Wellbeing means something different for everyone. While most people associate it with leading a physically healthy lifestyle, there’s no one size fits all when it comes to being there for ourselves. The same principle can also be observed in different cultures and in Nepal wellbeing is bolstered by several pillars that circulate around mindfulness, creativity and joy, be that meditation, nourishment or connectivity. During these isolating times, we wanted to share some of our favourite parts of the Nepalese lifestyle that we have all enjoyed over the past few years.
Nepal is a deeply spiritual country and is a place of pilgrimage for people all over the world. It’s said that Nepal is where Hindu gods and saints have gone to meditate for thousands of years, making the country one of the most popular places for spiritual and meditative retreats.
Vipassana meditation is widely practised throughout Nepal and is one of the oldest meditation methods. A practice that encourages self-awareness by paying attention to the different sensations in the body, Vipassana is said to have been lost to us until its rediscovery by Buddha over 2500 years ago.
Some of our team find great joy and a rewarding sense of tranquillity using Vipassana. Try this short 10-minute introduction with Savannah Power Yoga.
We also have several resources to help you better understand the theory behind Vipassana >
Vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Ebook: An Ancient Path by Paul Fleischman
Lentils are a staple of Nepalese dining tables and are packed full of goodness. They’re high in fibre, protein and are a delicious and versatile alternative to heavy meat dishes. Dal Bhat, a lentil curry served with rice, is considered a national dish in Nepal. It’s often served as a part of theThali dining tradition and is a firm favourite of Himalayan explorers. Every time we head to Nepal we always enjoy Dal Bhat and Thali so we cannot recommend this recipe enough.
Follow us onFacebook andInstagram for more traditional Nepalese recipes from our friend Archana who lives in Kathmandu.
Lemon and ginger tea, while a firm favourite all over the world, underpins downtime in Nepal. Though simple, there’s something about the mixture of hot ginger and sweet Himalayan honey that really takes us to new levels of relaxation. It perfectly punctuates a full schedule and while many of us are working from home, it can help in soothing us into the after-work part of our day.
Try this sweet littlerecipe out for size.
What first drew our founder Sharon to Nepal was how resilient and united Nepalese people were when faced with great tragedy. When the earthquake hit Nepal in 2015, thousands of people were lost, homes were devastated and places of significant cultural importance lay in ruins. Despite the chaos, Nepal and its people emerged strong and with the help of the international community, began to rebuild the lives they once lived, knowing wholeheartedly that things would never be the same again.
Everything we do at CHACCRA is about celebrating and sharing the strength and humility of Nepalese communities. During times like these, we are especially inspired by the brilliant people we have the joy of working with and we look forward to a time when we can see them all again. Until then we’ll be staying in and enjoying a cup of lemon and ginger tea. Take care, everyone!
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