Tara Achkar

Group Coaching is one of the most effective methods of growth and learning. It is a process that leverages off the collective support, wisdom and experience of group members.
As a participant, you become part of a dynamic form of learning, where you will help others while receiving the support and encouragement from professional coaches and your fellow group members.

If you’re having an overwhelming feeling of stress or anxiety, if you’re thoughts are loud and cluttered, or if you’re having trouble sleeping, then meditation is for you.
We use the breath and to anchor the mind and through traditional Tantra techniques and mantra, I will guide you into a deep meditative state, where you will come back to your true state of inner quiet and deep rest.

Through this traditional Tantra Hatha practice you will discover how to use these powerful and precise methods, to heal all aspects of your life while amplifying the potency of your yoga practice.

I will teach you simple and effective techniques combing holistic nutrition, Ayurveda, yoga, breath and meditation, and other specific coaching tools that will help you bring vibrancy and energy back into your body and mind!
Don’t worry you won’t feel overwhelmed, as I will guide you throughout the entire process.

I was always an eastern food lover, but for some reason I never ate Sri Lankan and Indian food too often.

This particular dhal has quickly gone up on my list of favorite meals to prepare and eat! Thank you Tom for introducing me to this deliciously simple recipe!

If you’re constantly cold, (especially in your extremities), if you have dry skin, hair and nails, are suffering from poor digestion and elimination then you probably have a vata imbalance.

This recipe can help you bring back harmony and balance into your life, as it applies an opposing force of warmth, density and spice to the cold, airy and dry elements of vata.

Here you go folks, indulge and enjoy!

Serves: 4-6 meals

Prepping time: 10-15 minutes

Cooking time: 20-30 minutes

Ingredients:

- 2 cups of overnight soaked red lentils

- 2 red onions diced in small pieces

- 5 garlic cloves diced in small pieces

- 2 cups of spinach

- 1 cup of organic coconut cream (or the equivalent of one can of coconut cream

Spices & Herbs:

- Turmeric powder or fresh turmeric shopped in small pieces

- Curry powder

- 3 cinnamon sticks or 1 tablespoon of cinnamon

- 1 red chili slices

- Chili flakes (optional, that’s if you like it extra spicy)

- 2 tablespoons of mustard seeds

- A handful of curry leaves

- Salt to taste

Preparation:

- On medium heat, in a large pan, poor the coconut cream, add the onions, garlic and red lentils

- Add all the spices and herbs and let simmer for 20-30 minutes

- Stir every couple of minutes, to avoid the lentils sticking and burning at to the bottom of the pan

- Add water slowly throughout the cooking process

- Add the spinach 5 minutes before the dish is finished and stir

And here you go, simple easy and delicious!!!

Bon appetit!

Love, xx

Tara

Having suffered form chronic headaches a couple of weeks ago, I decided to remove coffee, and all other caffeinated beverages (such as black and green teas) from my diet, as they would have been dehydrating my body when I actually needed to hydrate it to help it get rid of the headaches.

Little did I know that completely removing caffeinated beverages from my life would have such a positive impact on the way that I feel in my body and particularly on my relationship with food and by that I mean my cravings of carbs and sugar.

What’s the relationship between coffee and carbs you might ask.

Well, in order to answer this question, we need to first understand our adrenal glands.

What are our adrenal glands, and what role do they play?

Our adrenal glands are small organs located atop of each kidney. When we encounter a stressful situation, our adrenal glands release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones put our bodies into high alert fight or flight mode, or what we also call the sympathetic system.

When drinking coffee, a similar situation occurs, where the caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands in the same way a stressful situation does. What this means is that when you consume a cup of coffee, your body is getting ready for a fight, that never occur…

Overtime, the consumption of coffee, triggers the sympathetic system in a way that can cause adrenal fatigue; Where the adrenal glands function below their optimum levels.

What happens when we come down from an adrenal high?

When our glands function properly and respond normally to caffeine, they release adrenaline, which gives us a boost of energy. BUT once that high goes away, all sorts of symptom might occur, from irritability, to fatigue, to lethargy and even headaches.

Those symptoms are often a craving call for more caffeine, which in turns comes with a new craving for carbs/sugars. We then find ourselves craving glutinous and carb rich foods like pizzas, pastas, cookies and chocolates as well as more caffeinated beverages to counteract our moodiness and lethargy.

This vicious cycle of high energy - crash - moodiness- cravings is unfortunately on repeat mode quite often.

If that loop seems familiar to you, like it was for me, trying out a caffeine free lifestyle would be a good way to experiment and see if these mood swings and cravings fade away.

How to do it?

Try removing caffeinated beverages (coffees and teas) from your lifestyle for 2 or 3 weeks (ideally) and see how you feel. FYI- Herbal teas are caffeine free, so you can drink as many as you want. This might not work for you and that’s ok, but how would you know if you don’t try it!

Up for the challenge, and need support? Contact me my love, I’m here to help you!