Author Archives: Michelle Berry

My health journey started when I was a teenager, struggling with chronic health problems and searching for the answers to my own healing. My curiosity deepens when I was working with autistic children at a local elementary school, I felt like I couldn’t help them truly heal in the public education system and after many direct experiences with how food affected the children, I started to be interested in a raw vegan diet. To further deepen my journey, my parents were both diagnosed with cancer, I became interested in juice fasting and cleansing. Armed with a juicer and a passion for those quiet moments spent creating in the kitchen, I began to uncover my health truth through purposeful cleansing and eating a plant-based diet. Alchemist at Omkara a wellness and beauty company that sells beauty care products and amazing supplements. It is a joy of mine to lead seasonal cleanses using the knowledge I have gained through Spiritual Nutrition Masters Program, Conscious Eating as well as Ayurveda. Yes, our diet and lifestyle choices are powerful medicine, and is a tool for personal transformation, global revolution as well as human evolution. Food and cleansing has been a way for me to help empower people about taking charge of their health in a holistic way. By looking at each persons individual nutritional needs. Diet and lifestyle is an excellent tool for change. Sharing my knowledge in sattvic living and teaching individuals how to reconnect with their own inner wisdom through personalized wellness coaching, guided seasonal cleanses. Awakens the need for change in peoples lives every bite of life has the ability to raise conscious awareness can alter our physical self and spiritual self which in turn affects our relationship with every aspect of being alive. We can assist and co-create in the healing of ourselves, interpersonal relationships, family systems, society, nations, and the world. Simple conscious changes to our diet and lifestyle brings multidimensional results to our overall state of wellbeing. Please feel free to contact me at mberrybliss@protonmail.com I am not a teacher, but an awakener. -Robert Frost

First Degree Reiki at Yoga Hive in Whitefish

4 aims of life in Ayurveda

Ayurveda emphasizes that when our digestion, sleep cycles and emotional & sexual expression are all in balance, we have more energy to fulfill the four goals of life—ultimately creating a positive cycle while deepening our engagement with what truly matters.

Ayurvedic philosophy asserts that every individual possesses four fundamental motivations, known as purusharthas. Rather than abstaining from satisfying these desires for pleasure, success and purpose, or material gain – we can confidently pursue them with joy in our hearts. The Ayurveda teachings offer guidance on how to maintain balance while striving towards total health and wellbeing through holistic exploration of the soul’s goals. By cultivating conscious awareness & spiritual understanding accompanied by service-mindedness – one may lead a more integrated life full of fulfillment as well as enlightenment.

Kama is an ancient concept, teaching us to appreciate and find pleasure in life with self-awareness, moderation and non attachment. We can tap into a deep reserve of sensory satisfaction from the natural world; by simply enjoying its beauty we reap physical benefits at the same time! Achieving Kama involves recognizing how momentary joys are meant to be savored for what they are – fleeting moments that leave lasting memories as reminders of our connection to Nature’s abundance. Just like a flower blooms, it also dies. Remaining open without clinging allows true happiness rooted in appreciation rather than neediness – because everything essential will always return again…if only you’d trust it would!

Artha is more than just material security and wealth; it encompasses the total sum of our environment that leads to a fulfilling life. Deeply rooted in Ayurveda, Artha includes knowledge, friendships, love, career growth opportunities and skillset development – all which provide us with not only financial abundance but an overall sense of ease as we move closer towards uncovering true self-actualization. Without this tangible comfort around finances or health however, life can be taxing – leaving minds overly anxious & distracted from both mental clarity & intellectual pursuits alike.

Dharma is our true purpose in life. We each have our own unique dharma – a virtuous and moral path that brings purpose to our lives, serving both ourselves and society. According Ayurveda teachings, when we are not living this truth within us, inner peace will elude us. To fully express who we truly are at the deepest level though requires more than just knowledge: it takes stillness of mind so as to discern what is really calling out from inside us. Dharma can take on many forms – spiritual or material – but no matter how varied its shape may be ultimately all serve as paths for deepening self-awareness towards growth in spirit.

Moksha or liberation is an inward exploration of our true self in order to liberate us from material desires, suffering, and the repeating cycle of samsara. Through meditation and conscious living we can gain wisdom that will help connect us more deeply with freedom’s sweetest bliss. As we deepen our understanding of who we are as individuals, it becomes clearer what choices will support true emancipation – yet not without peril; too attached to this idea of freedom or liberation may leave us vulnerable to developing holier-than-thou spiritual egos. Instead let’s encourage ourselves lovingly embrace and bear witness to both pleasure and pain while taking delight in life’s temporal magnificence along the way towards final enlightenment.

