The next installment of Rice Creek Associates (RCA) Reflections will present “Tongue Tales: Self Care for Better Health Using Ayurvedic Insight” at 2 p.m. on Feb. 7 at SUNY Oswego’s Rice Creek Field Station.
Linda Knowles, a Rice Creek naturalist and a student of Ayurveda for more than 35 years, will lead the session, which is free and open to the public.
"Ayurveda means 'way of life.' It is an ancient life science originating in India over 5,000 years ago," Knowlton explained.
"The focus of the science is to maintain balance in the body for optimal health," Knowlton added. "This balance is maintained by making wise lifestyle and diet choices according to one's Prakruti or constitution. This workshop will focus on identifying one's constitution and providing a tool, tongue diagnosis, that can help individuals make wise choices in allignment with their constitution for better health."
Knowles will introduce the basic framework of Ayurveda. Attendees will receive a questionnaire to discover their Dosha, or Ayurvedic constitution, followed by a discussion of results.
Tongue diagnosis charts will be distributed, and participants will compare their tongue to the chart, followed by interpretation of results. The session also will discuss herbs and lifestyle support.
The goal of the workshop presentation is for participants to use the tools and information provided to better their health. A handheld mirror to view the tongue should be brought to the presentation.
Knowlton is an educator with experience in both formal and informal education. Teaching in schools, including on the college level, for more than three decades before retiring, Knowlton earned her bachelor's in creative writing and master's in secondary education and teaching English from SUNY Oswego.
At Rice Creek, Knowlton leads interpretive programs, nature walks and creative workshops for adults and children. She infuses her love of literature, writing, art and crafts into her work at the field station.
Her long-running work with Ayurvedic and herbal medicine has included training under renowned Ayurvedic practitioners and herbalists.
“I first got involved at Rice Creek back in the late ‘80s doing independent thematic workshops like creating Native American birth totem animals in clay, wheat weaving, paper making using natural materials and pressed flowers,” Knowles recalled. “And for teachers I did several workshops on nature themes in children's literature with correlating activities.”
Knowlton later served Rice Creek as a part-time naturalist on Saturdays, doing periodic workshops. After attending a variety of trainings through Rice Creek and Cornell Cooperative Extension, Knowlton spent several summers teaching at Rice Creek’s Exploring Nature program.
Rice Creek Associates is a community of like-minded people who share a passion for nature and a desire to support Rice Creek Field Station. Formed in 1986, RCA supports Rice Creek Field Station's mission by expanding the scientific, educational and recreational opportunities at the Field Station through community involvement.
For more information, including a link to join RCA for as little as $5 or $10, visit the RCA website.