Who Am I?

Who Am I? There was a time in my life that I didn't know. I knew I was a daughter and a sister. A wife, then an ex-wife. A mother then a wife again then a mother again. I knew I was a former competitive gymnast, then bicycle racer, then triathlete. I knew I was a coach. I knew I was a volunteer and an employee. But honestly when I looked in the mirror I didn't have a clue.

My whole life was about living up to other's expectations, believing in their dreams and believing their dreams were mine. As a middle child I found that I got attention through sports. Sports and school came easy. I have three sisters. The responsible one was the oldest. the helpful one came next. The beautiful, popular one came after me. We all had our roles and we played them well.

I grew up in small town Nova Scotia. We're everyone knew everyone and those who didn't said they did. They also knew everything...and what they didn't they created. Like all small towns there was good and bad. Socially divided into areas of the town whose names they still proudly speak, "I'm a rowser, I'm a hiller." I knew from the time I was in the 2nd grade I wanted to be more than that. We had to create a picture of what we wanted to be when we grew up. Mine picture was somewhat of I collage. I wrote that I wanted to be a firefighter, a policeman, a doctor, a mother, a pilot and own a candy store. My teacher drew a red line thru my paper and told me to do it again. I couldn't do that. Most of "those jobs" were "men's work." I refused to do it again...and of course, my mother was called. Mrs. A started my journey to fight against the norm.

Since the age of 15 I have lived and worked in 6 provinces and a territory. I have traveled across Canada 5 times, moving from job to job. I have been to all but 2 of the United States--just to see what was there. My 2005, we decided to relocate to Alberta. Jobs were hard to come by in Nova Scotia and as a family of 6 we were barely getting by. I lasted a year and a half in Alberta. Our family life was suffering from the impact of my job and the long hours of my husbands. I found my dream job in the Northwest Territories and we moved there. For the first time in my life I knew what it was liked to be discriminated against; to face racism everyday. It was cold and I hibernated thru the winter. Only going outside to walk to work or an occasional snow shoe with my family. Fresh food was limited so we ate a lot of processed foods and my weight kept creeping up. Over time, most people came to know that I only wanted to help and that I loved the land as much as they did. The key was that I had to give up pushing my way in--to stop trying to control everything. Once I learned just to be, people came to me. I loved the life I had in the North. I was starting to get a handle on who I was. Then my youngest daughter got sick and monthly trips to Alberta to see a doctor became our way of life. Another move brought us to Ontario to be closer to the Sick Kids Hospital.

Living in Ontario has had it's ups and downs. My husband works in Alberta from October to April. My older kids are basically on their own. I was basically a single mother with no one who understood me. I faithfully watched the Biggest Lower thinking someday I will get to love my body the way those contestants do. Then one day at work I heard two colleagues talking about their trainer. I asked for more info and talked to my employer and eventually made an appointment with this trainer. it was like nothing I had ever experienced before. She didn't just want to train me. She wanted to be fix me, inside and out. Body, mind and spirit. I told her everything that I had experienced from childhood to that day. She created a healing journey for me and I have not looked back. My body is slow to respond. Hypothyroid, bulimia and years of yo-yo dieting had taken their toll on me...but I'm beginning to see the changes. The big change that happened was that I stopped living my life for other people. I stopped watching my words for fear of losing relationships and was honest and true with myself. I have come to recognize that I am important--just as important as anyone else. Who Am I? I'm still figuring that out, and I'm not in any rush. Rushing made it artificial. What I can say is that I AM ME...and that's enough. <3

Pitta Rejuvenation Diet

General Principles:

- Avoid hot spices (cyennem jalapenoo peppers, etc), alcohol, vinegar, fried foods, tomatoes, yogurt, and cheese.

- Cool to lukewarm drinks according to your preference.

- Favor sweet, bitter and astringent tastes.


