I have been a Groomed L.A. reader for years, so you can imagine how THRILLED I am that I made "The List" of their favorite places and things for 2012.

I have never met a vegan cookbook I didn't like.  Nothing makes me feel more vibrant and alive than my plant-based, yogic lifestyle.  So needless to say, I'm counting the days until Melissa Costello's masterpiece comes out in October.  I have been sampling Melissa's creations for years.  How lucky am I?  You know you want to also. Get this cookbook hot off the presses before anyone else!  She has been so gracious to provide us with a link to pre-order  >>>right here.<<< 

Hello Everyone.  I've moved!

I had the absolute pleasure of receiving not one, but two ancient Ayurvedic treatments from Andrea Emmerich.  One was abhyanga massage and the other was shirodhara.  When I left Andrea’s studio, my muscles were like jello and I was abuzz with calm, positive energy.  This was yesterday and I’m anxious to tell the world about it today.  Andrea is THAT skilled.  

You are an Ayurvedic healthcare practitioner.  Could you tell me about your training?

I received my certification as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist from the California College of Ayurveda in Grass Valley. After 2 years of academic studies, I did a 1-year clinical internship in practice. During this time we had to write and analyze the pathogenesis of patients and perform consultations consisting of intake, report of findings, treatment plans and follow-up visits. This was the most effective part to build a practice after finishing my studies. We documented everything and worked with an internship supervisor.  This was challenging but made us very precise and detailed practitioners in our observations and hence lead to satisfying results in healing.  I also completed a panchakarma training with Dr. Vasant Lad at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, NM. Further I deepened my knowledge in pulse diagnosis taught by Dr.Lad's protege Vijaya. I continue to educate myself with workshops, literature and participating in the ayurvedic community. 

What is panchakarma and why would a person need to do it?

Panchakarma is a mild, yet effective cleanse and rejuvenation program that rids the body of accumulated toxins that are stored in the deeper tissues. Even if we live a healthy lifestyle we are constantly exposed to toxins in the environment around us and from the air, water, food, cosmetics, negative thoughts and emotions. It is one of the pillars of health to seasonally detox on a cellular level to get body. mind and spirit back into homeostasis.

After I complete a panchakarma, I would most likely want to stick with some of the principles of ayurveda.  Name five things every Ayurvedic kitchen must have.

Yes, when the body is back in balance it craves the things that maintain that. Balance is very dynamic and we have to take into account the seasons, our age, and physical location. Here are the things you want to always have in your kitchen: organic lemons to make a hot lemon water first thing in the morning to activate the body's detox process; fresh ginger to make ginger tea or water to sip throughout the day. It increases circulation and helps digestion; ghee (clarified butter) is best to cook with. When sauteeing spices in ghee their therapeutic properties that are lipid-soluble get released and make your food medicine.  Basmati rice and mung beans are the other must-haves.  Mix them with an equal portion of rice and cook a kitchari.  Kitchari is often referred to as the chicken soup of India. It is a complete meal that will provide you with the needed nutrients in a perfect combination and it is very easy to digest. 

How often should a person do a panchakarma?

Ideally you would do a panchakarma cleanse 2 times a year. The best times are spring and fall, after the big seasonal changes. But one time a year at least.

I loved my shirodhara and abhyanga treatments from you.  Please explain it to my readers.

Shirodhara is a very powerful and rejuvenating treatment for the central nervous system. It is a stream of warm herbal oil continuously flowing over the third eye point which makes your mind and thoughts surrender and allows us to feel the deepest level of relaxation and bliss. Abhyanga is a warm herbal oil massage applying long rhythmic strokes aligning the energetic flow within the body. At the same time it mobilizes the toxins from deep within the tissues.

You may direct your questions to Andrea via email:  Aemmerich@earthlink.net.

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen

I have spent a fortune getting exfoliation treatments in spas.  You know the drill, you get naked and a very aggressive woman scrubs, scrubs, and scrubs until all dead cells are removed and you have an all-over rosy glow.  That's great but who has time to go to the spa every week.  I am forever trying to duplicate the same experience at home.  It gets pricey and messy.  I've purchased every sugar, salt, oil, aromatherapy, and scrubbing device on the market.

If you have ever had foot pain, you know you would do anything to remedy it.  It could be simpler than you think.  The anthocyanins in tart cherry juice may reduce damage from oxidative stress and crystallization in joints.  Tart cherry juice will reduce pain caused by gout and arthritis and even reverse these conditions.

This gorgeous lady wanted to reclaim her youthful eyes as a 50th birthday present to herself.  Ten sessions was all it took to level out the fine lines around her eyes, lift her brow and even out her skin tone.

And then there's that time I needled world-famous DJ Skee on the web series Rockstar Health and Fitness.  Have a look.....

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This lovely lady, mid-50's, sought acupuncture treatment to soften the fine lines around her eyes.  She also wanted to hasten the healing of a recent mole removal.