Ayurveda Culinary Retreat

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$195

Special Rate to Support You During COVID-19
SAVE MORE: Register with a friend, pay just $150 each—must call to register.

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Become your own wellness alchemist with Ayurvedic cooking.

We have a deep connection with food. When we’re happy, we celebrate with food. When we’re sad, we comfort ourselves with food. Food is powerful and fills our stomachs but it also affects our mind. It has the power to either harm us or help us.

During this retreat, we focus on becoming connected in the kitchen—building our relationship with food through our connection with nature, our connection with ourselves, and our connection to cooking.

We will explore the dynamics of digestion, the power of plants, the strength of spices, and the greatness of grains, all while learning all about YOUR unique constitution! You’ll learn how to take care of your body type and thrive in every season through theory discussions on topics such as foods that cleanse, building immunity, and treating imbalances with nutrition. We’ll discuss dietary strategies and demonstrate authentic Ayurvedic food preparation. You’ll

Learn to cook delicious meals with fresh, seasonal ingredients
Deepen your understanding of your dosha
Reconnect with yourself and your body’s unique dietary needs
Feel vital and nourished year-round.

Our online events with renowned Ayurvedic cooking instructor Nalini Mehta are comprehensive introductions to Ayurvedic cooking. Nalini’s masterful demonstrations and knowledge will ignite your passion, curiosity, and interest in holistic foods and spices.

You’ll have opportunities to participate and get lots of great information and recipes to help you stay healthy, happy, and whole all year!

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Features

Determine Dosha and Identify Imbalances

We'll first determine your Ayurveda dosha (constitution) and work to identify any imbalances and determine your health goals, then create a personalized wellness plan.

Ayurveda principles are based on the five elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth. These elements work well in pairs—vata (ether and air), pitta (fire and water) and kapha (water and earth).

Certain foods and spices and various combinations create a dish with different elements. These elements either help to support an individual or it can create imbalance. Being able to determine which dishes create balance and which dishes create an imbalance in your body is imperative for health and wellness.

Establish Your Unique Dietary Needs

Once we determine your dosha (constitution), we'll walk you through theory, recipes, and dietary strategies to keep you healthy, happy, and whole all year!

Each person has a unique elemental constitution, similar to how we think of genetic makeup in Western medicine. Once you determine your dosha (or constitution), you can then identify imbalances and adjust them with diet and lifestyle choices to create an environment conducive to healing.

No one diet works for everyone, every person is unique in their response to certain foods and diets. Once you learn your specific dosha and imbalances, Ayurveda cooking allows you to build a custom diet that is conducive to your body and your specific goals.

This program will walk you through theory, recipes, and dietary strategies to keep you healthy, happy, and whole all year!

What is your relationship with food?

Food has the power to heal, but it also has the ability to harm. So it's important to improve the relationship and understanding of what is best for our bodies.

Food and diet are such an important component of living a healthy lifestyle. So why not invest in having a better understanding of how food can affect you differently than someone else?

Food has the power to heal, but it also has the ability to harm. So it's important to improve the relationship and understanding of what is best for our bodies.

In addition, you can use this information to create a base for a healthy lifestyle through Ayurveda practices. Ayurveda is more than just cooking, but an introduction of how to live a fulfilling life.

Food As Medicine

Ayurveda has also been used as medicine for centuries. By taking care of our bodies inside and out, we can avoid potential illnesses, help to reverse damage already done to our bodies, and age gracefully, naturally!

Not only does Ayurveda cooking have the power to help get your body get back into balance, it can also naturally help to slow down—and even reverse—the process in which cells degenerate (decline) as you get older. This helps to prevent disease and slow down aging, as well as rebalance a system that is out of balance. Ayurveda and spices have been used for over 5,000 years as medicine.

There are certain Ayurveda dietary practices, as well as herbs, that can reduce the symptoms of aging or ailments by regenerating cells. By better understanding our dosha (similar to our genetic makeup), and taking care of our bodies inside and out, we can age gracefully, naturally. This also helps us avoid potential illnesses as we get older or can help to reverse damage already done to our bodies.

Connect Mind, Body, and Soul

Our faculty create a supportive, compassionate environment to share their knowledge and expertise. You'll learn how to care for the whole person—mind, body, and soul.