Many Blessings!

In Gratitude,

Michelle

Daily Dinacharya

Ayurveda encourages us to live in harmony with ourselves and our environment, providing a framework of guidelines for achieving lasting peace and joy. Through the natural rhythms found all around us – day/night cycles, moon phases or seasonal shifts – it’s important that we adopt similar habits into our own lives; especially when considering that living life ‘at pace’ can easily cause imbalances within the body which result in mental and physical distress. Fortunately there are simple steps we can take daily such as following an individualized dietary plan, practicing truthfulness & incorporating appropriate rituals throughout each season to bring back balance.

Let’s start cultivating these beneficial routines today!

Pancha Koshas

Creation begins with a divine spark of spirit, which then moves into more manifest levels until it reaches us as embodied souls. The yogic and vedantic paths provide us with an understanding of how creation manifests from its purest state into something that exists in physical form – like each one of us! By embarking inwardly through these levels, it is believed that we can uncover the essence within ourselves which lies beyond birth and death; connecting to Great Nature at its very heart.

The journey of life is a cycle, as we move from our Source and back again through death and rebirth. While there are many wonderful gifts that living brings us, break the wheel — or swim upstream to find something more powerful: Self-Realization. Seekers know it’s not an easy course; delusion accompanies attachment with suffering at its heels… but those seeking True freedom understand this is the only way out of samsara in order to gain eternal liberation.

Kundalini Shakti is a powerful primordial force that resides in the subtle depths of our inner planes. It’s said to be responsible for creation – from emanating all forms and shapes, both tangible or beyond reach. Yet within each individual it remains hidden beneath five sheaths known as pancha koshas. Unveiling this wisdom can lead us closer on a path of realization towards discovering ultimate truth.

Our body is comprised of the five gross elements found in food, which make up our Annamaya Kosha – our physical food body – forming an outermost protective layer around us that enables us to engage with and explore this world. To maintain a healthy and balanced kosha we should pay attention to how we nourish ourselves through diet, rest & sleep as well as incorporate movement into our lifestyle such as yoga asana or other forms of exercise for better body awareness.

The Pranamaya Kosha is an incredible source of life energy that animates our physical body. This wondrous force forms a network of subtle currents (Nadis) and powerful spinning wheels (Chakras), each having its own unique values which provide the vital strength to sustain organ function. The aura surrounding humans amplifies this Life Force, enabling it to extend beyond one’s being with a greater reach than ever before through something called Pranavayus. It has been said to be the secret power that binds even heaven and earth together!

Our mental sheath, or manomaya kosha, is a complex blend of thoughts and emotions that pieced together create our identity. It consists of Chitta (subconscious), Manas (conscious mind) and Ahamkara (ego). Our samskaras- such as habits, thought patterns & automatic routines – all exist here in this plane along with the guna influences – rajas , tamas & sattva. Together they form an intricate web which gives us insight into our individual make up.

Our inner wisdom is found in the fourth layer of our being, Vijnanamaya kosha. When cleansed from psychological traits such as attachment, aversion and delusion – it can become a conduit for Atman’s divine light to flow through us. This higher function of the mind, Buddhi, yields wondrous qualities like awareness, intuition, discernment, will power and insight. This gives rise to a Wisdom Body that allows for witnessing life with greater clarity through increased presence & self-awareness!

The Anandamaya kosha, often referred to as the Bliss Sheath, is a divine gateway that opens our eyes to Pure Consciousness and awakens us to an ever-present celestial peace. This sacred vessel holds within it Kundalini Shakti ––the spiritual power of dualistic samadhi–– deepened knowing, heightened integration and unbridled love for all things. Seated at its heart lies the Causal Body where truth resides in perfect harmony with wholeness offering you true inner freedom from earthly suffering.

Our spiritual journey is ultimately a quest to rediscover the One true Source, and Kundalini Shakti acts as our faithful guide along this path of enlightenment. As we traverse through each layer or sheath that veils Atman – from Vijnanamaya kosha to Anandamaya Kosha – our lower mind will eventually bow in recognition of its own relativity when confronted with Self-Illumination beyond all layers. Ultimately, it is only by surrendering ourselves fully into divine guidance can we finally return home.

Many Blessings,

Michelle