there are still many benefits to reap. Mantra chanting calms the mind-body system, helps regulate & slow heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases mental awareness & cerebral function, enhances brainwaves, eliminates negativity, releases endorphins, boosts immunity, encourages hormonal balance and quiets fear. Yes, please! 

There are many mantras, all with different meanings and intentions. Choosing one with an intention that speaks to you will have a more profound effect. Here’s one to get you started on this new journey:

Om Namah Shivaya

(Om Nah-Mah Shee-Vah-Yah)

This mantra is said to be a love song to ourselves, acknowledging all of our subtle aspects. The vibrations represents the elements ( earth, water, fire, air, ether) as they rise up through the chakras/energy centers. Om Namah Shivaya is a powerful mantra bowing to our inner divinity, and honoring our own ever-present ability for rebirth, growth & transformation. 

Find a quiet & comfortable space. Dim the lights, close your eyes, and allow the body & mind to retreat with this guided meditation.

Nourish yo’ Self

Nourish yo’ self! Not just in February. Always. Especially if you are exercising your inner sexual energy (i.e. having a lot of sex), you’ll want to take time for self-nourishment. Sex requires a LOT of stored energy! And while having healthy sexual interactions can build ojas, it can also be depleting when done often. Below are two simple & tasty rasayana recipes to help restore vitality, strength, immunity, and that inner glow. 

Diamond Dates Recipe: 

15 dates

1 cup ghee, melted

Saffron, pinch

Cinnamon powder, pinch

Cardamom powder, pinch

Fill a jar with the dates. Melt the ghee on the stove, mixing in the spices. Pour the spiced ghee over the dates and store. Enjoy a date every morning….or after sex. 

Post-Coital Milk Recipe:

That’s right! Milk is the new sexy drink. Put that Martini away, and warm up some milk with this restorative recipe. 

This makes one serving. Double the portions, if you’d like to make a ‘mug of love’ for your partner. 

1 cup milk of choice (dealer’s choice!)

1 tsp Ashwagandha -or- Shatavari powder

1-2 Medjool dates (pitted)

Cinnamon powder, pinch

Cardamom powder, pinch

1/2 tsp of ghee or coconut oil (ghee is preferable)

1/2-1 tsp raw cacao powder (optional, but I say go for it!)

Using a blender, blend all ingredients. Pour ingredients in a small saucepan & bring the liquid to a boil for 1-2 minutes. Pour in a mug. Snuggle up and feel held, loved & nourished. 

Tantra, Anyone?

The Chakra Sambhara Tantra says, “Visualize yourself as an erotic, red goddess, symbol of dedication and passion. Three eyes blazing with passion, your tongue is lustful with the purifying power of your inner fire. You are a naked goddess, with disheveled hair; symbolizing freedom from the bonds of delusion. You are intuition–a reminder that everything must pass. Blazing like fire, you express your wisdom essence, in embracing your lover without constraint.” (Translation by Katie Silcox)

Go out there and be your own red goddess! From a place that feels right to you. If your red goddess wants to eat dates covered in ghee & honey while indulging in a foot soak….then, let that hair down, and soak those feet! Tap into your intuition and feed Her what will heal Her. Sometimes healing comes in the form of dates, honey, and a foot soak. Sometimes that goddess transforms into an erotic, powerful tigress. Only you know the best way to express your Divinity. Own it.