A new cooking course through City of Nanaimo Parks, Recreation and Environment will teach the principles of the five-millennium-old holistic healing system of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda has its roots in ancient India, and Joanne Cooper, course instructor and registered Ayurvedic practitioner, said the course is designed to help people gain an understanding about the most nourishing and balanced foods for their body type, or dosha.
Ayurvedic foods include fresh, seasonal, locally grown, organic produce, said Cooper. They can include whole grains, beans, peas, fresh vegetables, ghee (clarified butter), spices and herbs.
Cooper said meat can be part of the Ayurvedic diet, but only in certain situations.
“It’s not commonly used every day in Ayurveda. There are certain body types, particularly people who are quite frail, maybe the elderly, maybe people who are very lean in nature, people who, for whatever reason, are trying to put on weight ... those people can all really benefit from meat,” said Cooper.
She said people adhering to Ayurvedic principles should also eliminate, or at least minimize, frozen, canned and processed foods.
Foods and flavours can be used to treat specific imbalances, or used seasonally by healthy individuals to adapt to each changing season, she said.
Students will learn how to identify their own unique body type, said Cooper.
“They will learn about what foods and what flavours are really important to be able to help restore balance to their unique body type and they’ll learn about the seasonal influence that we happen to be under,” Cooper said.
The first set of classes runs from April 18 to May 2 and the second set, from June 29 to July 13. There will be seasonally appropriate fare for each set, according to Cooper.
“The spring class will focus on what we can do from within our own kitchens during the cool, wet season to bring balance back to our body, allowing us to weather the aggravating seasonal effects, which can lead to common imbalances such as colds, allergies, chest congestion, a feeling of heaviness, lethargy or depression,” said Cooper.
The summer classes will provide dietary tips to keep people cool, avoiding aggravations of summer heat, said Cooper. Inflammations, rashes and digestive complaints are examples of this, she said.
For more information, please see the City of Nanaimo Activity Guide under the parks, recreation and environment section at www.nanaimo.ca.
To register by phone, please call 250-756-5200.