When consumed in appropriate quantities, nutmeg provides a number of health and wellness benefits. In Ayurveda, nutmeg pacifies Vata and Kapha and aggravates Pitta due to its acidic, bitter and astringent qualities. A warming and nourishing spice, it is believed to stimulate appetite and digestion and to help one fall asleep.

An Ayurvedic perspective on lung health can help us formulate a targeted approach for maximizing our respiratory capacities and minimizing disease. Read on to find out more about what our lungs reveal about our greater constitution, and tips for how to best support this vital system.

Overall, to maintain a healthy internal balance, it is essential to prioritize a Sattvic diet and to minimize the amount of Rajasic and Tamasic foods you consume. A Sattvic diet will bring tranquility to the mind, health to the body and balance to the emotions.

An Ayurvedic perspective can help us understand the reasons for these differences. Contrary to popular culture, in Ayurveda, coffee is not a universal cure. While it is beneficial to some, it can aggravate and send others into states of imbalance. 

Ayurveda can help us understand the specific causes underlying our PMS and empower us to formulate a tailored response for treating our symptoms.

Also known as Capsicum annuum, cayenne is rich in Vitamins A and C, flavonoids, potassium, iron, magnesium and other nutrients, which endow it with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In Ayurvedic tradition, cayenne is used as a natural painkiller, detoxifier and overall immunity-booster.

Gotu kola—also known as brahmi, Centella asiatica and Indian pennywort—is a widely used Ayurvedic herb renowned for its benefits for the mind. Known as “the herb of enlightenment,” gotu kola is a powerful herb that is often used as a supplement to promote mental focus, concentration and clarity. But the benefits of this herb are not only mental—gotu kola is also known to help...

When you look at a flower, you might sense that it is bright, light or soft; when you encounter a stream, you know that it is cool, wet and fast-moving. All of these are qualities that can be attributed to specific gunas, the unique combination of which makes up all forms of matter. What differentiates one plant from another, or one person from another...

In Ayurvedic tradition, it is believed that black pepper increases internal heat, providing energizing and balancing effects. Full of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, black pepper serves as a potent remedy for a wide number of health problems. Read on to learn more about the benefits of this versatile ingredient. 

According to Ayurveda, we cannot engage in two mindful tasks at once. So how does Ayurveda recommend we increase our attention and concentration? Here are a few for combating multitasking by improving focus and increasing mindfulness in everyday life.

Understanding the gunas and how they manifest in the world is an important part of Ayurvedic and yogic practice, enabling one to effectively respond to their imbalances and ailments and to maximize positivity, harmony and tranquility in their life.  In this blog, we unpack the basics of the Rajas guna, discussing the symptoms of Rajas imbalance and strategies for alleviating excess Rajas and promoting...

In Ayurvedic tradition, peppermint is used as a healing medicinal salve for a wide variety of ailments. It’s pacifying for all doshas, especially Pittas, making it a versatile wellness ingredient. 

Sleep is one of the most essential processes of life, crucial to not just our bare survival, but also to our physical health and cognitive functioning. When we sleep, our bodies remove metabolic waste, repair and regenerate tissue, flush out adenosine (a neuromodulator whose accumulation during the day induces feelings of tiredness and fatigue), heal wounds and support the immune system. Research has shown...

When an excess of Tamas accumulates, our minds can become sluggish, stagnant and hazy, and we can become prone to bouts of laziness and inactivity. Here are several tips for combating excess Tamas to promote overall mental clarity, energy and balance. 

From fighting off infection to regulating blood sugar levels, cinnamon’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties endow it with powerful healing and therapeutic effects.

Brain fog is a condition that signals an underlying imbalance that can be redressed with dietary and lifestyle changes. Read on to learn more about how Ayurveda can help alleviate brain fog.

As we know, allergies are a very individual experience, with different people experiencing symptoms to different degrees. According to Ayurveda, that’s in part because of our unique doshic constitution.

Here are some ways you can maximize Sattva in your life for greater clarity, balance and peace.

Ginger is a staple in many Asian cuisines, and its versatility makes it easy to incorporate into a wide number of delicious dishes. It can also be taken dried or powdered, or applied to the skin in the form of essential oils. Curious to learn more about ginger’s potent detoxifying and digestion-boosting properties? Here, we explain the benefits of ginger and how to reap...

