“Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.”
Day 1 - Ayurvedic Journey
Do Something of service
without strings attached.
In Ayurveda, the concept of service extends to the way we care about our planet. Whatever you do, find a way to do it with a heart of service. Find a sattvic (harmonious) way to even water your plants today.
Do you want to be healthier?
Sure, we all want to be and stay healthier. Yet, we struggle with our mind (thought patterns, depression and stress), our bodies (undesirable weight, rashes and poor digestion) and our breath (congestion and shortness of breath).
We pursue health in any way we know how. We may follow certain diets, eat fresh farm produce and buy all the right herbs. We may eat what we have always eaten (what is known and convenient) for a sense of stability. We may eat what is more affordable, convenient and/or available quickly. Regardless of our path, we are still not feeling our best.
The good news is that we get to make the decision of how we are going to spend our time while we are here on this planet. It is within our control and yet many of us live with frustration, regret and a longing for purpose.
It is no surprise that the top 5 things that people regret when they come to the end of their life journey and look back are;
I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
I wish that I had let myself be happier.
Can you relate to any of the above statements? I certainly can and that is why I am committed to a shift in focus towards a life of optimal health and peace.
Ayurveda is considered divine medicine - an ancient system that takes into account our body, mind and soul. This system teaches that all illnesses affect both the body and the mind; never just one or the other. It invites us to explore a path of wholeness.
Here in our Western culture, we see illness as something to suppress, conquer and/or eradicate. We don’t spend the time to ascertain what the root of the problem may be. So if we have a headache, for example, we may take ibuprofen, when we may have just needed water or sleep or a slight shift in our diet. We often choose the ‘quick fix’ or ‘avoidance.’
We all want to be healthier, and each of us have a unique constitution and, therefore, a unique path towards health and wholeness. Ayurveda focuses on preserving well-being, and on improving our spiritual, intellectual, and physical ability to heal ourselves.
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well - 3 John 1:2
Let’s get well.
Let’s get liberated!
WHAT IS AYURVEDA?
1. Ayurveda is part of the ancient Vedic literature, about health and wellness, and the prevention and cure of disease. The purpose is to enjoy good health and prosperity. Ayurveda, “Life Knowledge” or “The Science of Longevity”, provides the method for living a balanced life and for the prevention and treatment of disease and pain. It teaches right living and right lifestyle.
2. Individual experiences in the realms of cure and hygiene were collected and codified and thus formed the basis of the Ayurveda. The Ayurveda science was passed down from master to disciple for thousands of years in an oral tradition. Ayurveda is now defined by the three major textbooks, Astanga Hrdyam, Caraka Samhita, and Susruta Samhita. These texts were poetry meant to be sung and memorized for oral transmission. During the British occupation of India, Ayurveda was actively discouraged. Vaidyas, the Ayurvedic masters, were persecuted and libraries and schools were burned to the ground and much of this wisdom tradition was destroyed. Ayurveda is now in a semi-dormant state, a hibernation, waiting for earnest students.
3. There is a continuous circulation of energy around us, within and without the body/universe. Ayurveda uses astrology, astronomy, and philosophy. The essence is man’s harmony with nature and the individual’s oneness with the universe. “As is the human body, so is the cosmos.”
4. Dharma is the soul of Ayurveda and the other Vedic sciences. Diagnosing and treating diseases is a secondary purpose. Ayurveda is part of the Yogic System of Medicine that recognizes the full human, not just the physical, but also prana, senses, mind, subtle body, and Jivatman and Paramatman. The spiritual aspect of life is a vital issue in the ultimate analysis of health and disease.
5. OM. The ancient Aryans claim to have derived their knowledge, including Ayurveda, from the gods through direct revelation. There is truly only one healing force in the universe and that is Nature herself. Only the inherent and universal forces of Nature can affect healing. You will discover all the forces of Nature working within you, and that you yourself are a replica of the cosmos, with your inner consciousness one with God. This transformation into Divine Bliss and restoring one’s integrity of being is described in the Yoga Sutras (I.3), “the Seer returns to his own nature.” We can transcend all physical and mental difficulties; beyond the mind-body complex we recognize our true Self and immortal nature. OM.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM AYURVEDA?
