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Ayurveda – An Ancient Cure For Modern Life

December 7, 2012 By yogabound Leave a Comment

An Ancient Cure for Modern Life
By Alison Rose Levy

Everyday stress can lead to vata derangement, an excess of nervous energy. These Ayurvedic therapies can bring you back into balance.

Like most Americans, I’m an expert at multi-tasking. I eat at my desk, wash dishes while on the phone, go through bills on the bus, and drive while talking on my cell phone. Based on his knowledge of the Eastern wisdom of Ayurveda, the internationally recognized Ayurvedic physician and author Robert Svoboda has another name for this rushed, fragmented way of functioning. He calls it “vata-deranged.”

Modern life as we know it, with its excessive travel, late nights, and nonstop stimulation, often contributes to vata derangement, which can affect anyone. People like me—the tall, slender, fast-talking ones—are most at risk, however, because our native constitutions are vata dominant.

To comprehend vata derangement, we need to understand that vata is one of the three metabolic types, or doshas, described by the ancient health science of Ayurveda. Vata is the principle of movement, ruled by air and ether. The other two doshas are pitta, the principle of assimilation ruled by fire, and kapha, the stabilizing force, ruled by earth and air. Ayurvedic doctors say that we are each a unique combination of these three. For most of us, one type is predominant, another secondary. But whatever one’s native type, when a person goes out of balance, the vata principle destabilizes most easily, causing other kinds of health and emotional problems.

According to Ayurveda, this is the force that governs all movement in the body, including the in-and-out flow of the breath, the action of our limbs, the circulation of subtle energy in our organism, and the mind’s ceaseless flow of thoughts, words, and images. Unlike earthy kapha, solid and grounded and with a tendency to get stuck, or fiery pitta, sharp and focused and knowing just where it wants to go, vata, like the wind, wanders here and there, its direction ever-changing.

Performers like Michael Richards, who played Seinfeld’s Kramer, Lisa Kudrow acting ditzy and off-beat on Friends, and Woody Allen, with his anxious patter, have made us laugh at the off-centered, nervous spaciness typical of vata derangement. While these qualities may seem funny when we see them on film, it’s not fun to experience the jerky stops and starts of breath, thoughts, speech, nerves, and limbs that result from a vata imbalance. And the health consequences aren’t laughable either.

Vata’s Rise and Fall

The pressure and pace of modern life can tip anyone into vata imbalance. But even if you spent your life meditating in the woods, it’s not easily avoided. Ayurveda holds that sturdy kapha is dominant in childhood, ambitious pitta rules in the prime of life, and vata prevails in our senior years. Our senior years bring the vatic qualities of dryness, roughness, and irregularity, manifesting in such health complaints as arthritis, constipation, anxiety, insomnia, and stiffness.

Fortunately, we can look to ancient wisdom for answers: Ayurveda has evolved ways to remedy vata imbalance and its accompanying diseases, and throughout hundreds of years ancient Ayurvedic physicians and Yogis devised many techniques to prolong life—hoping to gain more time to attain self-realization.

Undoubtedly, the Westerner most knowledgeable about these Ayurvedic rejuvenative practices is Svoboda, who teaches at Albuquerque’s Ayurvedic Institute and is the author of Prakriti (Sadhana, 1999), an excellent introduction to Ayurveda. For the last 25 years, Svoboda has traveled toIndiato receive and learn traditional rejuvenative treatments and to study Indian culture, philosophy, and practices.

Last year he offered a small group of students a weeklong immersion in the health model and way of life he practices. Along with Iyengar Yoga teacher Ellen Leary ofNew Hope,Pennsylvania, Svoboda designed a retreat reflecting the Indian world view that Ayurveda, hatha yoga, and other spiritual practices like meditation and chanting are aspects of an integrated system of healing and spiritual evolution. As I flew to the Caribbean Island of Tortola, I wondered if, even with these gifted guides, it would be possible to alleviate some of my stress-building vatic habits in one week.

The Beauty of Routine

Vatas tend to be erratic—or as workshop participant Paul Busch, an Iyengar Yoga teacher from Minneapolis (and a vata), described himself, “addicted to variety.” While stalwart kaphas plod along, rising, eating, working, and sleeping punctually, vatas zigzag out of regularity, rising and going to bed at odd times, skipping meals, and not keeping to any regular pattern. Although this makes life interesting, it is also destabilizing. The cure: Establish a predictable routine.

The first evening of the retreat, Svoboda explained that they had carefully structured our schedule and practices to emphasize rejuvenation, particularly for balancing vata. Since dry, rough, airy, fast-moving, and irregular are the core qualities of vata, the Ayurvedic approach is to prescribe treatments, activities, and foods that provide the opposite qualities: oiliness, grounding, slowness, heaviness, consistency, and flow. Svoboda and Leary asked that we adhere to their schedule, even if it meant steering clear of the sun-drenched beach below. Instead of going after “fun,” we tasted a different kind of enjoyment: a restful night’s sleep.

This was the beginning of our routine: Every night we went to bed early, and every day began at6 a.m. We entered the day gently with an optional morning Meditation, followed by an hour long class in Pranayama at 6:30 a.m.This is very important for vata, whose flow can become disturbed by transitions, particularly abrupt ones, like dashing straight from the dream state to the computer upon arising.

“Vata is discontinuous, so if there’s a transfer of energy and direction, like at a juncture or at any transition, that’s where vata becomes agitated,” Svoboda said. No chance of that here. Unlike other classes I’d attended, where even beginners launched into advanced pranayama techniques like alternate nostril or bellows breathing, Leary, who recently returned from a month at the Iyengar Institute in Pune, India, led us in a simple, restorative pranayama practice.

We used props in Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose), to ensure our bodies were in correct alignment and our diaphragms gently lifted. We supported our legs with homemade sandbags and a belt, allowing the groin area to deeply relax. Leary gently guided us in sensing the inner thoracic area, and after a time, without any forcing, we slowly lengthened and deepened our breath.

Expanding and steadying the breath helps pacify vata because it counters the constrained and shallow breathing—and attendant anxiety—that result from vata’s fast pace. Leary instructed us to allow this expansion to happen without forcing it, encouraging us to take a step back from the vatic and Western tendency to overdo it.

“Breath is essential to rejuvenation,” Svoboda explained later, when we gathered on the stone front porch for one of his three daily talks. The term prana, he told us, denotes consciousness and life force. Because prana is carried on the breath, increasing our breath capacity brings in more life force to nourish the physical tissues of the body. “As the organism becomes more confident there is ample prana, it relaxes,” explained Svoboda. While regulating the breath is necessary for vatas, inducing a calm state is healing to everyone’s cells, bodies, emotions, and thoughts.

But everything in its own time. Lest we fuel our spiritual evolution with ambition, Svoboda reminded us that we won’t get there any quicker by pressing the pedal to the floor. Even when it comes to spirituality, each of the doshas has its own way of overdoing or under doing it. Kaphas are most likely to be kicking back and smelling the flowers, finding no motivation to practice at all. Pittas may be driven to become spiritual overachievers, losing contact with compassion as they pile up attainments.