Favor the Following:

Grains: Wheeat, rice, barely, oats, quinoa, kamut, amaranthm couscous

Legumes: Mung beans, small kidney beans, non-fermented spy beans. All others are ok in moderation.

Vegetables: Asparagus, artichokes, yellow squash, zucchini, okra, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, green beans, celery, potato, sweet potato, peas, bell peppers, tender eggplant, cilantro, sprouts, lettuce, chard, brussel sprouts, parsley, cucumber, kale, bok choy, winter squash, sweet corn, all green leafy vegetables except spinach.

Dairy: Milk (boiled and served warm), butterm ghee, sweet lassi, cream, cream cheese, panir.

Sweeteners: Whole, natural sugar cane, date sugar.

Oils: Ghee is best, sunflower, coconut in moderation.

Nuts and Seeds: Sunflower and pumpkin seeds, blanced almonds in small amounts.

Spices: Corriander, cilantro, cumin, tumeric, saffron, fennel, cardamom.

Fruits: Sweet grapes, avocado, sweet mango, cocunut, melons, kiwi, sweet oranges, sweet plums, papaya, sweet pineapple, persimmon, pomegrante, raisins, banana.

Vata Rejuvenation Diet

General Principles:

- Eat warm, soft, unctuous (oily) cooked foods
- Raw vegetables and salads should generally be avoided
- Drink room temperature or hot beverages
- Breakfast should consist of cooked cereal/oatmeal, stewed fruits or soaked fruits
- Avoid cold drinks and frozen desserts
- Avoid light, dry, crunchy food.
- Minimize bitter, astringent and spicy tastes
- Yogurt, cheese and sour cream should be eaten predominatly at lunchtime

Favor the following foods:

Grains: oatmeal (cooked), rice (especially basmati), wheat products (if able)

Legumes: red lentils, yellow split mung beans (green skin removed), whole mung beans

Vegetables: artichokes, beets, bok choy, carrot, celery root, cucumber, tender eggplant, okra, while pumpkin, radish, spinach, summer/yellow squash, winter squash (acorn, buttercup, butternut), sweet potato, tomato, zucchini.

Dairy: butter, cream, ghee, milk (boiled and served hot), yogurt, soft, non-aged cheess (ricotta, cottage cheese, cream cheese), panir, sour cream

Sweeteners: all sugar cane products, date sugar, honey

Oils: All. Although ghee is the most preferred

Nuts and seeds: all except peanuts.

Spices: anise, black pepper, caramom, clove, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugeek, gralic (cooked only), ginger, hing (asafetida), mustard seeds, rock salt, sea salt, tamarind, and other spices in small amounts.

Balancing Your Body Type

Vata:

Out of balance, Vata individuals can have poor digestion with lots of bloating and constipation. They can have dry nasal passages and easily catch colds during the fall and winter. They can also easily develop insomnia and fatigue. To help with the digestion, there is an herbal supplement, Triphala, which is a lifesaver for people with a Vata imbalance. To prevent dry nasal passages and fight off colds, Vata individuals can use a sesame oil nasal spray – you just spray 1-2 sprays in each nostril in the mornings. To fight off insomnia, a regular routine is critical, which, of course, Vata individuals tend to resist. Nonetheless, they should be waking up at the same time, eating lunch at the same time, and going to bed at the same time. Additionally, Vata types will benefit from a warm, spiced milk drink at bedtime.

The dietary recommendations for Vata individuals are to avoid dry/crunchy foods, carbonated beverages, and cold/raw vegetables. Their ideal diet consists of warm, cooked, soupy foods; cooked cereals; nuts; cooked vegetables; and hot milk. Also, ghee, which is clarified butter, is particularly good for Vata individuals. 


