Ayurveda 101 : How To Eat
a four-class series
There is really no such thing as ‘Ayurvedic Food’. For any food, taken as a single ingredient or a meal, to be considered truly ‘Ayurvedic’, the constitution and current state of the individual eating must be known, as well as the properties of the dish, so that the food is in alignment with the needs of the individual. In this way, ‘Ayurvedic food’ is unique to each person, at each meal every day, and comprises foods that will help create a balanced, relaxed, and clear state of body and mind. In this way, the Ayurvedic sciences consider content and context of food to be of equal measure. 
Join Ayurvedic Nutritionist Noël Graupner this January for a series on the Ayurvedic approach to understanding digestion, taste, seasonal and daily eating, and food rituals, to build a comprehensive premise to not just what you eat, but how, when, and most importantly, why. 
*Attendance at each class in not required, though encouraged. Classes may be purchased individually as well. 

January 17 | Class One: Digestion / 7-9PM
As Ayurveda believes that all disturbances of the body have their root in the digestive system - the gate through which nutrients enter the tissue and then pass along to individual cells which maintain optimal function of the body - understanding the digestive system is of paramount importance to improving and maintaining health. In this class, we will explore the concept of 'digestion', unpacking the process of taking that which is not you and turning it into you, identifying the major players and organ systems involved.

January 24 | Class Two: Six Tastes Theory / 7-9PM
Each taste is an expression of Prana - a universal Life-Love-Evolutionary Force - through the form of elemental building blocks of Nature. When person consumes the proper amount of each taste for their particular constitution and/or to heal their imbalance, the body (mind and consciousness) will respond with the production of healthy tissue and normal physiology. If there is too much or too little of any taste, the body is going to respond with imbalance or disease. In this class, we will explore Ayurvedic taste theory, examining the six tastes - sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent - and identify how to use them to regulate digestive capacity through anabolic, metabolic and catabolic means. 

January 31 | Class Three: Eating Schedule / 7-9PM
Eating seasonally is a requisite component of food sadhana practice. The Ayurvedic sciences teach that Mother Nature is ‘serving’ exactly what our bodies need to antidote the physical challenges of the environment, mandating seasonal eating practices to promote health of the body, mind, and spirit. Likewise, time of day informs the energetic demands on the human organism. In this class, we will discuss the concepts of Ritucharya (seasonal schedule) and Dinacharya (daily conduct) to examine how both environment and time inform what type of foods and in what quantities to eat when, further reinforcing the Six Tastes Theory.

February 7 | Food Sadhana: Yogic Diet + How to Make a Plate / 7-9PM
*Dinner included ! 
More important than what you eat is how you eat. Ayurveda teaches that the types of foods one ingests has a direct effect on the body and the mind, influencing the consciousness of the consumer. In this class, we will discuss how to approach food energetically by understanding food qualities (sattva, rajas, and tamas), proper sourcing, storage, and preparation of food - touching on vegan/vegetarian vs. animal protein diets. We will discuss how to compose a plate that will support healthy digestion by learning Ayurvedic food combining techniques, then walk through exactly how to eat it utilizing all the senses for maximum digestion. Winter-seasonal vegetarian dinner will be served in this class, and we will eat together, applying what we've learned. 

Course exchange
Full Course : $100 for The Assemblage members | $200 for nonmembers
Single classes : $25 for The Assemblage members | $50 for nonmembers

*Use code 'YEAROFYOU' for 15% discount on full course and single classes until January 15!