There are a number of essential changes one can make to their daily habits to make a long-lasting positive impact on anxiety and overall health, including diet changes, regular exercise and meditation. Here, we go over how an Ayurveda-informed approach to anxiety can help you alleviate anxiety holistically—through diet, exercise and transformative self-care rituals. 

Sweet, aromatic cardamom is a staple in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking—not only for its rich, pleasant taste, but also for its numerous warming and detoxifying benefits.

Here are 3 Ayurvedic solutions for combating bloating and promoting a healthy, regulated digestive system.

Here, we’ve rounded up 3 recipes for keeping Kapha in check and embracing the warm energy of spring with vitality and rejuvenation.

Coriander is a potent, refreshing Ayurvedic spice and herb that is packed with immunity-boosting nutrients. Packed with antioxidants, coriander’s many benefits include boosted immunity, healthier digestion and natural detoxification.

Turmeric is an extremely versatile ingredient, one that you can incorporate into your routine in a number of different ways. Here are 3 different methods for utilizing this wellness powerhouse for physical and spiritual wellbeing.

Here are 3 tips from Ayurveda that will help you incorporate detox into your daily routine—best of all, all of these practices take less than 10 minutes!

Tulsi's immense health and wellness benefits make it the perfect adaptogenic herb to incorporate into your routine this spring. It can help both the mind and the body to recenter and reset, leaving you feeling empowered to approach the spring with energy and motivation. Curious to learn more about this superstar herb? Here’s a breakdown of tulsi’s benefits, along with ways to incorporate it...

An increasingly popular beverage in mainstream wellness circles (and for good reason!), golden milk is a traditional Ayurvedic beverage that is as beneficial for your health as it is tasty.

If you’re feeling imbalanced, or simply want to shake up your routine so that it’s optimally suited for spring, try out these 3 simple Kapha-balancing rituals that will help you fully enjoy this beautifully refreshing season.

Here’s a breakdown of different exercises that are most suitable for each dosha. The energizing effects of exercise on our health and minds make it an excellent resource for countering our imbalances.

Shatavari is a revered adaptogen that all women should know about. A powerful immunity booster, Shatavari can strengthen fertility, reduce menopausal symptoms, combat stress and more.

In Ayurveda, there are a number of small, simple practices you can incorporate into your daily routine for major oral health benefits. Here are 3 of those practices that will inspire you to revamp your approach to oral care—and thus your overall health. 

We’re featuring the goddess of Saraswati, a very important figure in Hindu tradition who serves as the embodiment of knowledge and imagination.

Here is a simple step-by-step guide to a rejuvenating Ayurvedic self-care night.

This Valentine’s Day, we encourage you to elevate the role of love in your life by engaging in meaningful practices of self-love, which will in turn inspire you to share love with others. Here are four ways to practice transformative, contagious self-love this Valentine’s Day!

One of the ways you can cultivate love this Valentine’s Day is by trying out our Pure Love Collection, which was specifically designed with the purpose of promoting love for the self and those around us.

Kali is the goddess of time, death, liberation and enlightenment. The powerful, unapologetic force of her presence has made her a contemporary symbol of female empowerment and self-respect.

Ayurvedic supplements are all-natural, potent ways to make a profound difference on your overall physical and mental health. You can cultivate some serious long-term benefits by simply taking one capsule a day. Does it get any better than that? 

In this blog post, we’re featuring Aditi, the limitless mother of the gods. She represents the potent, life-giving energy of motherhood—an energy that is endless and infinite, making the turning of the universe possible.

Navel therapy is a centuries-old Ayurvedic practice that involves pooling warm oil or ghee in the belly button. It is believed to possess a number of detoxifying and healing benefits for the body. 

Today, we’re featuring Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune whose guiding hand over success, wealth and flourishing is far from superficial.

In this blog post, we discuss how the system of Ayurveda—which approaches health from a preventative and holistic rather than symptomatic perspective—empowers women to become more in touch with their bodies and to adopt rituals and practices that promote long-term health, healing and well-being. 

Here, we’ve rounded up 5 of our favorite products that may be especially effective in the winter months. From combating dryness to imbuing the mind and environment with positive energy, these recommendations will carry you through the winter with luxury and ease. 