Pitta:

Out of balance, Pitta types can experience excessive anger, suffer from inflammatory conditions (such as headaches and rashes), encounter digestive problems (such as acid reflux, diarrhea and ulcers), and become over-stressed, workaholics. To help with the inflammation, Pitta individuals can do a quick coconut oil massage to the scalp and feet for 5 minutes before getting into the shower. To prevent the digestive problems, they can drink a mixture of a quarter-cup of aloe vera juice with a half-cup of pomegranate juice in the morning on an empty stomach. To help take the “edge off” at work and fight off stress in these worker bees, they should eat a teaspoon of rose petal jam – it can be taken alone or with toast. The rose petal jam is sweet and calming.

In terms of their diet, Pitta people should avoid hot spices, alcohol, coffee, vinegar, and acidic foods like citrus and tomatoes. Of course, these are typically their favorite foods! They should eat sweet juicy fruits such as mangos and melons. They should also include lots of cooling vegetables with high water content, such as cucumbers, kale and lettuce, in their diet. 


Kapha: 


Out of balance, Kapha individuals have a tendency towards sinus congestion, poor circulation, and sluggish digestion that can easily lead to obesity. To combat the congestion, Kapha types can add garlic to their diet or take garlic supplements. To help improve circulation, they can do a stimulating dry body massage, called garshana, performed with raw silk gloves – you can use a loofah sponge as a substitute. The massage helps get rid of excess water weight and is a natural cure for cellulite. To help boost metabolism, Kapha individuals can use the herbal supplement guggul, which is a plant that is closely related to myrrh. The dose of guggul is typically 75mg-150mg a day. Exercise is also critical to keep Kapha people in balance; if you have a Kapha body type, you have to get up and move! 

Scoring For Your Body Type

Although there are only three doshas, there are ten possible body types:

Single-Dosha Types:

Vata
Pitta
Kapha

If your dosha score is much higher in one than the others,  you are a single dosha-type. i.e. Vata - 90, Pitta -45, Kapha 35. A true single-dosha type displays traits of that type predominantly. Your next highest score will still influence your natural tendencies, but to a much lesser degree.

Two-Dosha Types:

Vata-Pitta or Pitta-Vata
Pitta-Kapha or Kapha-Pitta
Kapha-Vata or Vata- Kapha

If no dosha is extremely predominant, you are a two-dosha type. This means that you display qualities of of your two leading doshas; either side-by-side, or in alternation. The higher one comes first in your body type, but both count.

Most people are two-dosha types. In some the first dosha is very strong. In other cases where the difference in scores is smaller, the first dosha still predominates, but the second score is almost equal.

Some people have scores in which one stands out, but the other two scores are exactly the same. They are still two-dosha types, but a written test could not pick up the second dosha. If you score like this, pay attention to the first dosha as your dominant one and in time the second one will become more clear.

Three-Dosha Types:

If you scores are nearly the same, you are a three-dosha types. This type is extremely rare. Check your answers carefully or have a friend help you take the quiz. Then read the descriptions on my FB page and see if one or two doshas are prominent in your makeup. If not, you are the three-dosha type.

Vata Creates Confusion. if you find yourself unable to give clear cut answers on many points, your body may be obscured by a Vata imbalance. Since Vata is the leader of the doshas, it can mimic Pitta and Kapha. I.e. you may be thin-framed but also overweight; prone to worry but also irritable.  Vata imbalance is likely to cause changeableness.

Dosha Body Type Description

Vata Body Types:

Physically, Vatas are the thinnest of the 3 leading body types. Think narrow shoulders and hips. Some fluctuate over their lifetime, weedy as adolescents but overweight in middle age. Physical irregularity comes from an excess of Vata - hands and feet may be too large or too small for a given body. Teeth may be very small or else large and protruding; having an overbite i

s a Vata characteristic. Bones may be either very long and light or very long and heavy. Joints, veins and tendons stand out as the layer of fat beneath the skin is thin. Cracking of joints is considered typical. 