Vatas overdo because they are mentally stimulated by so many options but without doing one thing consistently. This tendency carries over into other life activities. “My eyes are bigger than my stomach,” commented Busch. “My mind wants a smorgasbord, staying up late, watching stimulating films, or engaging in late night conversations, while my body would prefer to get some rest. And like all vatas, I overrule my body.”

Under Doing It

The retreat schedule, routine yet relaxing, defeated all vatic temptations to overdo. There’s no point in overdoing a practice like pranayama, Svoboda told us, because we can’t take in more prana unless we have room for it. In minds crammed with thoughts, organs clogged with toxins, and bodies stiffened with neglect, there is just no space for anything else.

Wherever there are blockages, the flow throughout our system is obstructed, causing vata disorders. The practices we learned opened the space for that flow. To open the mind, there was meditation. To expel toxins encumbering our digestive tract, there were Ayurvedic herbs and diet. To release structural and muscular blockages impeding our movement, there was Hatha Yoga.

After our daily pranayama, we performed Suryanamaskar (Sun Salutation) to the rising sun on a deck overlooking the ocean. With their addiction to variety, vatas find it boring to do asanas slowly and repetitively. Of course, more than anyone else, they need to take the time to allow themselves to become steady in each pose.

“As a vata I love constant change, and it’s the worst thing for me,” noted Busch. Suryanamaskar is beneficial for vatas, who tend to have stiff joints, because the asanas move all the limbs and lubricate the joints. Suryanamaskar also regulates the flow of energy through the nadis, channels of subtle energy that run through our organism, like acupuncture meridians.

While pittas and kaphas do well with more strenuous exercise, repetitive, flowing movement balances vata, so it is best for vatas to do Suryanamaskar slowly. These poses can align vatas mentally and spiritually, Svoboda pointed out, if they face the sun, real or imagined, while doing them. Focusing gathers vata’s scattered energies, Svoboda said, and directs them toward “the sun, the source of light and consciousness in the world.”

Practice Is Perfection

Following a well-earned breakfast, we next performed abhyanga. This is an Ayurvedic oil massage and a classic prescription for healing vata that brings vata’s dry, rough, and irregular tendencies into balance with the oil’s smoothness and heaviness.

Ayurvedic clinics in Kerala,India, are renowned for treatments like pizhichil, in which as many as four people simultaneously oil massage a single client, or shirodhara, in which oil is slowly poured onto the top of the head. When oil is absorbed through the skin, it dislodges toxins, explained Svoboda, which otherwise impede the flow in our system, block the movement of prana, and aggravate vata.

Ayurvedic physicians also use food as medicine, considering the effect of every food and spice on each dosha. Cream of wheat, for example, while grounding for vatas, is too heavy for already grounded kaphas, who tend toward weight gain; on the other hand, a vata should probably pass on the chili because beans cause gas.

Although people associate Ayurvedic cuisine with Indian food, the two are not synonymous. A diet balancing to one’s dosha can consist entirely of Western or international dishes. The retreat offered gourmet spa cuisine, delicious and balancing to all three doshas.

Ayurveda views the digestive process as a metaphor for all we take in. Many people eat whatever is available, watch whatever is on the tube, and believe the common consensus on many subjects. But Ayurveda asks us to consider what we can handle, as vata’s delicate nerves and digestion are easily overwhelmed by a bad meal—or a bad movie, for that matter.

Svoboda and Leary urged us to use the retreat practices to refine our inner awareness, so we could begin to discern the effects of the foods, images, and ideas we take in. This is helpful for all doshas, but particularly for curious and experimental vatas, who want to try everything even though their powers of assimilation aren’t always up to it.

Anything taken in but not processed remains in our organism and becomes a toxin, Svoboda told us. That’s why it’s important to recognize what is beneficial and decline what isn’t, rather than leave the gate open to any and all forms of input. Vatas are great communicators and love chatter. But as much as they love it, it is jarring to their nerves. The solution? To practice limiting input—and output.

All chatter ceased on the day dedicated to silence, a traditional form of spiritual austerity practiced in India. Silence is believed to have a purifying effect on the sense of hearing and on the mind itself. In silence I noticed how much breath and energy I habitually waste on words.

At meals I never missed the conversation, which I now realize was often used to stave off fears or feelings of emptiness. In silence these feelings were given room to come into the light of awareness, where they could dissolve. Our silent afternoon asana class brought the entire group into a state of inner and outer focus, as we followed Leary in a strong series of standing poses, the ocean breezes and our own breath the only sounds we heard. Silence, I discovered, is a restorative posture as powerful as any physical one.

The retreat showed me what Savasana (Corpse Pose), the most basic restorative pose, was all about. With my busy work schedule, I frequently omitted this asana from my practice at home, dashing from other asanas directly to the phone or computer keyboard. The flip side of this kind of vatic overdoing is an energy crash, from which a judicious rest can protect you.

“Savasana brings you as close as possible to perfect physical alignment because it is easier to do correctly than any other pose. Being still while in alignment allows all levels of your being to move into alignment,” explained Svoboda. This is why Savasana feels so restful, physically, mentally, and spiritually. With enough rest and alignment, even restless vatic energy can stabilize.

At first, with its new terminology, Ayurveda can seem exotic, even to someone like me who has traveled to India and studied hatha yoga and meditation for 14 years. But in truth, resting deeply, eating healthful foods, following a regular schedule, moving at a gentle pace, stretching all my limbs, taking deep breaths, and limiting stimulation are all the basics of good health. There’s nothing exotic about these practices.

What is unusual is that we live in a society where we have to make an extra effort to practice them and resist the pressures that lead us to neglect self-care. Following the Ayurvedic and yogic techniques seemed unfamiliar at first, but when I practiced them, my body (or was it perhaps some subtler aspect of myself?) recognized them. As modern Americans, we may have forgotten how to care for the human being, but Ayurveda remembers and can remind us of what we once knew.

Discover Ayurveda

November 12, 2012 By yogabound Leave a Comment

Discover Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the oldest surviving complete medical system in the world. Derived from its ancient Sanskrit roots – ‘ayus‘ (life) and ‘ved‘ (knowledge) – and offering a rich, comprehensive outlook to a healthy life, its origins go back nearly 5000 years. To when it was expounded and practiced by the same spiritual rishis, who laid the foundations of the Vedic civilization inIndia, by organizing the fundamentals of life into proper systems.

The main source of knowledge in this field therefore remain the Vedas, the divine books of knowledge they propounded, and more specifically the fourth of the series, namely Atharvaveda that dates back to around 1000 BC. Of the few other treatises on Ayurveda that have survived from around the same time, the most famous are Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita which concentrate on internal medicine and surgery respectively.

The Astanga Hridayam is a more concise compilation of earlier texts that was created about a thousand years ago. These between them forming a greater part of the knowledge base on Ayurveda as it is practiced today.

