Ayurvedic Cooking Class in collaboration with Little Bird Cafe
Spring Date:
Wednesday, September 11th 2024 - SOLD OUT
Time: 6 pm - 9 pm
Venue: Little Bird Kitchen, 1A Summer Street, Ponsonby
Cost: $125
Ticket Sale: Little Bird Website
Hosts: Gawain Cowley, Megan May & Sarita Blankenburg
What is included: Introduction to Ayurveda, cooking demonstration, full dinner, hot drink and dessert
Limited spaces available - bookings essential.
FOOD AS MEDICINE: AN INTRODUCTION TO AYURVEDIC COOKING
Discover the art of Ayurvedic cooking and learn how to create delicious, nourishing meals that balance your body, mind, and spirit.
Little Bird Kitchen and Ayurveda New Zealand are hosting a series joint cooking classes every season to combine contemporary vegan food preparation with ancient Ayurvedic principles.
After the Winter classes in July have been sold out within a few hours, we have now set the dates for our Ayurvedic Spring cooking classes.
Why Ayurvedic Cooking?
Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, emphasises the importance of diet in maintaining health and preventing disease. By understanding your unique constitution (dosha) and thereby using specific ingredients and cooking techniques, you can:
• Boost Immunity: Strengthen your body’s natural defences with nutrient-rich, immune-boosting foods.
• Improve Gut Health: Learn about the importance of a healthy digestive fire (Agni) and how to prepare meals according to your Agni.
• Enhance Energy: Fuel your body with balanced meals that provide sustained energy and vitality.
• Achieve Balance: Restore harmony to your body and mind by eating in alignment with your dosha.
What You’ll Learn
• Introduction to Ayurveda: Sarita will give a talk about Ayurveda, its history, philosophy and basic principles, introduce the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), explain the importance of a healthy digestive fire and the elimination of toxins.
• Dosha-Specific Recipes: Learn how to identify your dosha and create meals tailored to your unique needs.
• Seasonal Eating: Discover the importance of eating seasonally and how to select ingredients that are in harmony with nature’s cycles.
• Spice Mastery: Unlock the secrets of Ayurvedic spices and their healing properties. Learn how to blend and use them to enhance flavour and health benefits.
• Food preparation techniques: Gawain will demonstrate how to prepare plant-based, healthy, delicious meals, using contemporary ‘Little Bird’ techniques combined with traditional Ayurvedic cooking principles that preserve nutrients and maximise flavour.
• Meal Planning: Get tips on planning and preparing balanced meals that fit into your busy lifestyle.
Cooking Class Highlights
• Take-Home Materials: Receive recipes, spice guides, digestive aid recommendations and meal planning tips to continue your Ayurvedic journey at home.
• Community Connection: Connect with like-minded people who share your passion for health and wellness.
History of Ayurveda
Ayurveda, a sister science of yoga, is an ancient holistic medical system from India with a history of over 5000 years. Often referred to as the ‘mother of all healing’, ayurveda offers a unique range of treatments, herbal medicine, diet and lifestyle principles, all targeted to regain and maintain health and wellbeing. It emphasises a holistic approach to health and wellness by balancing the body's energies, known as doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha).
About Gawain Cowley
Gawain, a chef of 20 years and Head Chef at Little Bird Kitchen since 2019, has been catering at the last two Ayurveda New Zealand's Cleanse Retreats, where the idea was born to host a collaborative cooking class.
Before returning to New Zealand, Gawain cooked around the world for 12 years.
Through Little Bird Gawain expanded the practice and passion he always had for providing people with nourishing food, especially learning about the crucial role our gut health plays in our overall wellbeing.
About Sarita Blankenburg
Sarita is a certified Ayurvedic Medicine Practitioner (BAMS) is the founder of AYURVEDA NEW ZEALAND with her clinic in Grey Lynn, where she offers together with her team; Ayurvedic consultations, treatments, Yoga therapy, Panchakarma and educational workshops. She runs Ayurvedic Cleansing Retreats and has her own product range Sattva Botanicals™.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, cancellations must be made a minimum of 5 working days prior to the class.