An extremely powerful and wide-reaching concept, shakti is a distinctly feminine energy that reflects how, for thousands of years, Indian tradition has celebrated and revered the irreplaceable role that women play in creating and maintaining life.

One simple, yet potent practice that is especially recommended during kapha season is Garshana, or dry brushing.

Feeling motivated to make resolutions you can keep up all year round? These 5 Ayurvedic detox practices will leave you feeling like your best self this year, delivering long-lasting rejuvenation, vitality and wellness.

Here are 3 simple mindfulness practices to incorporate into your routine this year—just a few minutes out of every day will go a long way toward transforming one’s outlook.

Here are a few simple wellness tips for staying warm and healthy this winter—the Ayurvedic way.

Wondering how to fight that winter imbalance and maintain strong beauty and wellness habits? Here are some tips from Ayurveda for keeping your skin and body healthy and robust this winter! 

At UMA, beauty isn’t purely a measure of external appearance—it’s an act of radical self-love that infuses our lives with balance, tranquility, and harmony with others and the world around us. 

Both candles and incense—plant material that is burned to release a fragrant smoke—are wonderful tools for uplifting the energy of an environment. By infusing the space with positive and calming energy, they also induce feelings of spiritual tranquility, confidence, and relaxation, boost productivity and focus, and increase one’s sense of groundedness.

Ayurveda offers a number of tips and practices for making the most out of every bath so that you can emerge feeling 100% revitalized. Here are 4 ways you can transform your bathing ritual to maximize its healing and rejuvenating powers.

In Ayurveda, how we care for our bodies deeply impacts our overall mental and spiritual wellbeing. For this reason, body care is of supreme importance: when we neglect to care for our bodies, our mental health also deteriorates, but when we care for our bodies with love and attention, we find ourselves mentally and spiritually renewed as well. 

Many cultures around the world view bathing as an essential practice for physical and mental wellbeing. Here’s a breakdown of bathing rituals in 5 different countries — let them inspire you to jump into the bath and give your body (and mind) the care and love it deserves.

The powerful, sensuous aromatics of our Pure Love Wellness Candle can instantly transform the aura of any room—imbuing it with sensations of love, tranquility, and positivity.

For us, the benefits of luxury on the mind, body, and soul should be accessible every day and made an integral part of one’s routine. Luxury becomes an essential ritual, one whose benefits we deserve to experience every day.

Here’s a brief breakdown of each dosha’s relationship style, along with advice on how to achieve relationship balance through the lens of the Ayurvedic doshas.

By adopting Ayurvedic practices that restore balance to our bodies and minds, it becomes easier to enter a lasting state of self-love.

If you’ve been finding that your morning routine has primarily consisted of a hurried shower and applying mascara while waiting at a red light, this post is for you. Here are a few tips on how to simplify your beauty routine and still kill it (beauty wise and work wise!)

Oh Aromatherapy... Let Us Count The Ways We Love Thee

As we battle some crazy days of winter - let this be the season you take control of your skin through the monitoring of the food you consume. Eating the right foods this season (and all year long!) can help you combat signs of dullness, aging, and dryness the all-natural way.

UMA's Pure Calm is the distillation of powerfully soothing botanicals and ancient Ayurvedic wisdom – as well as distant memories of an era when life moved at a slower, more tranquil, pace. Our Pure Calm has been one of our best selling Wellness Oils and a crowd favorite at the UMA HQ, and we wanted to share with you our top 7 ways to use...

We already know that exercising every day is an important part of your daily routine. However, when the scenery at your home gym starts to get old, hiking provides a wonderful alternative. Hiking is a low impact, low cost option to get in touch with nature, work up a healthy sweat and may be catch up with an old friend (or your thoughts!). 

We wrote this post first for the new beginnings and need for contemplation that comes with a new year. However, with times and stations more fluid than ever, it feels meaningful to make these practices part of our every day as we seek to be more present and contented.

We’re huge fans of simple, wholesome breakfasts that provide a healthy source of sustained energy, in addition to the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to maintain clear, ageless skin. Here are some of the Uma team’s top picks.