The art of Ayurveda had spread around in the 6^th century BC toTibet,China,Mongolia,Korea andSri Lanka, carried over by the Buddhist monks travelling to those lands. Although not much of it survives in original form, its effects can be seen in the various new age concepts that have originated from there.

No philosophy has had greater influence on Ayurveda than Sankhaya’s philosophy of creation and manifestation. Which professes that behind all creation there is a state of pure existence or awareness, which is beyond time and space, has no beginning or end, and no qualities. Within pure existence, there arises a desire to experience itself, which results in disequilibrium and causes the manifestation of the primordial physical energy. And the two unite to make the “dance of creation” come alive.

Imponderable, indescribable and extremely subtle, this primordial energy – which and all that flows from it existing only in pure existence – is the creative force of all action, a source of form that has qualities. Matter and energy are so closely related that when energy takes form, we tend to think of it in terms of matter only. And much modified, it ultimately leads to the manifestation of our familiar mental and physical worlds.

It also gives rise to cosmic consciousness, which is the universal order that pervades all life. Individual intelligence, as distinct from the everyday intellectual mind, is derived from and is part of this consciousness. It is the inner wisdom, the part of individuality that remains unswayed by the demands of daily life, or by Ahamkara, the sense of `I-ness’.

A Sanskrit word with no exact translation, Ahamkara, is a concept not quite understood by everyone as it is often misleadingly equated to `ego’. Embracing much more than just that, it is in essence that part of ‘me’ which knows which parts of the universal creation are ‘me’. Since ‘I’ am not separate from the universal consciousness, but ‘I’ has an identity that differentiates and defines the boundaries of `me’. All creations therefore have Ahamkara, not just human beings.

There arises from Ahamkara a two-fold creation. The first is Satwa, the subjective world, which is able to perceive and manipulate matter. It comprises the subtle body (the mind), the capacity of the five sense organs to hear, feel, see, taste and smell, and for the five organs of action to speak, grasp, move, procreate and excrete. The mind and the subtle organs providing the bridge between the body, the Ahamkara and the inner wisdom, which three together is considered the essential nature of humans.

The second is Tamas, the objective world of the five elements of sound, touch, vision, taste and smell – the five subtle elements that give rise to the dense elements of ether or space, air, fire, water and the earth – from which all matter of the physical world is derived. And it is Rajas, the force or the energy of movement, which brings together parts of these two worlds.

Basic Element	Subtle Element	Sense Organ	Motor Organ	Function
Space	Sound	Ears	Vocal Chords	Speaking
Air	Touch	Skin	Hands	Grasping
Fire	Sight	Eyes	Feet	Moving
Water	Taste	Tongue	Genitals	Procreating
Earth	Smell	Nose	Anus	Excreting

It is worth noting that even at the stage of the dense elements the philosophy of creation –which according to Sankaya is now and in the present, without any past and any future – is still dealing with aspects of existence beyond our simple physical realms. The point of contention being that we are the first and foremost spirit experiencing existence. To use Ayurveda in daily life, one has neither to accept nor even understand this philosophy. But it does provide a deeper insight into how Ayurveda works towards betterment of your health.

*Ayurveda* therefore is not simply a health care system but a form of lifestyle adopted to maintain perfect balance and harmony within the human existence, from the most abstract transcendental values to the most concrete physiological expressions. Based on the premise that life represents an intelligent co-ordination of the *Atma* (Soul), *Mana* (Mind), *Indriya* (Senses) and *Sharira* (Body). That revolves around the five dense elements that go into the making of the constitution of each individual, called *Prakriti. Which in turn is determined by the vital balance of the three physical energies – Vata, Pitta, Kapha* and the three mental energies – *Satwa, Rajas, Tamas*.

Ayurveda thus offers a unique blend of science and philosophy that balances the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual components necessary for holistic health.

Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar BAMS, MD (Ayurveda). Dr. Suhas is a classically trained Ayurvedic Physician and Gold Medalist from prestigious Pune University. A Rig Veda Brahmin by tradition and accomplished Clinician.

Creating Paradise Within – Better Health Through Ayurvedic Rejuvenation

November 12, 2012 By yogabound Leave a Comment

Creating Paradise Within: Better Health through Ayurvedic Rejuvenation

Since humans first roamed the earth there have been oral and written stories of the quest to find the elixir of life–the Fountain of Youth. The Western biblical tradition tells of a Golden Age when people lived hundreds of years. In the East, there are stories of those who attained immortality, existing in magical realms. Are such stories, or the desire to be able to attain such a state of being, folly–mere vanity in the face of the truth of impermanence and death?

Surely, there are those whose lives have been rich and fulfilling in one way or another and who wish life didn’t have to end so soon. Conversely, there are those who hold the opposite view: life has been full of sorrow and to die is a blessed final relief. For some the party ends too soon; for others the torment continues.

Can you remember the days when you were full of vibrant energy from sunrise to sunset? A holistic program of rejuvenation will bring back the body’s natural energetic state making us feel young and energetic again.

According to most Ancient Healing Traditions, food only nourishes our gross physical layer. The subtle nature–our true essence or spirit, and therefore the most important part of our being, is left malnourished. Ayurveda teaches that if life is lived in accordance with prakruti (your innate nature) or basic body-mind constitution, then a natural youthfulness is maintained throughout life.

According to Ayurveda and the wisdom traditions of the East, one’s state of mind is what makes the difference. Ultimately, to feel youthful, rich and full of life is a state of mind. There are those who go from complacency to boredom in living out their lives and those who are ever-thirsty, ever-searching; young people in rockers in front of wide screen television sets and grannies in sneakers, exploring the pyramids.

Highly effective methods of physical rejuvenation are found within Ayurveda, but there also is a mental or spiritual dimension that is viewed as an essential ingredient. If mental and spiritual flexibility and openness are not developed and enhanced, of what value is a more youthful body, except for the temporary relief or pleasure it provides?

Negative emotions are considered to toxic to our well being leading to physical illness. Decreasing our exposure to sensory overloads is a critical step in emotional detoxification. Unending mental dialogues are toxic to our mind. Some call it the drunken monkey mind syndrome. Spiritual Rejuvenation: The most joyful state is just to be, atoned, attentive, empowered and aware of our Inner Divinity.

Detoxification and Rejuvenation are serious components of Ayurvedic medicine. The methods offered can be quite extreme with respect to the demands it places on one’s time and lifestyle, yet the rewards often outweigh the inconvenience. At the same time, as intimated, there are practices one can engage in that can give slow but increased benefits if practiced regularly and over time.

Exercises(Yoga & Meditation) from the Ayurvedic tradition that slow the aging process and, when coupled with quality diet and other first level health-giving recommendations, actually can reverse the aging process. With the use of basic or more advanced levels of detoxification and rejuvenation, they can have amazing results. If practiced in the morning, they get the body and mind up and ready to face the day. If they are performed in the evening, they help to relax one and smooth out the stresses and strains of the day.