Vata dosha is responsible for all movement in the body. Think breathing, digestion, nerve impulses. Vatas most important function is to control the CNS. When out of balance, nervous disorders appear, ranging from anxiety to depression. Vata is responsible for starting things, not finishing them, a characteristic that shows up when Vata is out of balance. Vata types are said to spend themselves too freely, wasting money, energy and words, but this is not true when they are in balance. Most Vata are prone to worry and at times suffer from insomnia. Sleep is the shortest of any body type. A balanced Vata person is infectiously happy, enthusiastic and energetic. The mind is clear and alert. They are sensitive to change and have quick, acute responses to sound and touch. 

It is very typical for Vata to: be hungry at night; love excitement and constant change; go to sleep at different times every night; skip meals; digest food well one day and poorly the next; display bursts of emotions that are short-lived and quickly forgotten; walk quickly.

Vata leads the other doshas. The basic caution for Vata types is to get sufficient rest, not to overdo, and pay close attention to regular lifestyles habits.

Pitta body types:

Pitta controls metabolism. The theme for the Pitta type is "intense." Anyone with bright hair and a florid face contains a good deal of Pitta, as does someone who is ambitious, sharp-witted, outspoken  bold, argumentative, or jealous. The combative side of Pitta is a natural tendency, but does not have to be expressed. When in balance, Pittas are warm and ardent in their emotio

ns, loving and content.

Pittas are medium in size and well proportioned. They maintain their weight without drastic fluctuations. Facial features are well proportioned; eyes are medium in size; often with a penetrating glance. Hands and feet are medium too; joints are normal. Pitta hair and skin are easily recognizable  Straight and fine, red, blond, or sandy in colour, tends to grey prematurely. Baldness, thinning hair or receding hairline is also a strong sign of excess Pitta. The skin is warm, soft and fair, it does not tan easily and often burns without tanning at all. Pittas generally have sharp, penetrating intellects and good concentration powers. Their innate tendency is to be orderly and to manage their energies, money and actions efficiently. They respond to the world visually. Heat is expressed everywhere in Pittas, typically by their short tempers, warm hands and feet, and burning sensations in their eyes, skin, stomach or intestines. These are likely to appear when Pitta is out of balance. They are averse to long exposure to the sun, develop heat fatigue very readily and their eyes dislike the sun.

Pittas incline toward anger as their negative emotion and stress easily brings this out. They can be irritable, and impatient  demanding and perfectionism when out of balance. They are ambitious and show good leadership. They speak precisely and articulately and often make good public speakers. When in balance Pittas are sweet, joyous, confident and brave. They enjoy challenges and meet them vigorously  Because Pitta controls metabolism, Pitta people have "digestive fire." They have a large appetite for food and often excessive thirst. They are least able to skip a meal or even eat late and excess Pitta is associated with heartburn and other digestive difficulties. 

Pittas tend to feel ravenously hungry if dinner is a 1/2 hour late; live by their watch and resent wasting time; wake up at night hot and thirsty; take command of a situation or feel they should; learn from experience that others would find too demanding; have a determined stride when you walk.

The basic caution for Pittas is to lead a moderate, pure lifestyle. Every cell in the body relies on Pitta dosha to regulate its intake of pure food, water and air. Toxins show up quickly as Pitta imbalance. Pittas respond poorly to impure food, polluted air, alcohol, cigarettes and toxic emotions. The Pitta dosha gives us our instinct for moderation and purity, qualities that are vital to health.

Kapha body type:

The basic theme of Kapha type is "relaxed." Kapha dosha, the structural principle in the body, brings stability and steadiness. Study, heavy frames is typical of Kapha people. As a rule they enjoy sound health. Their personalities express a serene, happy, tranquil view of the world. They are affectionate, tolerant, forgiving and motherly.

Physically, Kapha dosha gives strength a

nd natural resistance to disease. They are well built and tend to be thickest at the hips and shoulders. There is a strong tendency to gain weight easily, only having to "look at food to put on a few pounds." Since extra weight is not easily lost, Kaphas often become obese when they are out of balance. A telltale Kapha trait is cool, smooth, thick, pale skin that is often oily, and large soft, doe-like eyes. Kapha dosha is slow. They are slow eaters with slow digestion. When speaking they are slow and deliberate in their speech. They are calm and self-contained, slow to anger and want to maintain peace around them. Their natural response to the world is through taste and smell.