It may be a rather unexpected ingredient to be slathering on the skin, but not according to Ayurvedic standards. Ghee, which is made from clarified butter, has long been touted as a beauty star. 

As Kapha season surrounds us with elements of stability, but also a hint of stagnation if the Kapha is vitiated, diet comes to the fore as we aim to remain balanced, warm and vibrant through this season of slowdown leading to new beginnings in the spring. In keeping with Ayurvedic guidance on eating seasonally, fresh and to balance the influence of the prevailing seasonal dosha - we...

According to Ayurvedic principles, winter is the season of kapha and specific guidelines should be followed to obtain a balance of the doshas and maintain one’s overall health. Adopting the following kapha-pacifying regimen into your lifestyle will help maintain balance and harmony during this season.

A truly transformative cleanse goes beyond our physical needs. Ayurveda believes that fatigue or feelings of heaviness can actually manifest into a plethora of physical ailments: constipation, indigestion, gas, diarrhea, bad breath, body stiffness, even mental confusion! With our mental state so closely linked to physical changes, a cleanse that rejuvenates all-around must go beyond the body, and help balance and cleanse from the...

"Just because you’re plant-based Ayurvedic, doesn’t mean the pizza party has to stop," says Sahara Rose. "In fact, it just got upgraded with a root veggie crust, plant-based pesto, almond feta, roasted chickpeas, and assorted veggies."

One of the most challenging pursuits of modern life is finding a moment of repose. Nearly everything around us—cell phones, email, streaming services, advertisements—takes hold of our attention with a ferocious grip. It's a harsh reality that leaves us depleted and anxious—and robs us of important time to reflect and relax, two things that Ayurveda holds paramount for the health of the mind, body,...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and somehow, one of the most stressful. One of the best ways to tackle the holidays is with mindfulness. Being mindful means being aware in each and every moment and not fixating on the things we cannot control. What better time of year to test this idea than during the holidays?

We've all been guilty of getting caught up in the chaos of the holidays, but with effort and imagination, we can reduce our environmental impact this time of year. After all, conscious consumption is always in. Here are five tips to ensure you have your most spectacular sustainable holiday yet.

With the holidays and cold weather right around the corner, we thought this would be the perfect time to slow down, unwind and reset with your own wellness routine!

Modern life ("Covid" life, in particular) is packed to capacity with busy days and busy nights – leaving us precious little time to relax and de-stress. If you find your days getting more stressful, and your mood suffering as a result, it may be time to recalibrate with these easy ways to combat irritability.

In this Voices of UMA feature, we spoke with Rose on how Ayurveda and wellness oils have helped her find balance and harmony in her life as a woman and a mother.

Our new feature, Voices of UMA, spotlights members of the UMA community who have developed their own unique relationship with Ayurveda. In this column, Jane reflects on the Ayurvedic practices and products she loves most, and how she sees Ayurveda as an ideal solution for the challenges of the modern world.

We break down the detoxifying Ayurvedic practice of Panchakarma—a cleanse that improves immune function, counters imbalances, and recenters both mind and body.

UMA's essential liver cleanser, Love Thy Liver, a daily supplement, contains many Ayurvedic herbs that help to support the natural elimination of toxins. Here we spotlight some of our favorite Ayurvedic herbs for liver function, and how they help support this important organ.

Tongue scraping doesn’t just improve bad breath—it also helps combat digestive problems, acne, and other bodily imbalances. Here’s the simple Ayurvedic practice that can make a big impact on our oral health and well-being. 

Upgrade your self-care regimen with the natural detox solution of dry brushing, which improves circulation, boosts complexion, drains the lymphatic system of toxins, and more.

By tapping into your marma points, you can tackle a variety of ailments—from joint pain to digestive issues to stress. Here are the basics of these vital energy centers. 

An essential organ, the liver works around-the-clock for us. The largest internal organ, it is rather easy to overlook. We talk to Ayurveda experts Sarah Teeple and Vanashree Balgamwar for their insight into how we can best honor this diligent, hardworking organ.

By increasing circulation and promoting lymphatic drainage, the Kansa wand will have you boasting a clear, healthy complexion in no time.

Panchakarma is an ancient Ayurvedic practice of detoxification. By adopting simple self-care practices and herbal remedies, you can achieve the cleansing benefits of a Panchakarma-like Ayurvedic detox without ever having to leave your home.