Can you remember the days when you were full of vibrant energy from sunrise to sunset? Rejuvenation is essential to your vitality, creativity, happiness and inner growth. A holistic program of rejuvenation will bring back the body’s natural energetic state making us feel young and energetic again.

Ayurveda – The Science of Life

November 12, 2012 By yogabound Leave a Comment

Ayurveda-The Science of Life

Ayurveda is the knowledge of life and tells us how to live a healthy life. Before we discuss how to go about it, we need to appreciate the difference between being ‘disease free’ and ‘healthy’. The opposite of ‘healthy’ would be ‘unhealthy’ and the latter is not necessarily synonymous with being diseased.

Have you not on some days awakened in the morning, after a fitful sleep, feeling sick? There are bags under your eyes and no sparkle in those days. You suffer from a feeling of incomplete bowel evacuation. Vague aches and pains dog you throughout the day; you shout at your children more than you need to, argue with peers for no rhyme or reason and are, by and large, unhappy.

Such symptoms cannot be classified into any known disease syndrome if guided by today’s medical system. But you are certainly not well and are definitely not in a state of positive health.

When patients come with such complaints, what does modern medicine have to offer? In the past it would have been vitamins and tonics, whereas the current trend is to prescribe the popular anti-stress drugs. Do you know that Ayurveda, our very own ‘made-to-order’ indigenous system of health, has given us several tricks to follow that will prevent us from ‘feeling unwell’?

Two quotations will help us in understanding what Ayurveda has to say in this regard. Charaka, the great physician of Ayurveda, says “The mind, soul and body form the three pillars, on which not only a human being’s existence rests, but also that of the world.” Sushruta, an ancient Ayurveda scholar having honor as the first surgeon of the world, has given a unique definition of health. He says ” Balanced Dosha, healthy Agni, a good state of tissues and their metabolic end-products lead to a balanced state of the senses, mind and spirit, all of which lead to health.”

It is said to rest on the tripod of body, mind and spirit. To be healthy, not only the body but also the mind needs to be kept fit; hence, the currently fashionable theme of ‘environment friendliness’. Thus, ways are described that will help us live a healthy life in constant tune with nature.

Ayurveda is often erroneously associated with herbs only. In actual fact it has a huge canvas that includes among other things, Yoga and Panchakarma. Diet and digestion are the pivots on which most of its theories are based – both in physiology (normalcy) as well as in pathology (disease). The basic philosophy of Ayurveda is based on the Panchamahabhoota (five basic elements) theory. From this theory evolves the concept of the controlling forces or the Doshas which act on the tissues, the Dhatus, giving rise to various metabolic products, i.e. Mala.

The character of all these are governed by what we eat, how we live and in which environment, and what is our mental state. And so, modifications in any of these can make us ‘unwell,’ not necessarily diseased. As an extension, if we remain unwell for too long, then our tissues (Dhatus) can lose their strength and become susceptible to foreign attack like infections, making us disease-stricken.

An important concept of Ayurveda is that each individual is genetically different – this gives him or her a very specific constitution (Prakriti) and also a very individual way of interacting with the environment. Thus, each person knows best what suits his or her body and what does not.

Ayurveda tells us of the framework in which we can modify our lifestyles to optimize our bodily functions. These things are described as Ritucharya (ways and means to be followed in different seasons) and Dinacharya (ways and means to be followed from morning to night). If, for some reason, some illness does occur, then Ayurveda describes remedies based on herbs, minerals and other therapeutic procedures like Panchakarma.

Nobody likes to age, but it is the law of life. Ayurveda teaches us how to age with dignity and grace. The Rasayana group of herbs prescribed therein is a fascinating resume on the secrets of life itself.

Ayurveda emphasizes the role of mental health in maintaining physical health. Today, we agree that there is a definite link between the mind and the body. Within the framework of psycho-neuro-immunology, we can re-interpret the ancient stanzas of Ayurveda and contribute new knowledge to the science of medicine.

We find that, nowadays, Ayurveda is making a feeble yet persistent attempt at a comeback. But, there is a word of caution. Blind faith in Ayurveda is not the answer. People are turning towards Ayurveda not only for therapy, but also for providing the lead to research.

Now, it is for the researchers engaged in the extensive researches in different aspects of Ayurveda to answer these following questions:
1) Can we develop a formula to live a healthy life using the philosophy of Ayurveda?

2) Can we personalize our lifestyle so as to avoid disease altogether?

3) Can we master the art of living?

The probable answers of all the questions are “Yes”. How? Extensive researches are going on to standardize these things so we can get some concrete answers in near future.

Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar BAMS, MD (Ayurveda) Dr. Suhas is a classically trained Ayurvedic Physician and Gold Medalist from prestigious Pune University. A Rig Veda Brahmin by tradition and accomplished Clinician.

Ayurvedic Vegan Diet – Good for Health

January 3, 2012 By yogabound Leave a Comment

The ethical principles of a vegan diet with the ancient tenants of Ayurvedic cooking.

Yummy Healthy Veggies

Darshana Thacker grew up in a family that followed the tenets of Ayurvedic cooking. Then eight years ago, the Los Angeles-based Ayurvedic chef turned adopted veganism. She found that the two diets shared a sense of ethics and health and now she marries them together to have the ideal meal plan for healthy living.

“Ayurveda is a way of life, which brings you in an alignment with yourself,” says the chef who is in the city to talk about her Ayurvedicvegan diet. “According to me, a vegan diet because of its ethical values fits into an Ayurvedic life.”

So while she eats no animal products, she plans her meal according to the dosha type/body constitution (see box) and ensures the balance of the six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, astringent and bitter), textures, colours and nutrients (balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fats). She also adopts the Ayurvedic cooking methods such as steaming vegetables, soaking and sprouting beans and lentils, and rinsing grains well before cooking.

So how does she ensure that the body is nourished with enough proteins? She says, “Research indicates that we require only 10 per cent of our total daily calories to maintain a strong healthy body; it is very easy to meet this target on a whole foods, plant-based diet.

In fact, there is strong evidence suggesting that protein intake higher than that, especially of animal protein, poses potential risk for diseases.”

Of the 20 essential amino acids required for building protein, she says, our body can produce 11 and the other nine are available through various food. It is not necessary for the body to get the remaining nine from the same food – the body breaks down and stores the individual amino acids in a pool when protein is consumed. It will restring the protein as and when required.

Thacker says, “It is very difficult to be protein deficient on a calorie dense diet. From a whole foods and plant-based diet, you get a perfect balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat. This has ample quantities of phytochemicals, antioxidants, fibre, vitamins and minerals.”

An animal-based diet consisting of dairy, meat and eggs protein brings with it saturated fat and cholesterol. Thacker recommends a good source of plant-based protein for bananas, brown rice, barley pearl, quinoa, whole wheat bread, chickpeas, lentils, soymilk, broccoli, tofu, and spinach.

