Leaning Into Joy - Creating Balance Through Ayurveda
Our relationship with food is our foundation for living a radiant life.
For me it is the freedom to go about my life, knowing that I will be taken care of rather than having my behavior be driven by my eating patterns. Bringing the principles of yoga/ayurveda into what and how I eat is the basis of food freedom for me. It is the pathway to experiencing how everything is connected- mind, body and spirit. When you begin to approach eating with this holistic understanding-everything changes.
Ayurveda is the ancient medical science of self-reliant healing. The name “Ayurveda” is derived from two words in Sanskrit, “ayuh” meaning “life” or “longevity” and “veda” meaning “science” or “sacred knowledge.” Ayurveda’s definition therefore roughly translates as “the science of longevity” or “the sacred knowledge of life.” What the yogis were writing about in the ancient texts is now being backed up by modern science.
Food truly is the medicine of life. You can eat your way to increased energy, balanced emotion and an overall state of calm and relaxation. In ayurvedic medicine there are said to be three main energies that affect our mind.
Sattva is the light of our consciousness and the truth of who we are. It’s balance, harmony, serenity. Rajas is the activity of life. It’s movement, motion, and action. Tamas is the darkness of life - inertia, decay, and sleep. While rajas and tamas are necessary for our human experience, in excess they cause disturbance in the mind and body. Then we experience a disconnection from our higher self - the truth of who we really are. From Yoga and Ayurveda we understand that this is the basis of all illness and disease. The key to healing is to increase sattva by choosing experiences which includes what we choose to eat that bring peace and harmony.
In the sattvic state, you will feel OK with what you are doing rather than thinking you should be doing something else. You will prefer to see and accept the truth, not react to or deny it. Concentration will come easily, as will simple love and kindness for yourself, others and the environment.
Foods that cultivate sattva are fresh,seasonal, lovingly prepared,simple and nourishing. Whole grains, nuts and seeds, legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables are the staples of a sattvic diet. Activities to promote sattva include all things contemplative and outdoorsy; meditation, cooking, gardening, arts and crafts, hiking, conscious communication, the giving of gifts, volunteer and service work.
Continuously remind yourself that your energy comes from a universal source, and practice connecting to that source. Pausing to take three deep breaths before a meal is a great time to connect. In time, your body knows this experience so well that it becomes second, nature and mealtimes become touchstones in a busy day.
When practiced together, Yoga and Ayurveda provide a very effective, holistic system for reversing and resolving illness.
They also offer a path to joy, sweetness, and harmony. Practicing Ayurveda and Yoga is a beautiful approach to living that creates an atmosphere of well-being. It's about cultivating harmony between your internal and external worlds which leads to vibrance, clarity and happiness. In other words, these practices offer a wonderful system of preventative medicine because when you connect to who you really are each day, your health will thrive. Now, you don’t have to go and change everything at once to fit some strict set of rules.
This is a path of self-responsibility, which is different from doing what someone told you to do. This is about choices - choosing to come towards balance or away from it. That’s a personal thing, and you will find your flow with it. What is important is consistency.
Establishing a morning breath practice is an important ritual to bring a sense of ease and joy into your life. Pranayama the yogic term means energy, breath and life force. Stress may be as important as physical causes in the modern progression of diseases. There is a common Ayurvedic saying: “ Where your attention goes, prana or energy flows.” Think how persistent worry can occupy your mind. Stress is a huge drain on life energy. Whatever you pay attention to receives your energy.
In our busy day to day lives it is easy to lose touch with the movements of life energy and to end up worrying or working all the time. It takes practice, but a slow and steady commitment to paying attention to self-care through a daily breath practice pays off.
As part of an ayurvedic lifestyle here is a practice you can do at home to cultivate and circulate prana. You can try this seated breathing practice in a chair or any comfortable seat where you can straighten your spine and gently lift your chest, begin counting to four as you inhale through your nose, then again count to four while you exhale through your nose. Repeat this five times and slowly increase your time to increase the relaxation benefits.
If you decide you would like support to integrate a daily practice, consider joining me for one of my monthly workshops,the 2nd Saturday of every month and discover holistic practices that will guide you to receive the gifts of each moment. Take these practices forward with you in your life.
As you make small changes you’ll receive inspiration on how you can take bigger steps to grow into your full potential. All you need is an open mind, open heart, willingness to be vulnerable and devotion to your daily practice.