By using UMA’s Ultimate Ayurveda Kit during quarantine, my skin brightened, my days became more grounded, and my outlook on self-care transformed. Here’s what I learned and loved about it.

The Ayurvedic practice of self-massage—or Abhyanga—is self-care made simple. Read on to learn about the essential oils and aromatherapy techniques that can relieve your aches, clear your brain fog, and make your skin glow.

Self-massage—or Abhyanga—is a simple self-care practice you can access from the comfort of your own home. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the benefits of these essential oils on your next night in.

You're probably aware that we go through different sleep cycles and phases each night - each of which vary in how much rest and rejuvenation they afford your brain and body. Sleep problems are on the rise, with insomnia and the inability to fall asleep at night being the most common. As a result, valuable night time rest in which deep sleep is attained - and...

Meditation isn't a one-size fits all pursuit. In our quest to meditate more successfully, we have found an answer to more effective meditation - meditating according to your dosha.

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that involves swishing 1-2 teaspoons of oil in your mouth. People have reported having whiter teeth and healthier pink gums, even clearer skin, after incorporating an oil pulling regimen.

Kitchari is a protein-rich Indian dish that combines rice and lentils, or sometimes mung beans. Beloved by Ayurvedics, it is not only a great staple for a cleanse, it's a highly restorative, calming meal when you're a little under the weather, or perhaps just recovering from a night of excess!

Detoxes are so central to Ayurvedic medicine that they're the first step in any treatment you might undertake - be it for acne or depression! Here are some incredible daily detox tips that take 2 minutes or less to exercise but can have a huge impact on your beauty, wellness and general health overall.

Research has shown that Abhyanga self-massage increases your flexibility and range of motion, decreases aches & pains, improves mood and decreases stress. Importantly, self-massage is a great way to check in with your body.

If there ever were a season to want to feel great in your skin while staying strong against all the temptations, it's summer. We get it. And fortunately so does Ayurveda. This 5000-year system of medicine has created the perfect summer eating plan—full of ancient wisdom to keep you feeling and looking healthy.

Ayurveda offers structured guidance and many useful tips for prepping your body for summer - from the inside out! Whether it’s making sure you’re eating the right foods, or preventing the dreaded belly bloat, Ayurveda has the tools you need to feel confident in your body this summer.

UMA Wellness Experts catalog key Ayurvedic tips on what to eat, how to eat and when to eat - to break down foods effectively for minimal bloating!

While depression is typically attributed to a Kapha imbalance, Pitta and Vata based depression can occur, too. Kapha depression is often characterized by a lack of energy, while Pitta manifests as agitation, and Vata as anxiety.

Yes, Yoga works just at well at facial toning and detox as it does for the rest of your body! These exercises rooted in ancient Yogic wisdom can have a major impact on the elasticity and the tone of your face—giving it that healthy, youthful look.

Within Ayurveda, energy is a function of the Kapha principle and feelings of lethargy can be attributed to an imbalance in the body’s Kapha.

Ayurveda can be a transformative - and beautifully simple - tool for helping you achieve your health and beauty goals. We discuss our top tips for optimal weight management, supple skin, superior sleep - and more!

Headaches come in a variety of flavors. Understanding what type of headache you may be experience can give you clues into how to change lifestyle habits to mitigate them.

Though not the sexiest thing to talk about, gut health is the very foundation of skin health and well being according to Ayurveda (and personal experience). Ayurvedic DIY remedies can provide vital relief from the toughest stomach woes like bloating, gas and heartburn. 

Are essential oils safe to use during pregnancy (or while nursing)? Pregnancy puts – as it rightly should – many of our diet and lifestyle choices under a strict lens of safety – and understanding what you put ON you is just as important as what you put IN you. With that in mind, we have pulled together this guide on the use of...

Tea has been used for thousands of years among dozens of societies as effective treatments for beauty, wellness, and health concerns. Follow along as we highlight a few of our favorite ingredients that you can enjoy the health benefits from a cup of tea or in one of our products. 

Ayurveda, which takes a comprehensive view of an individual's physical and emotional conditions, attributes anxiety to aggravated Prana-Vata, a subsidiary of Vata dosha which is associated with worry, anxiety & depression.

