BEHIND THE BRAND

Glynnis Osher, the Founder and Spice Mistress of The Mystic Masala, is very much like a complex masala herself. Just as pungent ginger works mischie-vously with sweet cardamom, and rich popping sesame seeds mingle with playful paprika, sensible coriander, and heavenly rose, so does the creator of this fragrant venture love to intuitively magic up all manner of mystical Ayurvedic wares.

When you first come to experience the divine fragrances of The Mystic Masala, you may find yourself transported to the Malabar Spice Coast, or perhaps to a sangoma's apothecary in the Southern reaches of Africa; you may even imagine yourself on a vibrant stroll through a bustling New York City marketplace. None of these sensations would be so strange as Glynnis has drawn from all of these. Glynnis was born and raised in South Africa, immigrated to New York in her 20's and has traveled through India and to both US coasts, gathering knowledge of Ayurvedic practices.

In April of 1997, Glynnis was drawn to The Wise Earth School of Ayurveda in North Carolina and embraced the teachings of the School Director and Vedic monk, Maya Tiwari (Sri Swamini Mayatitananda), graduating in the 'Food Sadhana' program, later returning to the school to assist in two Food Sadhana programs and integrating this work into her personal life.

The Pacific Northwest provided Glynnis with other avenues to broaden her knowledge. In Seattle, she taught Ayurvedic spice workshops and cooking classes, including a 3 month credit class to nutrition students at Bastyr University. In 2002, Glynnis graduated as an Ayurvedic practitioner from the AYU Academy at Bastyr. From there, she developed further hands-on workshops to create one's own pharmacopoeia of home cosmetics using essential spice and herbal oils, ground grains, beans, seeds, nuts and spices. Glynnis' interactive workshops of toasting, grinding, chanting, and melding continue to be strongly influenced by her diverse studies and the colors, rituals and practices of both India and her native South Africa.

These seeds of experience, exploration and a passionate love of Ayurveda, gracefully blossomed in mid-2003 when she launched The Mystic Masala. All this plus a background as an art director, designer and illustrator makes Glynnis a lively masala indeed! As one can readily see in the crafting of her product line, Glynnis' love of aesthetics is strongly evident - as is her strong belief in social responsibility. And this is only the beginning. Now based in Vancouver, Canada, Glynnis and The Mystic Masala plan to continue introducing people to the beauty and wisdom of Ayurveda through their exquisite aromatherapy products.

A healthy body, a healthy spirit and a healthy planet.