It makes sense that very few people actually know how to care for themselves, considering that is not something that is taught in school. Often times there are not role models to show us what it’s like to care for ourselves well. You’ll learn how to care for your mind, body, and spirit in a supportive, compassionate environment.

Our faculty can’t wait to share their knowledge and expertise with you so you can thrive in all aspects of your life.

Get Into Rhythm with Nature

Ayurvedic practices include in-depth analysis of circadian rhythms, aging cycles, seasonal cycles, and accessible and sustainable lifestyle instructions. You'll learn to take care of your body to maintain equilibrium with these cycles and nature.

Ayurveda is all about the body being in tune with the rhythm of nature. As humans, it’s easy to get disconnected—or think we are separate—from nature. However, we exist as a microcosm of the macrocosm and that means we should be aligning our bodies with nature instead of fighting against it.

Ayurveda’s 5,000-years-old system of medicine includes in-depth analysis of circadian rhythms, aging cycles, seasonal cycles, and accessible and sustainable lifestyle instructions on how to take care of our bodies to maintain equilibrium with these cycles and nature.

In this class, you'll learn how to get into rhythm with nature through the food and cooking which we are able to use to nourish our bodies.

Presenters

Nalini Mehta

Nalini started teaching Ayurveda cooking classes in NYC 12 years ago. She began her career in the food industry as a culinary instructor at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health followed by Whole Foods Culinary Center, Institute of Culinary Education and NY Open Center teaching vegetarian cooking classes. She has also worked at Candle Café restaurant and Hampton Chutney in New York City.

She has been a speaker at several institutes like Baruch College, Rubin Museum of Art and Princeton University, United Nations Spice Club. Her classes seemed to fan people’s passion, curiosity and interest in a unique experience of India through its holistic food.

Reviews

"This retreat exceeded my expectations in every way! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and learned a great deal. I feel inspired and replenished. Thank you so much! Very helpful!"

"Nalani has a phenomenal spirit that welcomes everyone in the place they are in. She not only covers the culinary aspect wonderfully but also the mental/physical aspects."

"Nalini Mehta is an excellent teacher. She taught both philosophy and practical preparation of Ayurveda cooking."

"I came into this retreat hoping to improve my personal connection with food—this experience exceeded my expectations."

"Great instructor that walks you through understanding Ayurveda and how to optimize your mental and physical health by the foods and spices you eat throughout the year."

"I loved the opportunity to get back to the roots of cooking to nourish myself."

"Loved the teachings, meditations, and mind and kitchen connection."

"Enjoyed the class, especially the last sessions. I am excited to take what I have learned from the class to my home and family."

Online Program FAQs

What is your cancellation policy?

Retreat Cancellation Policy

Refunds are available (less a $50 processing fee) up to eight days before your program.

Nonrefundable credit toward a future AOLRC program or stay (less a $50 processing fee) is available if you give notice between seven and one day(s) before your program or stay. Credit may be applied to any AOLRC program or stay for one year following the date of issue.

No credit or refund will be given if you cancel on the program start date, if you do not show up, or if you do not complete the program. No refund will be given if you attend a program and are dissatisfied with its presentation or content.

AOLRC reserves the right to cancel a program at any time. If AOLRC cancels a program, you will receive a full refund. Some programs may have special cancellation policies; see individual workshop descriptions.

What technology is required for the online program?

Your program is hosted on Zoom. In order to participate, you will need one of the following:

Computer: Windows or Mac computer with speakers and a microphone. (Note: Webcams are recommended but not required.)
Mobile Device: iOS or Android
Phone: mobile, desk or landline.

You can find out more about using Zoom here.

How do I access the online link to attend the program?

Once you register and reserve your spot, you will receive a confirmation email with detailed instructions on how to access the online sessions. If you have any problems or questions, please feel free to reach us at 800-392-6870.

Testimonials

Schedule

We’re bringing our signature programming to you!

All the knowledge, interaction, and benefits of our on-campus program in a special online format! Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with a like-minded community for support, education, and empowerment—in the comfort of your own home!

Friday 6:00–7:30 pm
Saturday 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am–1:00 pm