A science of life, that is what Ayurveda is.
This incredible science offers an immense wisdom that can help us cultivate vitality and reach our optimal potential.
This practice can be used in our everyday lives. It can serve as the perfect red thread that leads us through our daily lives. In fact, an ayurvedic lifestyle doesn't ask us to vehemently follow a plan, on the contrary, it states that 80% of following and structuring our routines the ayurvedic way, is already great and helps reap visible benefits.
One thing I love about Ayurveda, is the simplicity it brings with it. Whilst the science in itself can be an overwhelm, when you start breaking things down, one layer at a time, they all come together beautifully and make so much sense.
Ayurveda doesn't demand any sort of way for us to be considered 'right' or 'wrong'- ok in a few cases it does, but we will get to those definite dont's in another article.
So, Ayurveda really allows for the perfect daily and seasonal activities: diet, senses, behaviors, thoughts, setbacks, sleep and energy. It reminds us that true health is a balanced and vibrant integration between the physical environment, outer body, inner mind, and human spirit.
It is therefore a holistic lifestyle that goes far beyond nutrition and offers comprehensive ways to improve one's well-being. As an example Ayurveda looks at how, by being more mindful in everyday life we can attain more life energy (Prana). You thought right, it is precisely here where Ayurveda and Yoga meet.
The primary goal of both these systems is to have a healthy, vital, happy and blissful life.
Those who live yoga not only as a physical exercise, but as a spiritual practice, will inevitably also deal with topics such as nutrition, meditation and so on. Therefore, Ayurveda is the ideal complement to your yoga practice and vice versa.
To me, Ayurveda is that which raises the quality of every aspect of our life.
Let's take a closer look at four different ways Ayurveda can be integrated into your schedule and bring greater balance into your life.
How We Rest Regardless of your Ayurvedic type, aka Dosha, a few minutes of sitting quietly with yourself and turning inward through meditation helps clear the mind and rejuvenate the body. In order to balance the system on a regular basis and provide deep rest, meditation is a key part of the Ayurveda toolkit.
How We Yoga Ayurveda can help shape your yoga practice.
If your Dosha is the Kapha type, a slightly more vigorous form can have this rejuvenating and energising effect. If you are a Vata type, you would benefit a whole lot more from a grounding approach, holding each posture longer. For all the Pitta types, you can yoga to find deep rest by complementing active postures with long rest and meditation afterwards. Once you know your ayurvedic Dosha, you can adapt your yoga practice and support your individual type.
How We Eat It's all about the Dosha, yes. Once you know your Dosha, adapt it to your choices of food and also how you cook them.
Suddenly it becomes less surprising, when we understand why our bodies react well to certain foods and get irritated by others. Why we get bloated after eating certain foods or why we get hungry again within short gaps depending on what we ate and what our body type is.
If you are recovering from a cold, or other sickness, you can plan a restorative diet, which uses the knowledge about your type, any imbalances and the seasons to renew your level of balance.
It will also incorporate the 6 tastes (Rasa) into your meals so you feel even more satisfied.
How we Sleep
Sleep has a direct correlation to our individuality. A lot can be said about the sleep cycles we should follow based on what our ayurvedic constitution is.
For example, a mid day nap is a no go for Kapha Doshas, Pittas can handle it best.
Sorry Kaphas, you will need to cut the power naps!
What sleep times will give you the most rest? I will explain this in detail when writing about the circadian cycle.
You can probably see by now, Ayurveda is not something outside our daily routine, Ayurveda helps enhance life. It has so many practical applications for restoring harmony in our surroundings and our relationships.
Ayurveda can affect they way we live life each day, bringing rejuvenation, energy, deep rest, calmness and clarity all within our reach. It does this using time-tested, all-natural tools that are as relevant now as they were 5,000 years ago.
Oh well, this list can go on and on, but for now, this will be all.
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If you have any questions, just post them below or write me an email.
Thanks a ton.
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