In Ayurveda, the foods we eat have a big influence on the amount of energy we have.  We can be mindful in what we purchase, and what we choose to eat, to get the most energy from our foods.  Here are some tips:

-Fresh fruits and vegetables give us lots of energy right away.  It is important for us to both cut and cook the vegetables ourselves for optimum energy.  It may be convenient to buy pre-cut up veggies in the market, but those have already lost some of their prana, the vital energy energy that is in this produce and also in the air that we breathe.

-Avoid frozen, canned, processed or leftover foods.  Foods that have been altered with artificial flavorings or preservatives are more difficult to digest.  These foods can make us feel more fatigued.

-Choose locally grown and organic foods.  Organic means that no chemical fertilizers or pesticides have been used, so the body doesn’t have to work overtime to try to purify itself after eating.

-Variety is the spice of life!  Choose foods with each of the six tastes at each meal: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent.

-Watch food combinations.  Avoid foods that don’t digest well in combination.  For example, milk should only be eaten with sweet tastes, such as rice, wheat, or sugar.  Milk should never be eaten with yogurt, eggs, or fish.

-Avoid caffeine, in soda, coffee or tea.  Caffeine taxes the liver, creating fatigue and a build up of toxins.  Instead choose water, or herb teas.

-Choose restaurants carefully.  When you cook at home, you know that you are using the freshest ingredients, and cooking with mindfulness and love.  In restaurants, be aware of what ingredients are used as well as the cooking methods.

Sattwa Café

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In Ayurveda, focused attention is valued because it helps us in many areas of our lives.  The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali break down for us what it takes to achieve this.  These are qualities that we can embody, ways of being rather than things to do.

-Shraddha: Faith, trust.  We need to trust in the intelligence of the Universe and welcome any experiences that come our way.  It is about accepting and loving what is, rather than what we think should be. 

-Virya: Strength.  This is inner strength, fortitude.  It is the ability to remain undistracted by disturbances, and to be resilient when things go wrong.

-Smrutti: Memory.  When we have certain things learned by memory, whether it is the times tables or our social security number, it gives us more mental energy because we don’t have to bother with trying to remember.  A good memory allows us to think more clearly and effectively.

-Samadhi: Balanced Consciousness.  This is about being fully present in the moment.  It is non-judgment, experiencing things as they unfold without criticism.

-Prajna: Discernment.  This is knowing what is real and what is not real.  It is understanding where we need to put our attention.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

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More than 19 million adults in the United States alone suffer from depression.  Women are affected twice as often as men, especially after childbirth and during menopause.  Some people experience depression during the winter months when there is less light.  Others can feel depressed during stressful times.  Depression manifests in many different ways, including insomnia, social withdrawal, weight fluctuation, and feelings of low self-worth.  Ayurveda says that the heart is the seat of consciousness, and that the main cause of an emotional imbalance like depression is the inability to process emotions.  When we can process emotions quickly, then we can let go of them and move on.  When the process takes too long, then that negative feeling remains and has an effect on our other thoughts and emotions, leaving us feeling depressed.  That’s why even when things are going well in the present, if we didn’t completely heal from past pain, we can still feel depressed.  What can we do about this?  We need to raise our “Sadhaka Agni” – the fire that helps us to process emotions.  Meditation is vital to this because it helps to dissolve stresses from the past and to also become more resilient to current stresses.  Sleep during prime sleep hours is also important – in Ayurveda is it recommended that we get to bed by 10 pm and wake up at 6 am.  Take a walk outside in the morning sun and breathe deeply.  Exercises elevates the mood and the energy of the sun is beneficial for everyone.  Eliminate every morning, as constipation can cause or aggravate depression.  Drink plenty of water and eat meals at the same time each day, with lunch being the largest meal of the day.  Eat fresh, wholesome foods that are balancing for your dosha.  Abhyanga, a daily sesame oil self-massage, helps to calm the mind and soothe the emotions.  And most importantly, surround yourself with loving people.  Choose friends who are positive and supportive and who also follow a healthy lifestyle routine.

Healing Depression the Mind-Body Way: Creating Happiness with Meditation, Yoga, and Ayurveda

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Abhyanga is a self-massage that is part of the daily ayurvedic routine.  I have written about this before, and the many benefits: it helps to tone the muscles, to help the skin release toxins, and it soothes the nervous system.  The oils used in abhyanga can also be used in other massage techniques.  Vata types respond best to a gentler, slow massage.  Pitta types prefer tapping and rolling, with medium pressure.  And Kapha types appreciate the stimulation of a deep tissue massage mixed up with short, firms strokes.  Some massage oils have been specifically created to be dosha-balancing with the additional benefits of herbs and aromatherapy.  Nature’s Formulary has massage oils for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.  The Vata oil includes essential oils of ylang ylang, frankincense, and carrot seed to be especially calming.  The Pitta oil has added the essential oils of camphor, rose otto, and peppermint to be particularly cooling.  And the Kapha oil is wonderfully warming with the essential oils of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cumin.  These oils can also be applied to the feet just before bed for a good night’s sleep.  And the oil may be added to the bath to help soothe dry skin.