Republished from The Times of India

Ayurvedic Physical Activity

December 7, 2011 By yogabound Leave a Comment

Ayurvedic Physical Activity – A Matter of Balance
By Denise O’Dunn

Ayurveda is the Science of Life. In Ayurveda your physical, mental and emotional well being is described within the context of the three dynamic forces of nature or Doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The fundamental Ayurvedic principals of like increases like and opposites create balance dictate that you choose the type, intensity and duration of the physical exercise you do, according to your individual Doshic makeup and the current Doshic influences in your life.

Vata Dosha
Individuals who are primarily ether and air dominate are Vata. Are you very tall or short? Do you have a thin build? Vatas generally have long, narrow or small features and their slight structure and quick metabolisms make it easy to maintain their weight. Because of Vata’s quick and lively nature, you may be drawn to fast-paced activities that require quick, short bursts of speed and agility like racquet ball. However, due to Vata’s lower endurance, it’s important to pace yourself to avoid exhaustion or injury. The Vata mind is always moving, so your natural desire for change will prompt you to start an exercise program, but your dislike for routine can prevent you from staying with it. To balance your Vata nature, choose physical activities that include slow, rhythmic movements that are grounding and centering.

Vata Balancing Activities
Hatha Yoga – Classical Style
Tai Chi or Chi Gong
Swimming
Walking
Pilates
Golf
Archery
Bowling
Ballet
Gardening

Pitta Dosha
Individuals who are primarily fire and water dominant are Pitta. A Pitta person is usually of medium height and bone structure, with well developed muscles, symmetrical build and balanced medium size features. Your efficient metabolism allows you to gain or lose weight with reasonable effort. Your intense, fiery nature drives you to individual competition requiring endurance, strength and speed like a triathlon, but your competitive and demanding character needs to be tempered to keep you from overheating — so it is important that you enjoy yourself when it comes to the physical activities you choose. To balance your Pitta temperament select exercises that keep you cool and composed.

Pitta Balancing Activities
Hatha Yoga – Avoid Hot Yoga
Surfing
Skiing (water or snow)
Kayaking
Mountain Biking or Hiking
Swimming
Rowing
Walking or Jogging (early morning or cool shady areas or indoors)
Tennis (cool times of day)
Karate
Gymnastics

Kapha Dosha
Dominate Kaphas (primarily earth and water elements), are most likely to be taller or shorter than average with large bones, a solid build and broad or full features. Kapha’s stable structure and slow metabolism makes it easy to gain weight and difficult to lose excess weight. Your easy-going nature may lead you to a sedentary lifestyle, but it’s your steady energy, high endurance and ability to remain calm under pressure that give you the capacity to participate in strenuous activities that require staying power like Soccer. You may need to be motivated to begin a fitness regimen, but once you start, your love for routine will keep you going. Your relaxed manner makes you want to take it easy, but to balance your slow constitution, you need exercise that is stimulating and vigorous.

Kapha Balancing Activities
Hatha Yoga – Hot Yoga or Power Yoga
Aerobics
Bicycling
Football
Racquetball
Volleyball
Rock climbing
Walking or Jogging (long distance)
Rollerblading
Weight Training
Dancing

When planning an Ayurvedic fitness program, consider the current Doshic influences in your life, including; your life cycle (age), the season of the year and even the time of day. Honoring these natural rhythms will guide you on your path to personal balance and physical fitness.

Disclaimer: This article was written for educational purposes only and is based on the tradition of Ayurveda. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, prescribe or heal any health condition or to replace standard medical treatment or advice.

Vyayama – Ayurvedic Approach to Exercise

December 7, 2011 By yogabound Leave a Comment

Vyayama – An Ayurvedic Approach to Exercise
By Denise O’Dunn

Vyayama, or physical exercise, is an essential component of Ayurveda’s system of preventative health care, rejuvenation and longevity. The ancient Ayurvedic texts describe Vyayama as the movements and body postures designed to stabilize and strengthen your body. Ayurveda suggests that a daily routine of proper physical activity, affects not only your body, but has a positive influence on your mind, emotions, senses and spirit. The benefits of Vyayama are achieved as you focus on your chosen activity in awareness of your breathing, physical responses, and sense of well-being. When you exercise according to Ayurvedic tradition, your energy and vitality are enhanced by the appropriate demands placed on your body and you are left with a feeling of joy.

AYURVEDIC GUIDELINES FOR FITNESS

Exercise
Classically, Vyayama includes Gardening, Running, Walking, Swimming and Yoga in regularity.

Time of Day
Morning (Sunrise to 10 a.m.) is the ideal time to exercise as your body naturally has more strength, stamina, and coordination. Early morning exercise prepares you for your day with a clear mind, increased circulation and added strength to your digestive fire.

The Middle of the day is no time for exercising, the middle of the day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) is time for eating as your ability to digest food is increasing and your body’s capacity for physical activity is in decline. Avoid exercising in the middle of the day. This is the time to eat your main meal of the day.

Strenuous exercise in the evening is out too. In the evening it is best to participate in gentle activities that promote restful sleep.

Environment
While it is recommended that you include outside activities in your regular workout to insure there is sufficient air flow, it is best to also consider the temperature and condition of the air. Air that is sweet, moving, and not too hot nor too cold is important, fresh air and exposure to nature are balancing.

Breathing
Take slow, deep abdominal breaths through your nose to calm your mind and enhance your endurance during exercise. Remain fully engaged in your activity by allowing your breath to be your focus. Inhalations prepare you for exertion by providing oxygen and exhalations assist exertion by relaxing you and carrying away wastes.

Frequency
Daily moderate exercise produces predictable and positive results. Irregular, intense exertion will place unnecessary demands on the systems of your body and create a stress response.

Intensity
The essence of Ayurvedic exercise is to exert yourself to half of your maximum strength or capacity. This Ayurvedic principle is called balaardh. Balaardh helps to maintain a consistent energy through your workout. To maintain fifty percent of your capacity, never exert yourself to the point that you have to breath through your mouth.

Nose breathing is superior to mouth breathing because your lungs fill more completely with air and you’re your lungs are protected from harmful particulates by the cilia in your nose. When you exert yourself to the point that you have to breathe through your mouth, you lose good physical form. Balaardh allows your capacity for exercise to increase gradually without creating stress, strain or imbalance.

One of the most basic principles of Ayurveda is that we have our own unique body-mind constitution with distinctive traits and tendencies. This means that in our diversity we have different needs for our personal balance, including the way that we exercise. The important thing is that physical exercise should enhance you, adding to your relaxed, balanced and blissful state.

Understanding Ayurveda

December 7, 2011 By yogabound Leave a Comment

Understanding Ayurveda
by Denise O’Dunn

Ayurveda is the study of natural law. The word Ayurveda means the Science of Life; therefore, the essence of Ayurveda has always existed. Ancient Vedic texts tell us that the Rishis, or Holy Ones of India, acquired the knowledge of Ayurveda through meditation and the keen observation of nature. The Rishis, through their inquiry, obtained the understanding of life and how to end physical and emotional suffering. For generations the knowledge that the Rishis attained was passed along through an oral tradition. Since Ayurveda predates the written word, its exact beginnings are difficult to calculate, but we know the Vedic texts, the documents where Ayurveda is recorded, date beyond five thousand years.