Eating for your dosha type is not only a great way to keep the body in shape, but an important part of ensuring that your Ayurvedic treatments and lifestyles are getting you the most optimal impact.

Triphala is a polyherbal blend that has long been revered for its nourishing, cleansing, and balancing properties.

It’s not just a coincidence that your favorite yoga instructor always seems to be wearing an otherworldly glow..

A few extra minutes each morning can rev up your mind and body – for all around wellness, and skin that is radiant from the inside out!

According to Ayurveda, nail reading can offer important clues about our health. The color, texture and shape can help you identify your dosha, point to possible deficiencies and signal when to detox!

This Ayurvedic, wholly natural, detox will help you remove impurities from the body, reset your digestive system, balance your blood sugar, and revitalize your energy levels, all of which will also have a profound impact on your mental and emotional well-being.

There’s a reason Ayurveda is so often touted as the ultimate solution for common ailments. Incorporating ancient Ayurvedic practices into your routine can help with anything, from getting a better night’s sleep to achieving thicker brows. 

The top Ayurvedic and natural remedies to help manage allergy symptoms.

It's a star adaptogen that seems to be finding space in everyone's cabinet, tea, or morning supplement regimen. But why? What makes this herb such a powerhouse—and why are so many people reaching for it in many forms? 

Ten areas your face may be breaking out or experiencing an issue, and what they say about your health. From repression of emotions in the liver to join degeneration, learn about the key signs of internal issues and how to address them.

From embracing yoga for immunity to satisfying home projects, here's what we've been reading and embracing this week.

We've rounded up some of our best practices and favorite tips for staying productive, healthy, and as efficient as possible as many of navigate more time at home. 

This delicate and balanced soup from Divya Alter is perfect for right now, a time when our body, soul, and spirit need some extra care. 

How we react to things is a deeply personal matter. Whether it's a global affair or an intimate event, the impacts of every situation vary person to person. As Ayurveda explicitly believes, we are all unique beings with our own exclusive constitutions. 

From straightforward ways to stay calm and healthy to a wine escape in India, here's what ground our reading covered this week.

Each of these nourish our bodies and provide immunity-enhancing, invigorating herbs and spices.

Salt is one of the most profoundly unique and essential things in our lives. It amplifies flavors, supports muscle function, and acts as an essential component to our vital hydration. It is also so much more layered, as it can help to boost circulation and provide an exfoliant that softens our skin. 

It's beyond frustrating: You've finished your meal to quickly find that you have an uncomfortable, tight, distended sensation in your belly. Bloating happens for various reasons—and to many of us.

Our bodies—which medical experts say are made up of about 60 percent water—rely on water to maintain all of its bodily functions. But the element that too often gets lost is the importance of how we drink our water. 

From a warming Kapha season dish to a case for making small changes, our reading, listening, and making covered wide ground this week. 

It may seem bizarre, but oil pulling is, in fact, a proven wellness practice that has immense benefits.

At UMA, we're constantly reading, researching, discussing, and—to be frank—obsessing over what's new and noteworthy in the wellness, spiritual, and psychological ecosystem. You'll find what's intriguing us here, corralled in one place. 

A healthy, flowing lymphatic system is essential for optimal health. Otherwise stagnation can cause ama—excessive toxins—to build up, which can lead to infection, disease, low energy, sickness, and a host of other potential issues. 

Valentine's Day is charged with anticipation. Did you get the perfect gift? Will you receive the perfect gift? Did you make the reservation? It's can be a loaded day—which is why we say it's time to give ourselves a little break. This is a time to truly be grateful for our health, companionship, and wellbeing. In the light of Ayurveda, we're reframing this sort-of-holiday...

Self-care, for us, has always included the spiritual, the physical, the metaphysical, and the emotional. As Ayurveda points out, we are all wildly unique beings, facets of the greater universe around us. 

This simple exercise—which takes only a few minutes or less—can help to increase energy, expand lung capacity, reduce stress, and aid in resilience.

Discriminatory actions hinder women and children from finding and sustaining equal positioning with men—and this impacts the world at large. "Gender equality," writes UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, "remains the greatest human rights challenge of our time."