Kaphas have steady energy. Their stamina exceeds that of other types. They are rarely drained by physical fatigue. It is very Kapha to store and save everything, money, possessions, energy, fat, etc. The fat is usually stored down lower, in the thighs and buttocks. This dosha controls the moist tissues of the body and imbalance will show up in the mucous membranes; think sinus congestion, chest colds, allergies, asthma and painful joints. These symptoms are worse in late winter and spring. Kapha sleep is long and heavy, often more than 8 hours per night. 

It is very Kapha to mull things over for a long time before making a decision; wake up slowly, be happy with status quo; respect others feeling's; seek emotional comfort from eating; have graceful movements, liquid eyes, and a gliding walk.

The basic caution for Kapha types is to progress. Any stagnant situation turns Kapha stability into inertia  They need a good deal of stimulation. Kapha dosha gives us a sense of inner security and steadiness.

PITTA Quiz

This quiz is divided into three sections.  Simply read the statement and mark it from 0-6. 0 = does not apply to me, 3 = Applies to me some of the time. 6 = describes me exactly or most of the time. Go with the first answer that comes in your head. Our brains will try to rationalize. Instinctual answers are usually the closest to our reality.

Section 2 - Pitta                                    Does Not                   Some of the                 Exactly/Most of
                                                             Apply to Me               Time                              Time

1. I consider myself to be                      1             2                  3               4          5            6
pretty efficient.

2. I am precise and orderly.                   1             2                  3               4          5            6

3. I am strong-minded and                     1             2                  3               4          5            6
have a forceful way.

4. I feel uncomfortable in hot                  1             2                  3               4          5            6
weather.

5. I tend to perspire easily                      1             2                  3               4          5            6

7. If I skip a meal I become or its           1             2                  3               4          5            6

late I become uncomfortable

8. My hair is thin, fine, straight,               1             2                  3               4          5            6

blond, red or sandy coloured

9. I have a strong appetite. I can             1             2                  3               4          5            6

eat a large quantity.

10. Many people consider me                 1             2                  3               4          5            6

stubborn.

11. I am very regular in my bowel            1             2                  3               4          5            6

habits. 

12. I become impatient easily.                  1             2                  3               4          5            6

13. I tend to be a perfectionist.                 1             2                  3               4          5            6

14. I get angry quickly, but then                1             2                  3               4          5            6

forget about it quickly

15. I am very fond of cold foods like         1             2                  3               4          5            6

ice cream and ice-cold drinks.

16. I am more likely to feel a room is         1             2                  3               4          5            6

too hot than too cold.

17. I don't tolerate foods that are hot          1             2                  3               4          5            6

and spicy.

18. I am not as tolerant of a                        1             2                  3               4          5            6

disagreement as I should be.

19. I enjoy challenges and when I               1             2                  3               4          5            6

want something I am determined to

get it.

20. I tend to be critical of myself and           1             2                  3               4          5            6

others.

Add up your scores and go on to the Kapha quiz. Once you have completed all three of the body type quizzes, go to Scoring For Your Body Type.

KAPHA Quiz

This quiz is divided into three sections.  Simply read the statement and mark it from 0-6. 0 = does not apply to me, 3 = Applies to me some of the time. 6 = describes me exactly or most of the time. Go with the first answer that comes in your head. Our brains will try to rationalize. Instinctual answers are usually the closest to our reality.

Section 2 - Kapha                                    Does Not                   Some of the                 Exactly/Most of
                                                             Apply to Me               Time                              Time

1. My nature is to do things                     1              2                 3            4              5              6
in a slow, relaxed manner

2. I gain weight easily and lose                 1              2                 3            4              5              6
it more slowly.