Ayurveda is the World’s oldest medicine. Ayurveda is the foundation of all healing practices on earth and is the basis for modern allopathic medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ayurveda thrived in India for thousands of years despite invasion and occupation by Muslim, Turkish and Mongol rulers. The practice of Ayurveda was driven out of the major cities by the English as they established colonial rule over India (1765 – 1947). Ayurvedic schools were closed and the medical practice of Ayurveda was displaced by Western (Allopathic) medicine, but Ayurveda continued to be practiced and taught in villages and homes. When India reclaimed independence from British rule in the mid-20th Century, the education and medical practice of Ayurveda began to flourish once more. Since Indian independence, the significance of Ayurveda as a path to health, longevity and well being, has been recognized by the government of India and is practiced side by side with modern allopathic medicine. Ayurveda is becoming better known in the USA as it is being practiced by the millions of those who have discovered it through their practice of hatha yoga.

Ayurveda is an ancient system of preventative health care, rejuvenation and longevity. Ayurveda as a way of life creates harmony by teaching us to honor our individual nature, while we consciously follow the rhythms and cycles of the natural world.

Ayurveda is based on elemental principles that pertain to life on earth. Ayurvedic philosophy establishes the five great elements of ether, air, fire, water and earth as the building blocks of the natural world. These five elements pair-up in three combinations to form the primary forces of nature called doshas.

According to Ayurveda, we were born with a unique combination of the doshas that result in our prakriti, or constitutional nature. Our prakriti is fixed throughout our lifetime, but can go out of balance, as it is influenced by the time of day, the season, our diet, environmental conditions, and our place in the cycle of our life. Our current doshic state is called our vikriti. Vikriti may be in balance with our prakriti, which is our original nature, or can refer to a state that is out of balance to our original nature.

Ayurveda teaches that in a state of doshic harmony we experience true health and happiness. According to Ayurveda, disease is a state of doshic imbalance. Ayurveda gives us the necessary guidance to live in harmony with our true nature, as we experience all of the doshic influences we encounter in life. Ayurveda gifts us with the knowledge of using foods, herbs, oils, gems, metals, colors, hatha yoga and meditation, to maintain our doshic balance. Ayurvedic writing instructs us about cleansing and rejuvenation routines and treatments to assist our doshic balance. As Ayurveda encourages us to acknowledge our original and unique nature, it empowers us to walk our individual and perfect path to balance and bliss.

Beat the Summer Heat with Ayurveda

December 7, 2011 By yogabound Leave a Comment

Beat the Heat of Summer with Ayurveda
By Denise O’Dunn

Relentless heat, major tropical storms, an overbearing sun piercing your eyes, never enough shade… If this is all you can see about summer, you are most likely of a Pitta dosha and you need to be careful in summertime; read on.

Ayurveda is an ancient system of preventative health care, rejuvenation and longevity. Ayurveda is a way of life that creates harmony by teaching you to honor your individual nature, while consciously following the rhythms and cycles of the natural world.

Ayurveda is the Science of Life or the study of natural law; the essence of Ayurveda has always existed. Ancient Vedic texts tell us that the Rishis, or holy men of India, acquired the knowledge of Ayurveda through the observation of nature and meditation. Ayurveda predates the written word so its exact beginnings are difficult to calculate, but we know the Vedic texts date beyond five thousand years.

Ayurveda is based on elemental principles that pertain to life on earth. Two fundamental principals of Ayurveda are: like increases like, and opposite actions balance one another. Every living thing is affected by these simple, yet essential, laws of nature.

Ayurvedic philosophy establishes the Five Great Elements of ether, air, fire, water and earth as the building blocks of the natural world. These five elements pair-up in three combinations to form the primary forces of nature called doshas. Doshas regulate all natural processes of your body, mind and emotions, as well as, all aspects of your life. Air and ether form the Vata dosha. Fire and water make up the Pitta dosha. Water and earth create the Kapha dosha.

According to Ayurveda, you were born with a unique combination of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, that resulted in your Prakriti, or constitutional nature. Your Prakriti is fixed throughout your lifetime, but can go out of balance, as it is influenced by the time of day, the season, your diet, environmental conditions, and your place in the cycle of life. Dosha means that which changes. The forces of Vata, Pitta and Kapha are constantly moving to maintain a natural state of balance. Your current doshic state is called your Vikriti.

With your awareness of your Prakriti or personal nature, and the impact the environment has on your life; the practice of Ayurveda provides you with the tools necessary for living in harmony despite the forces of emotional stress, business and family pressures, or the heat of summer.

Summer is Pitta. Pitta elements are Fire and Water and we are embarked on a long, hot and humid Pitta season. In the Florida summer you are especially prone to accumulating excess pitta. If your dosha is predominantly Pitta, you are at an even higher risk of becoming out of balance because Like increases Like = Hot increases Heat. Tempers rise with the humidity and temperature. Even if you have less Pitta in your Prakriti, you may find that you need to take steps to pacify Pitta to stay balanced and healthy.

Transformation is the main function of the Pitta dosha. Pitta is the heat that drives your digestive system, metabolism, and glandular functions. The stomach, liver, skin, heart and eyes are primary locations of Pitta in your body. Pitta is also responsible for sensory perception, discrimination and precision thinking. By its fiery nature, Pitta is intense, purposeful and passionate. Out of balance the above attributes of Pitta will be weakened or over active.

Though Pitta is aggravated in summer, elevated Pitta can occur at any time, look for these signs of aggravated Pitta: Skin irritations, any burning sensations, aggression, acid indigestion, anger, excessive sweating, hypertension, diarrhea, irritability, fever, blurred vision, inflammation, and impatience.

To ease Pitta one seeks to calm and cool the burning effects of the Pitta season. Follow these guidelines:

• Meditate

• Practice Yoga that is calming and soothing

• Perform physical activities in the coolest part of the day

• Rest or swim during the high heat of the day

• Walk in the moonlight

• Insure that you take a vacation, preferably in a cooler climate with a relaxed schedule

• Drink plenty of liquids

• Consume your heaviest meal between 10 am and 2 pm (Pitta time)

• Eat cooling foods, favoring those that are;

o Sweet: Melon, Cucumber, Pineapple, Coconut, Wheat

o Bitter: Dandelion greens, Kale, Turmeric, Pumpkin Seed, Maple Syrup

o Astringent: Pomegranate, Blueberry, Spinach, Sunflower Seed, Chickpea

• Use cooling herbs and essential oils, such as; Mint, Cilantro, Fennel, Rose and Sandalwood

• Wear light, breathable clothing in shades between blue and cool green or white

• Sleep on your right side, this facilitates cooling left nostril breathing

• Allow for leisure time

• Schedule time for pleasurable things

• Practice moderation in all matters

• Avoid heated confrontations, deadline pressures, artificial stimulants and alcohol, hot, spicy and salty foods, and the mid-day sun

I hope that you find these summer time tips helpful in reducing the effects of excess Pitta. Please keep in mind that if you have a dominate Vata or Kapha Prakriti, you already have some protection from the heat of Pitta. The best way to determine your original nature and your current doshic state is to have an Ayurvedic consultation with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.