According to Ayurveda, the latter part of winter is the season of Kapha. The cloudy, colder days can often leave us feeling stagnant, weighed down, or even uninspired. In order to remain in balance and optimal health, it is essential to adapt to the present season by making complementary lifestyle and dietary shifts. 

Jihwa prakshalana, tongue scraping, is a prominent part of an Ayurvedic self-care routine. An easy ritual that takes only a minute or so, tongue scraping can have a profound impact on your digestion and overall wellbeing.   

The last days of December is a beautiful time when we naturally tend to work a little less and take more time to just simply be. It is replenishing to lean into this mellow time during Vata season and up our Dinacharya, the Sanskrit term for daily self-care that helps with the our alignment with nature.

Each of these six books offers resourceful counsel on Ayurveda. The approaches are generous, the recipes simple, and the wisdom deeply inspiring and inclusive. 

Vitamin C sees us through it all—sun, wind, exhaustion, illness, depletion—to keep us looking dewy and healthy, and feeling our best. Which is why it's long been hailed as the key to fighting off pesky colds, enhancing immune function, and for keeping the skin bright and glowy. 

One of the most profound abilities humans possess is gratitude. This feeling of appreciation and thankfulness unlocks our potential for greatness.

Within Ayurveda, energy is a function of the Kapha principle. Lack of energy, lethargy, and listlessness can be attributed to an imbalance in the body’s Kapha. These simple, attainable Ayurvedic remedies and practices significantly help to beat fatigue and increase energy.

Traditionally, Ayurveda requires daily commitment to see change. But this commitment does not have to be a challenge. You can start small with the simple practices.

With its tiny bell-like white blooms and intoxicatingly rich, sweet, floral scent, Jasmine evokes a sense of dazzlement, romance, and euphoria. And its essential oil is a powerhouse ingredient packed with skin and wellness benefits

Research shows that one simple mindset change—approaching Saturday and Sunday like a mini vacation—results in a happier and more satisfied existence come Monday.

This tridoshic dish of broccoli rabe and saffron almonds helps with optimal digestion and to enhance the overall complexion. 

Ayurveda's approach to anti-aging is known as rasayana chikitsa, a holistic rejuvenation of mind and body to retain youthfulness and vitality.

Late fall to early winter is known as Vata season in Ayurveda. This time of year shares many qualities that distinguish Vata: cold, dry, rough, mobile.

Dreaded sunburns are like reminders of how vulnerable and exposed our skin is. The scarlet color, the discomfort, and the blisters are all cries for hydrating, anti-inflammatory, healing care—which is what these five totally natural remedies offer, along with the needed instant relief.

Yoga is a powerful tool for radiant skin. While being an incredible form of exercise that boosts physical, mental, and spiritual health, the ancient practice can also help increase circulation and reduce inflammation, which both support the skin's health.

A round bright green fruit with glossy skin, Amla—also known as Indian Gooseberry—is an incredibly effective and nutrient-dense botanical that's been used in Ayurveda for centuries. 

Some experts say water consumed via certain vegetables and plants—also referred to as gel or structured water—offers our bodies more efficient hydration.

Insomnia can be caused by increased vatta or pitta, according to Ayurvedic texts.  Simple remedies can help get the body back in balance and, in turn, help you get needed, restful, quality sleep. 

Beauty and Wellness guru Nitika Chopra's blog features Founder Shrankhla Holecek with an article on essential oils, in honor of National Stress Awareness Day. 

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, many of us are looking for ways to show our love to others (in the form of roses and chocolate, perhaps). But let’s not forget one very important person who deserves your love: you. Think about it: when was the last time you actively thought something positive about yourself? Do you truly know how to love yourself?...

Going bare isn’t just about going makeup free. It’s about confronting the barriers created for us by society and defeating obstacles that exist within our own minds. It starts with recognizing that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all standard for us to live by and brushing off anyone or anything that tries to convince us otherwise. As soon as we understand this, the battle becomes silencing our...

Pure, real ingredients are part of our DNA and we want to share how you can harness their powers to be your happiest, healthiest self! The alarming truth is that the majority of store-bought, commercially-produced beauty products are full of harmful chemicals and toxins, such as parabens, preservatives, and phthalates. When applied to the skin, these toxins seep in and accumulate in the organs,...