- A cancellation fee of 30% of the total ticket price will be charged for cancellations made with less than 5 working days notice.
- If a cancellation is made less than 48 hours before a class, or a class attendee doesn’t turn up, then the full ticket is non-refundable.
Ayurvedic Cooking Class in collaboration with Little Bird Cafe
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We'll get back to you as soon as possible, within 24 hours on weekdays.
Shipping Information
You can collect your order once it is ready from the clinic in Grey Lynn (Unit 8, Summerfield Villas, 386 Richmond Road), or we will send it within a day.
Questions?
Check out our FAQs below.
Contact Us
Send us an email, or book an Ayurvedic Consult for in depth support.
FAQs
Please contact us if you have questions that are not covered here.
What is Ayurveda?
Since 2010 we have brought the ancient Indian medical system of Ayurvedic health to New Zealand.
“Ayur” means life and “veda” means knowledge or science hence Ayurveda is often translated to mean the “Knowledge of Life”. Although Ayurveda has a history of over 5000 years, its principles are still equally applicable in modern New Zealand lifestyles.
At Ayurveda NZ we look to understand the root cause of an imbalance in order to correct the underlying condition or disease, rather than only treating the symptoms. Focused on maintaining mental and physical health from a holistic perspective, Ayurveda is also an excellent form of preventative medicine and rejuvenation.
The wisdom of Ayurveda encourages individuals to actively participate in maintaining their own good health in alignment with the different stages of their lives, the seasons, and the environment they live in.
At Ayurveda NZ we acknowledge the unique nature of each person and apply dietary, lifestyle, body therapies, and herbal remedies to assist in transformational processes.
Who makes the Sattva Botanicals range?
We do! Our organic ingredients are sourced ethically and blended by our team here in New Zealand to create the Sattva Botanicals products. This is why we can create a custom blend if you need one.
What is a Dosha and why does it matter?
Ayurveda acknowledges the unique nature of each person through individual constitutions (Doshas) and applies dietary and lifestyle adjustments, body therapies, and herbal remedies to assist in this transformational process.
You can find out more about Doshas here, and take the quiz to find your Dosha - or book an Ayurvedic Consultation and be guided through the process with Sarita.
What are the benefits of booking an Ayurvedic Consultation?
Having a one on one Ayurvedic Consult with Sarita means that we can talk about your concerns, identify your Dosha and recommend the treatments and botanicals best suited to you.
How do I book an Ayurvedic treatment?
You can either book a time using our booking app, or if you want to pay now but secure a time later by phone or email, just buy a Gift Voucher for yourself.
Why is my eating style relevant to Ayurveda?
At Ayurveda New Zealand we work with Ayurvedic Medicine, which recognises many causes of disease but stresses the root cause of most chronic conditions arise from imbalances in, or poor functioning of, the digestive system.
Undigested food and improper elimination of wastes accumulate as toxins in the body leading to dysfunctions. This is further compounded by unresolved emotional experiences and stress.
Whether a person is chronically ill or seeking a way to maintain good health Ayurveda has an important role to play.
According to Ayurveda, digestion is a subtle process that transforms food into consciousness.
Can I get a personalised Yoga Programme too?
Absolutely. We love yoga and Sarita can create a bespoke yoga therapy programme to suit you specifically.
Ayurveda New Zealand
Bringing the ancient Indian medical system of Ayurvedic health and wellbeing to New Zealand since 2010. “Ayur” means life and “veda” means knowledge or science so Ayurveda is often translated to mean the “Knowledge of life”. Although Ayurveda has a history of over 5000 years, its principles are still equally applicable in modern lifestyles.
The wisdom of Ayurveda encourages individuals to actively participate in maintaining their own good health.
