Synergy by Claudio

People often ask me which kind of massage is best. I understand the question because the menu can be confusing: swedish massage; deep tissue; thai massage; ayurvedic massage; cupping; hot stones; reiki; the list goes on. I have studied and practiced many of these modalities over the years, and the longer I work, the less interested I am in deciding which one is “best.” They are different tools. What matters is what we are trying to do. Swedish massage Swedish massage is one of the foundations...

Plants communicate through chemistry. The aroma of a leaf, flower, peel, seed, resin or wood comes from volatile compounds the plant produces for its own purposes. They can attract pollinators, discourage predators, protect the plant, or communicate with the environment around it. Aromatherapy begins with these chemical compounds. When I work with an essential oil, I want to know the plant behind it. What species is it? What part of the plant was used? Where was it grown? Was the aromatic...

When people first encounter Ayurveda, they usually encounter the doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. But underneath the doshas is an older and more fundamental idea—the five great elements, or Pancha Mahabhuta. Earth. Water. Fire. Air. Ether. The elements give us a language for qualities we experience constantly: Earth gives structure; Water gives cohesion and flow; Fire transforms; Air moves; Ether allows everything else to exist and move within it. Each dosha is understood through these...