  From our team to your family, we're wishing you all the best this November! A core part of UMA's company culture is to promote practical mindfulness because we believe looking inward is just as powerful as physical remedies. Today we're opening up the conversation about our deepest values as a team, and wearing our hearts on our sleeves in celebration of Thanksgiving. Shrankhla As...

These views are mine, and mine alone and should not be interpreted as UMA’s position on political or any other matters. I was raised in a wonderful tradition where matters of religion or politics were considered deeply private. Writing this goes against much of my upbringing (and perhaps better judgment), but I find that my passion on one isolated issue about this week’s election...

Meet Shrankhla Holecek of Uma Oils -via Vanity Fair With love from India–family, love, and oils. "Meet Shrankhla Holecek, founder of Uma Oils—your one-stop shop for the most luxurious face, body, and aromatherapy oils. She launched only six months ago, but the line has quickly taken flight, much like its addictive aromas. Holecek may be only 34 years old, but she was, in many...

It’s Halloween season, that festive time of year when it’s ok to stash copious amounts of candy and spend the following days – nay, weeks – consuming them. Whether you’re trick or treating with your kids or attending a costume party, chances are you’ll end up indulging in a treat or two. Although we love the sweet stuff as much as the next girl,...

Watch the beautiful Ranjana Khan take you through a series of high-impact Yoga poses - for the face! 

The conflict is real. There's beer and barbecues. But also beaches and bare bodies. Plus, keeping your paws off your kid's/ kid brother's ice cream cone when it's 90 degrees out is just so gosh darn hard. We get it. And so does Ayurveda. Fortunately this 5000-year system of medicine had already done the thinking around the perfect summer diet so we didn't have to (especially helpful...

Need to pick up a good read for the rest of Summer? Start here with these recommendations that have recently inspired us in our day to day musings.  For The Romantic Where Rainbows End: Looking for a more modern tale? We recommend this 2004 novel, a epistolary love story between Alex and Rosie told through letters, emails, text messages, and newspaper articles. A book that...

This week our founder, Shrankhla, is traveling through Europe on a well-deserved vacation. As the ultimate travel pro on our team (she spent 5 years working as a management consultant, after all), we took this opportunity to ask her for her battle-tested tips and tricks when preparing for a long trip. From her must-have beauty products to how she beats jet lag, here's your guide to acing summer travel and...

  In our eyes, moms are some of the best people on the planet. Our team wouldn't be where we are today without the unwavering support, and inspiration, that our moms provided. Which is why we're big believers in really pampering our moms on Mother's Day. We asked a few members of the UMA team to share how they'll be treating their moms on...

This week, our founder, Shrankhla, is in New York! In honor of her visit (and of the many years one of our staffers spent living there) we're sharing a few of our favorite, must-visit spots in the city that never sleeps. Jaqueline Kennedy Reservoir in Central Park This time of year is amazing in Central Park. The flowers are blooming and the weather is...

[caption id="attachment_5477" align="aligncenter" width="600"] source: Pat Saltmarch, Flickr[/caption] One of the most potent, and precious, essential oils that we use is sandalwood. It’s a rare ingredient that is difficult to find now, even though it has had a long history of use in cultures around the world. This week, we’re taking you on a virtual trip to India so you can discover the history...

The Uma team calls Beverly Hills home, so we’re no strangers to the neighborhood’s reputation for excess and over-the-top, well, everything. To keep you away from the unrewarding tourist traps, we put together a list of our favorite places to eat, drink, sleep and more. We know Beverly Hills can seem overwhelmingly priced, but we promise these spots are worth spending extra on. Stay:...

Summer is for playtime and not worrying about underarm sweat and B.O. - or worse, about the chemicals you are exposing yourself to when using many standard deodorants that line the shelves even today! Luckily, we’ve compiled some natural alternatives to avoid these harmful substances while not compromising on your favorite outdoor activities.  First, a quick rundown on the source of body odor. Our bodies have...

To combat low energy, fatigue and the health issues that come along with it, we suggest taking a more strategic approach to your diet – and planning the contents and timing of your meals to provide you with sustained natural energy, all day long! Here are some suggestions you can easily implement.