1. Individuals: The treatment of a disease varies according to person, symptoms, and environmental conditions. Ayurveda provides energetic guidelines for treatment, applied with flexibility on an individual basis.
2. Communities: Ayurvedic texts and commentary describe its application to the community level. Commentary in the Astanga Hrdyam (3.32b) says, “The community should make sure there are gardens, trees, and flowers in residential localities and work environments. Work schedules should include midday breaks to sit in gardens and engage in discussions. Discussions prevent sleeping in the day which aggravates kapha.”
3. Nations: Chapter 3 of the Charaka Samhita is a chapter about community and national epidemics. (source). It describes how the pollution of air, water, land, and time necessitate proper treatments and medicine. It says that the reason for widespread pollution “leading to the destruction of countries”, are sins, misdeeds, intellectual blasphemy. It says that the rulers of states have not followed the righteous path and take up to sins…. “Because of the disappearance of Dharma… there is impairment of the country because of the impairment of food and drinks” Similarly, because of increased greed, anger, and ego, some people start fighting among themselves and start wars. The texts describes the therapy for treatment: truthfulness, compassion, charity, prayer and devotion to the gods, good deeds, tranquility, mantra, and discussion on religious scriptures.
4. The World: The purpose of our incarnation on Earth is to help develop higher consciousness that lifts us individually and also raises the rest of the world and humanity…
5. The Cosmos: “All problems arise from lack of true awareness – a failure to understand our place in the universe. The universe rests within us. The entire universe is part of our own greater being. All humans are part of our own Self. All creatures are different forms of who we are. They are like different leaves and branches of a tree of consciousness. True awareness is the recognition of unity through which we transcend personal limitations and understand the Self as All. This is the ultimate goal of Ayurveda. This releases us from all sorrow and suffering.” described by Dr. Frawley in Ayurveda and the Mind. The evolution of the individual is the evolution of the cosmos: it’s a cosmogenesis. OM.
PRANYAMA | belly breath
Pranayama is a Sanskrit word to describe yoga breathing exercises that have the ability to quickly increase our energy, release stress, improve our mental clarity, and improve our physical health.
Prana upholds the immunity of both body and mind. This power of prana is not simply the breath, with which it is related, but the deeper vital energy that sustains our entire embodied existence.
Prana is the key to health, wellbeing and the development of higher awareness on all levels. Today particularly in this pandemic era in which we must wear masks to protect our health, we should also practice more Pranayama at home or in nature to improve our circulation and keep our outer and inner Prana flowing.
“ A sage tells his son: “Just as a bird tied by a string flies off in all directions and, on not reaching any other place to stay, returns to where it is tied, in the very same way, dear boy, the mind flies off in all directions and, on not reaching any other place to stay, returns to the breath. For the mind, dear boy, is tied to the breath.””
Most important for our wellbeing and enlightenment is to have a unified and balanced prana. Ordinarily our prana is divided into dualistic currents of attraction and repulsion through the senses and emotions, much as the mind, which reflects our prana, is divided into dualistic emotional currents and competing thoughts. For health of body or peace of mind, it is necessary to develop a unified and balance
We often use the phrase ‘breathwork’ to describe breathing techniques. Today, science supports the claim that pranayama positively affects the brain waves to relax the body.
BELLY BREATH | DO THIS FOR FOUR DAYS
1. Start sitting comfortably, either cross-legged, kneeling, or even sitting on the couch. You an even laydown on a mat or your bed. Place your hands on your belly. Note: You may feel some reaction to this and a story about your belly may start to evolve. Let that go and focus on your breath only.
2. As you inhale, relax and breathe into your belly. Feel your belly get warmer, bigger, and wider, expanding into your low belly, pelvic floor, hips, and lower back.
3. Exhale, and feel your navel sink back towards your spine.
4. You can add arm movements to help visualize the coordination between your body and breath; growing and shrinking.
Example: Start holding hands together, one stacked on top of the other and palms facing up, in front of your navel. During the inhale, bring arms out and down as if holding a large exercise ball in front of you. During the exhale, bring them back in towards your navel, one hand in a fist and the other cupping it from the bottom.