3. I have a placid and calm                      1              2                 3            4              5              6
disposition - not easily ruffled

4. I skip meals easily without                    1              2                 3            4              5              6
much discomfort.

5. I have a tendency toward                     1              2                 3            4              5              6
excess mucus, phlegm, congestion,
asthma, or sinus problems

6. I must get at least 8 hours of                  1              2                 3            4              5              6
sleep in order to be comfortable
the next day.

7. I sleep very deeply.                               1              2                 3            4              5              6

8. I am calm by nature and not                   1              2                 3            4              5              6
easily angered.

9. I don't learn as quickly as                       1              2                 3            4              5              6
other people but have excellent
retention and a long memory.

10. I have a tendency toward                      1              2                 3            4              5              6
becoming plump - I store fat easily.

11. Cool, damp weather bothers                 1              2                 3            4              5              6
me.

12. My hair is think, dark and wavy.            1              2                 3            4              5              6

13. I have smooth, soft skin with                  1              2                 3            4              5              6
a somewhat pale complexion.

14. I have a large, solid body build.             1              2                 3            4              5              6

15. The following describes me:                   1              2                 3            4              5              6
serene, sweet-natured, affectionate,
forgiving.

16. I have slow digestion, which                  1              2                 3            4              5              6
makes me feel heavy after eating.

17. I have very good stamina,                      1              2                 3            4              5              6
physical endurance and a steady level
of energy.

18. I generally walk with a slow,                  1              2                 3            4              5              6
measured gait.

19. I have a tendency toward over               1              2                 3            4              5              6
sleeping, grogginess upon waking
and am slow to get going in the
morning.

20. I am a slow eater and slow and               1              2                 3            4              5              6
methodical in my actions.


Now add up your score and go to Scoring For Your Body Type.

Vata Quiz

This quiz is divided into three sections.  Simply read the statement and mark it from 0-6. 0 = does not apply to me, 3 = Applies to me some of the time. 6 = describes me exactly or most of the time. Go with the first answer that comes in your head. Our brains will try to rationalize. Instinctual answers are usually the closest to our reality.

Section 1 - VATA                                      Does Not                   Some of the                 Exactly/Most of
                                                                  Apply to Me               Time                              Time

1. I perform tasks very quickly.                    1                2                 3            4           5          6

2. I am not good at remembering things        1                2                 3            4           5          6
and then remember them later

3. I am enthusiastic by nature                        1                2                 3            4           5          6

4. I have a thin physique. In my                     1                2                 3            4           5          6
younger years I didn't gain weight
easily.

5. I have always learned new                        1                2                 3            4           5          6
things quickly.

6. My gait while walking is                            1                2                 3            4           5          6
light and quick

7. I tend to have difficulty making                  1                2                 3            4           5          6
decisions.

8. I develop gas or become                          1                2                 3            4           5          6
constipated easily.

9. I tend to have cold hands and                   1                2                 3            4           5          6
feet.

10. I become anxious or worried                  1                2                 3            4           5          6
frequently

11. I don't tolerate cold weather                   1                2                 3            4           5          6
as well as other people

12. I speak quickly. My friends                     1                2                 3            4           5          6
say I'm talkative.

13. I am somewhat emotional                        1                2                 3            4           5          6
by nature.

14. I often having difficulty falling                    1                2                 3            4           5          6
asleep.

15. My skin tends to be dry,                          1                2                 3            4           5          6
especially in winter

16. My mind is very active, sometimes           1                2                 3            4           5          6
restless, but imaginative.

17. My energy tends to comes in bursts.        1                2                 3            4           5          6

18. I am easily excitable.                               1                2                 3            4           5          6

19. Left on my own, my eating habits             1                2                 3            4           5          6
tend to be irregular.

20. I learn quickly. I also forget                      1                2                 3            4           5          6
quickly.


Now add up your scores. Proceed to the next body type, Pitta, then Kapha. When you are finished you will have three separate scores. This will be explained under Scoring You Body Type.