MEET OUR FOUNDER RINA
Even though I grew up in Toronto, Canada, I was still connected to my roots. On the weekends, I'd dress up in glittering chaniya cholis for folk dance lessons and events. For dinner, my family and I ate steaming bowls of fragrant moong daal and spice infused vegetables. Mom warmed coconut oil, rubbing it in my scalp, braiding my hair after. Dad shared stories from the Ramayan and told tales about our ancestor's bravery. Despite being a Canadian kid miles away from the motherland, India still flowed through my veins. Chand & Radha is a celebration of my culture, heritage, and Ayurvedic wisdom I've learned from my family that I want to share with all of you.
RADHA'S STORY
Chand & Radha pays homage to my roots. "Chand" an ode to my last name Chandarana meaning "King of the Moon." The moon connects us to Mother Nature's constant healing presence. Radha is my paternal Grandmother's name. Ba as we called her, left her tiny village in Gujarat, India in the early 1900s as a teenager, embarking on a difficult ship journey across the Indian Ocean, settling in Uganda with my Grandfather Madhavji Chandarana. After raising her eight children in Lugazi, Uganda, the Chandarana family had to resettle once more, this time making their way to England. My parents met and married in London and soon after moved to Toronto, Canada to start a new life yet again. Although my family's story spans four continents, we carried our traditions and Ayurvedic remedies with us.
MY HEALTH STRUGGLES
Over the years because of my own health struggles including anxiety, gut issues and migraines, I found myself gravitating more towards my ancestral roots. Every frustrating doctor visit pushed me even closer to Ayurveda.
Piles of medical bills, unused prescriptions and unanswered questions led me to spend countless hours researching Ayurveda and talking to the elders in the family to learn as much as I could about how to focus on natural wellness.
In 2015 I broke out into painful acne. My Mom suggested a weekly face mask of chickpea and turmeric, but to also drink karela (bitter melon) juice daily to "cool" my insides. To my relief these time tested remedies passed down by my Great-Grandmother worked. That's when I first realised inner and outer beauty are so connected.
When we feel good on the inside, it shows on the outside.
GETTING TO THE ROOT
I want all women to enjoy the best health possible supported by Ayurvedic remedies like herbal powders, meditation, yoga, time in nature and spiritual connection that nurture us both on the inside and out to connect mind, body and soul.
From India to England: My Nani's Story