An important part of the Ayurvedic lifestyle is the morning walk.  Ayurveda recommends a walk in the morning as one of the best ways to start your day, and as a safe and easy way to get some exercise.  As we breathe in that fresh, morning air, we take in much-needed oxygen.  As we notice the beauty around us, we connect with nature and nourish our creativity.  Regular brisk walking can lower cholesterol levels, stimulate circulation, strengthen the heart, and reduce blood pressure.  Walking is also a great way to charge up your circulation and boost your metabolism.  In addition, a regular morning walk can fend off stress and depression, help to prevent osteoporosis, and helps us to develop strength, stamina and endurance.  Walking doesn’t call on blood sugar for energy, and the brain is nourished by blood sugar, so walking is great exercise for the brain.  In Ayurveda, morning is known as “brahmmahurat” and is considered the most auspicious time of the day.  A little morning sunshine provides us with some Vitamin D.  Be sure to drink plenty of water before and during your walk to stay hydrated.  And pay attention to the signals that your body gives you, don’t overdo it.

Yoga Therapy: A Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Yoga and Ayurveda for Health and Fitness

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I created Dosha Design to help people understand how we can bring the healing power of Ayurveda into our homes in a beautiful and practical way.  It’s about combining Vastu, which is the science of placement and a sister-science to Ayurveda, color theory and your personal style to create an environment in which we can thrive – feeling happy, healthy and living life in balance.  Recently I found a company that makes my job so much easier, and more fun!  AFM Safecoat, the leading provider of safe, non-polluting paints and finishes, has come out with “Ayurveda Essence Colors,” a holistic color system with three beautiful color palettes specifically for each dosha.  There are three sets of 36, one for Vata, one for Pitta, and one for Kapha, making a total of 108 (a very significant number!) colors in all.  AFM Safecoat’s innovative paints are toxin-free, which is very important to those of us living an ayurvedic lifestyle.  And the colors are amazing!  You can coordinate easily within each palette because the combinations all work together.  The Vata color set is made up of warm grounding colors, with names like Leaf, Chakra, and Sun.  The Pitta color set has a soothing effect and names like Spirit, Purpose, and Ajala.  The Kapha color set is vibrant and energizing, with names like Fire, Ananda, and Elevate.

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Neem oil is one of the favorite medicinal oils used in Ayurveda.  Neem is unique in that it is antiviral, antibacterial, and also antimicrobial.  The Neem tree is sometimes called the “toothbrush tree” because neem has many dental applications.  People often pull a twig off the tree and chew the end to form bristles, making a natural toothbrush.  Neem is often added to toothpaste, and it is very healing to the gums.  Neem is also good for the skin and is an ingredient in many creams and salves.  Neem helps to get rid of eczema, psoriasis, rashes, wrinkles, dry skin and dandruff.  And neem oil is great at repelling mosquitoes!  Because neem has a rather unpleasant smell, it is preferable to mix it with other more fragrant oils.

Neem: The Ultimate Herb

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Swasthya is a Sanskrit word that translated means “established in oneself.”  This is joyfulness, contentment, and perfect health.  In our hectic lives it seems that swasthya is elusive.  We look for joy outside of ourselves, in our work, or with our relationships, or even with money.  We think that more is better, and put our focus too much on the goals ahead of us, without noticing all the beauty that is among us right where we are.  Fortunately, we can change our mindsets.  Joy is within us!  One way we can tap into that joy is with meditation.  When we quiet our minds, we releases the stresses that have accumulated, and allow the mind and body to get the rest it needs.  We can further reap the benefits by supplementing our practice with aromatherapy, herbal teas, warm baths, and massage.  It’s all a part of taking care of ourselves, of finding that balance that helps us to function optimally.  We also need to be mindful of what we put into our bodies.  Drink lots of water to cleanse and moisturize the entire system.  And eat fresh, nourishing foods.  Most importantly, don’t postpone happiness.  Do what you love to do.  Be in a place of gratitude.  Spend time with loved ones.

Advaita Vedanta – on amazon

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Raisins are balancing for Vata because they are sweet, and especially balancing for Pitta because they are also cooling.  Because they are heavy to digest, and have a high glycemic index, raisins are best eaten in moderation.  Cinnamon helps to lower the glycemic index, so adding a little cinnamon to raisins is a good idea.  Raisins are found in many Indian dishes.  In Ayurveda, raisins are known to be very healing, and by using raisins in food, we reap the benefits simply by eating!  The medicinal qualities of raisins are many.  Raisins are lubricating to the body, especially the lungs.  And raisins are good for both the brain, and the mind; they can help to uplift and balance emotions.  Raisins with either milk or water are very good for relieving thirst.  To help with bowel function, soak some raisins overnight and eat them and drink the raisin-water in the morning.  Raisins have also been known to support fertility in women.  It is best to store raisins in the refrigerator to prevent fermentation.

Heaven’s Banquet

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Fear and anxiety often come with the territory of the busy, complicated lives we lead.  They have become a part of our culture.  We worry about money, relationships, career, and potential loss.  We long for security and guarantees, but in life there are none.  So no wonder we are anxious!  We are focusing on factors outside of us that are uncertain and unreliable.  According to Ayurveda, it is this outward seeking that is the cause of our anxiety.  We want control, we want to make things go our way, or to bring about the results we want.  Yet even when we get what we want, we are dissatisfied because it doesn’t live up to our expectations.  We always end up wanting more, and there is no end to it.  What can we do?  Surrender.  Look within.  Remember the truth.  Focus on what is really important in life, what really matters.  Approach life without demand or expectation.  This may be easier said than done given the bad habits that we’ve gotten ourselves into!  But having anxiety is a big clue that our lives have gotten out of balance, that we are out of harmony with nature.  Anxiety shows us how we create discomfort for ourselves.  We can use this as a tool to get back on track, back on the path.  Meditation helps us to cut through the illusions of the mind.

Vedantic Meditation: Lighting the Flame of Awareness, by David Frawley

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