Spring Pollen – Ayurveda’s Seasonal Wisdom

December 7, 2011 By yogabound Leave a Comment

Ayurveda’s Seasonal Wisdom in Florida – Has Spring Sprung?
By Denise O’Dunn

“Spring has sprung” is a fun alliteration, but the season didn’t really “spring” up on us. That would imply a clearly defined state of exiting one season and being firmly established in the next. Here in Florida we experience a more subtle transition from summer’s lush coverage to the trees losing leaves and then blooming. It is not as defined as the northern cycle of autumn to winter to spring. It’s not only subtle, it is inconsistent and seems to have a back-and-forth seasonal effect. We live in a place where the weather fluctuates in such a way that it seems to be a different season each day. This is apparent by looking at the condition of our trees as they are still losing leaves while they are blooming, spreading clouds of pollen and sprouting new leaves.

Ayurveda, the science of life, encourages us to be present and notice the subtle shifts that transpire in nature. When we are aware of these on-going changes, it is less likely that we will be caught off guard and thrown out of balance. The best way to apply the “seasonal” wisdom of Ayurveda in Florida is to look at today’s weather — and tomorrow’s forecast. Is it cool to cold and dry? That’s Vata, the Dosha or dynamic force of ether and air. When the day will be warm to hot and humid, that’s Pitta, the Dosha of fire and water. If the weather calls for cool and wet, that’s Kapha, the Dosha of water and earth. We can make appropriate decisions to maintain our personal balance when we are aware of the current Doshic influences, called Vikriti. So the Vikriti of the day includes the influences of the weather.

Everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere it is spring and so everywhere north of the Tropic of Cancer it is pollen season! The air is alive with the purposeful explosion of pollen from the variety of trees, plants, grasses and flowers that are blooming. According to Doshic principles, pollen is primarily Pitta. Pollen carries Pitta’s aggressive nature and irritating potential. The concentrations of pollen can be so high that even with no known allergies; everyone can be affected by pollen according to their Doshic nature or Prakriti. If we are a dominate Vata type our response to pollen may be sneezing, itchy eyes, wheezing or interrupted sleep. If Pitta is our dominate Dosha, Pitta will increase causing watery eyes, nasal discharge, inflamed or infected sinuses, and may be associated with fever or headaches. With Kapha dominance, pollen will influence our congestive nature with sinus congestion, swollen mucous membranes, deeper chest congestion or sluggish energy.

Whether our response to pollen manifests as Vata, Pitta or Kapha symptoms — or a combination of each, a common thread between them is the excess mucous (Kapha) created by the body to help soothe the irritated linings of our nasal passages, sinuses, throat, lungs and even your stomach. Ayurveda works on a basic principle that opposite actions contribute to greater balance. To decrease the effects of Pitta pollen and to balance the system we use cleansing, cooling and calming measures. The same traditional Ayurvedic cleansing ritual found in the daily routines of Dincharya, but with a special emphasis on the particulars of the season (Ritucharya)

This Pollen season is “Tri-Doshic” — all three Doshas are displaying their dominate natures. Below are 16 classical Ayurvedic recommendations designed to:

• Cleanse, soothe and rejuvenate the nasal passages and sinuses

• Clear the nadis or channels where prana (vital energy) flows

• Enhance circulation of blood and lymph

• Assist balanced agni or digestive fire

• Support the immune system

• Calm the mind and soothe the senses

• Balance the current Doshic influences

Keep in mind that, an essential concept in Ayurveda is that your Prakriti or birth-given Doshic type must be considered when incorporating Ayurvedic practices into your day.

Neti – Is the act of rinsing your nasal passages and sinuses with a saline solution of warm purified water and sea salt, equal to the normal saline of tears. With the use of a specially designed neti pot, the solution is poured into one nostril and drains out through the other. It is not recommended to use the neti pot if a sinus infection is suspected. Another form of neti is the simple act of swabbing your nostrils with a cotton tip dipped in rose hydrosol or rosewater. The gently cleansing and soothing application of rosewater to your nasal passages can be part of Dincharya, your daily cleansing routine.

Nasya – Is the use of herbal oil to assist with clearing and lubricating your nasal passages, opening your sinuses, enhancing sensory organs and enabling the balanced flow of prana. Nasya oil can be applied with a dropper, 3 – 5 drops of Nasya oil in each nostril. It is not recommended to use Nasya oil drops directly after using the neti pot, as the oil will drain into your sinuses. Nasya oil can also be applied with a cotton swab just inside each nostril. This application can be used daily and immediately follow the use of the neti pot or swabbing the nostrils with rosewater.

Pranayama – Is the regulation of your breath. Your breath carries prana, your life force energy. Deep, purposeful and efficient breathing supports the purification of your blood as it is processed by your lungs. The inhalation is revitalizing; the exhalation is restoring. Nadi Sodhana (purification of the energy pathways) is an alternate nostril breathing technique used to clear the channels for prana to flow. It also helps to keep the tissue of your nasal passages resilient. To perform this calming and grounding technique: use your thumb and ring finger on the hand that you write with, close your right nostril to breathe in and out through your left nostril…slow your breath down…repeat this, breathing through your right nostril…alternately breathe through one nostril and the other in a slow and controlled manner for at least 12 rounds. If your nasal passages are clogged, keep the closed nostril partially open. To warm and ground Vata, breathe only through your right nostril — to cool and calm Pitta, breathe only through your left nostril.

Bija Mantras – Are “seed” sounds repeated to affect the chakras or energy centers of your subtle body. The vibration that is created by verbalizing these mantras has a balancing effect on the associated areas of the body. For the 5th Chakra (Vishuddha or Throat) place your hands on your throat, visualize the color blue and make a repetitive sound of “HAM” (pronounced like “lawn”) out loud to the length of each exhalation 9 to 108 times. For the 6th Chakra (Ajna or Brow) place your hands between your eye brows, visualize the color indigo and repeat a continuous sound of “AUM or OM” (pronounced like “home”) out loud the length of each exhalation 9 to 108 times.

Relaxation & Meditation – Are practices of becoming still and letting go of all that doesn’t serve you in the moment. Relaxation and meditation effectively rest the systems of your body, while purifying and rejuvenating your mind. The simple act of following the natural rhythm of your breath is a form of relaxation. The meditative practice of silently repeating the sound “So” as you inhale and “Hum” as you exhale, while being aware of the silent gap between each phase of your breath, is a powerful method of witnessing the still point of your mind.

Asana Practice – Yoga postures enhance systems of your body by stimulating the flow of blood and lymph. The circulation of lymph is passive and can only be achieved through moving your body, the lymph system is a crucial part of your immune response so movement then becomes essential in your wellness.

By systematically holding and moving through yoga postures you increase the flow of energy throughout your body and this redirects ama or toxins from tissues of your body to the proper organs for elimination. Be sure to include postures that are invigorating, but not over stimulating, and postures that encourage the upward movement of energy while, at the same time, keep you grounded. Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskara) will bring you to this balance when practiced mindfully. Back arches like Bridge pose (Setu Bandhasana) are helpful in removing excess Kapha or mucous from your lungs and stimulating your thyroid gland. Include forward folds and spinal rotations, as they massage and assist the function of your internal organs. Practice standing postures, such as Warrior I and II (Virabhadrasana I and II) to open your chest with extended arms. Follow your natural breath through your asana practice; breathing-in all that you need to sustain you and breathing-out that which you no longer need.

General Exercise – Any form of moderate physical activity that you practice on a regular basis will greatly enhance the proper function of your bodily systems. Choose exercise that you enjoy and you will positively affect your body/mind response; this will support your immune system and reduce the effects of stress. Walking is an excellent exercise for all body types. Walking in the early morning is especially beneficial — as you witness nature awakening, you feel your body and spirit come alive.

Dry Brushing – Stimulation, through dry-brush massage, is an effective way to encourage your body’s internal cleansing activity, while reducing stress on the other organs of elimination. An important benefit of skin brushing is that it “exercises” your lymphatic system, which is a vital part of eliminating toxins and waste. Use a long-handled, natural bristle brush to reach all areas of your body. Apply moderate pressure when you use the dry brush on dry skin.

Abhyanga – Is an Ayurvedic oil massage, the term can also refer to a daily self-massage technique. The word Abhyanga suggests the movement of prana (subtle energy) into your body and the movement of ama (toxins) towards the organs for elimination. The main function of Abhyanga is to enhance the flow of prana by anointing your body with Dosha specific oils. Through the action of Abhyanga, impurities are released from your skin and toxins are detached from your deeper tissues to be removed by your body’s elimination system.

Herbal Preparations – Chyavanprash is a rasayana (rejuvenative) in the form of an herbal jam. Made in a base of amalaki fruit, this traditional Ayurvedic formula contains a synergy of over 40 herbs. Amalaki or amla is a very rich source of vitamin C, making it a potent antioxidant and excellent rejuvenative. It nourishes and strengthens the immune system by supplying energy to all the cells of your body. This vitalizing formula is slightly warming, supporting healthy digestion and elimination, while stimulating metabolism. It serves to gently balance your nervous system and respiratory system. One teaspoon of Chyavanprash jam taken twice daily is recommended. Herbal tea blends containing cleansing, cooling and calming herbs, as well as those that support immunity, will help to balance systems of your body affected by pollen. Herbs such as, red clover, burdock root, marshmallow, (not the candy) coriander, cumin, fennel, hibiscus, tulsi, bayberry, mullein and rosehips can be used in combination with herbs that are balancing to your Doshic nature.

Aromatherapy – Is the use of essential oils to create balance through their aroma and their application to your skin. Some of the essential oils most beneficial during pollen season are eucalyptus, camphor, wintergreen, lemongrass, ginger and basil. A synergistic blend of these oils can be inhaled from the bottle or a few drops placed in a basin of steaming water, then inhaled with a towel over your head. Be careful not to get undiluted essential oils on your skin or in your eyes, it can be irritating.

Digestion & Food – Enhancing your digestion is an important way to help all of the systems of your body function optimally. Choose Dosha balancing, natural foods that are light, fresh and seasonally available, such as leafy greens, cabbage, kale, green beans and asparagus. Enjoy fresh berries or cooked fruit, like apples and pears with a pinch of cinnamon. Eat legumes and grains that have a drying quality like black beans, chickpeas, aduki beans, basmati rice, barley and millet. The proper use of spices such as turmeric, cumin, fennel, coriander, mint and fresh ginger will promote good digestion and detoxification. Start your day by drinking a cup of warm water with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a spoonful of aloe vera juice; sweeten it if needed with Agave nectar. Take small sips of warm water or Doshic tea during your meals, avoid iced beverages.

Elimination – Our bodies are brilliantly designed to eliminate wastes and toxins, but if you are experiencing irregular bowel movements, constipation or diarrhea, there are naturally gentle and effective ways to assist regularity. Triphala is a classic Ayurvedic blend formulated to support proper function of the digestive, eliminative, circulatory and respiratory systems, by cleansing and nourishing their associated organs. This traditional formula contains the dried fruits of amalaki, bibhitaki and haritaki. It helps to balance the Doshas. The blend contains five of the six tastes (Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Astringent and Pungent). Triphala can be taken regularly, by all body types, as a tea or 1-2 tablets before bedtime.

Ayurvedic Treatments – Over time Doshic imbalance can result in the accumulation of Ama or toxins deep in bodily tissues. The Sodhana or cleansing principle behind traditional Ayurvedic treatments is to soften, release, and mobilize ama through the use of oil, massage and heat. This redirected ama can then find its way back into the blood stream and out through proper channels of elimination. For Pollen Season I recommend Nasyakarma, a treatment which begins with a shoulder, neck, and facial massage to relax tension and facilitate the nasal administration of warm herbal oil. This unique therapy aids in clearing and lubricating your nasal passages, opening the sinuses, enhancing your sensory organs and enabling the balanced flow of prana. Balancing cleansing methods with Rasayana or rejuvenating practices, Shirodhara is the perfect complement to Nasyakarma. In a Shirodhara treatment warm Dosha specific oil is streamed over your forehead, balancing the effects of excess Vata and calming the conditions of increased Pitta.

Panchakarma – Is the traditional Ayurvedic cleansing, rejuvenating and balancing program for your body, mind and spirit. According to the Vedic texts, the formula for optimal wellbeing is good digestion, efficient elimination, harmony between your mind, senses and consciousness, and a natural balance of the elemental energies of your being called the Doshas. Ayurveda explains that your natural state of balance and wellbeing can be challenged by rhythms that occur in nature, like seasonal changes. For this reason, Ayurveda recommends that you receive Panchakarma during the transition between seasons, so that you can be clear of the prior season’s excesses before the start of the next season. Everyone, especially those who suffer from seasonal allergies, can benefit from this wisdom. As the seasons seem to change day to day here in Florida, anytime is a good time for Panchakarma.

With awareness and the ways of Ayurveda you can experience balance & bliss in this blossoming time of year!

Ayurveda – An Ancient Cure For Modern Life

Discover Ayurveda

Creating Paradise Within – Better Health Through Ayurvedic Rejuvenation

Ayurveda – The Science of Life

Ayurvedic Vegan Diet – Good for Health

Ayurvedic Physical Activity

Vyayama – Ayurvedic Approach to Exercise

Understanding Ayurveda

Beat the Summer Heat with Ayurveda

Spring Pollen – Ayurveda’s Seasonal Wisdom

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