According to Ayurveda, much overeating is actually caused by emotional factors.  When we overwork, or are stressed, prana vata stimulates the gastric fire in our stomach.  We then interpreted this feeling as hunger, and so we eat, although we may not necessarily need food at that particular time.  This leads to overeating, and weight gain.  When we feel “emotionally hungry” here are a few things we can do to overcome this problem.

-Deep Breathing exercises, or “Pranayama”
-Yoga: particularly Moon Salutation, and Camel pose.
-Take a walk.  Fresh air helps to reduce cravings.
-Herb tea: If it is emotional hunger, the warm tea will make you feel full.  If you are still hungry after the tea, then you need some food.

You may have noticed that I have changed my name a little bit.  My given name is Lisa Marie.  Marie is my middle name, after my grandmothers.  My married name is Coffey.  Legally I will still be Lisa Marie Coffey, but personally and professionally I am now going by Lissa Coffey.  Lissa still pronounced like Lisa, just spelled with two s’s instead of one.  Why, you ask?  I recently consulted with a Vedic Numerologist who did the numbers in my birthday and my name.  He came up with this slight change to bring more harmony to my numbers, and in turn more harmony to my life.  Since I have devoted myself to the study of Ayurveda, and am practicing it in every other way, I might as well try this, too!

Vedic numerology is a little bit different than western numerology.  There are different values for some of the letters, so the totals add up in the name differently.  If you’re interested in learning more, there is a wonderful book that explains all about it: “Numerology with Tantra, Ayurveda, and Astrology: A Key to Human Behavior, by Harish Johari.  I will  write more about Vedic numerology in upcoming issues.

amazon link to Numerology by Harish Johari

Vata is made up of air and space.  Vatas tend to have dreams where they are falling, or flying through the air.

Pitta is made up of fire and water.  Pittas spend a lot of energy thinking, and they dream of problem solving, and test-taking.

Kapha is made up of water and earth.  They often have dreams involving water, and romantic scenarios.

Vatas are creative.  They like to mix things up.  They are spontaneous.  Their dominant senses are touch and sound, so they love to give and get massages, and listening to exotic music gets them going.  Vatas like to have fun, and will always surprise you!  When romancing a Vata, it’s important to keep the room warm, as Vatas get cold easily.

Pittas are more practical.  They are very organized and planned-out in their romantic approach.  They don’t like to spend money generally, but they will splurge on luxuries, like a weekend-getaway or a beautiful diamond bracelet.  Their dominant sense is sight – so they like to look at beautiful things, a view, a sunset, or a sexy video, to get in the mood.  When romancing a Pitta, remember to create beautiful lighting, with candles or firelight.  Pittas run hot, so keep the room cool and they’ll be comfortable.  

Kaphas are loving and romantic, sentimental.  They remember things like the anniversary date of their first kiss!  Their dominant senses are taste and smell, so they are drawn to things like a romantic dinner for two, or scented candles, or fragrant flowers.  A wonderful bubble bath, with some bubbly champagne is just the ticket for the sensual Kapha.  Try feeding each other chocolate covered strawberries!

Prana in Sanskrit means “breath.”   We all need to breathe to survive.  Even plants breathe.  Although breathing appears to be a kind of mechanical process, one that we don’t really think about, Ayurveda explains that the process of inhaling and exhaling is full of life itself.  Notice how the breath changes when our emotions come into play.  When we are scared, we tense up and hold our breath.  When we are happy and laughing, we breathe deeply and our breathing is rhythmic.  Pranayama means “to control the breath.”   By doing so, we are helping to settle and control our busy minds. 

November through February is Vata season in the Northern Hemisphere.  Vata season is when the weather is cold and dry.  This weather causes an accumulation of Vata, which can lead to imbalance.  To keep Vata in check, there are a lot of things that we can do. -Eat warm, cooked foods.  For example, choose soup instead of salad. -Stay warm.  Wear warm socks, gloves, and a hat outdoors. -Sip a warm beverage, like herb tea, throughout the day. -Avoid caffeine. -Give yourself a warm, sesame oil massage (abhyanga) before your shower in the morning.

Vata tea on Chopra Center site

Just as love is a dance between two people, life is a dance between us and the universe.  We are all one, so what affects the universe affects each one of us in some way.  And it works both ways!  The Vedic sages have studied this dance and come up with a system for working with cosmic energy to help guide us along the way.

Vedic astrology is called “Jyotish.”   In Sanskrit, jyot means “light, and ish comes from the word ishwara, which means nature.  Jyotish is known as “the study of light.”  The light is the light from the stars and the planets, and also the light of consciousness.  Like Ayurveda, Jyotish gives us tools for learning about other people and ourselves and how we relate.  Used with Ayurveda, Jyotish adds an interesting dimension to the way we look at relationships.

I have recently become friends with one of the most well-regarded Jyotish practitioners in the United States, Howard Beckman.  He has made an offer just for our subscribers.  When you order any reading, a compatibility analysis, or a birth chart, you will receive a f/ree gemstone recommendation!  Greg and I had our gemstone recommendations done and got each other rings for Christmas.  They’re so beautiful and powerful!  Visit Howard’s site and see all that he has going on, it’s amazing!  And if you contact him for a reading, give him the password: “Doshamatch” so that you get your bonus!

One of the most popular icons in India is Ganesh, or Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles.  Ganesh has the body of a man, and the head of an elephant.  It is traditional to honor Ganesh at the beginning of every undertaking and every journey, to make sure that Ganesh is there to remove any obstacles that come up along the way.  Ganesh’s big ears symbolize that he is a good listener, and his big belly indicates that he can digest our troubles.  Ganesh is known to be very wise, and the elephant is a symbol of the human potential for enlightenment.

We are born with our dosha, and our unique balance of the 3 doshas is like our fingerprint.  However, as the seasons change, and as we age, we are more influenced by particular doshas.  From the time we are born, up until about age 20, we are more Kapha-like.  Kaphas are loving, mellow, and care-free.  While we are children, we don’t have as many worries, and we haven’t had as many life experiences, so it is easier for us to be more open, loving, and compassionate.  From about age 20 to age 40, we are more influenced by Pitta.  We are more ambitious by nature, thinking about our career, wanting to make money, buy a home for our family, and working hard to accomplish our goals.  After age 40 we are more strongly influenced by Vata.  Our skin becomes more dry, we are more sensitive to weather, and we might worry more than we did before.

Abhyanga is a self massage which is good for keeping all the doshas in balance.  It helps moisturize the skin, helps to release toxins, and also helps to tone the muscles.  Sesame oil is usually recommended in general and is very good for Vatas.  Almond oil is also good for Vata.  Coconut and sunflower both work well for Pitta.  Corn and olive oils are beneficial for balancing Kapha.   The massage can be done in the morning before your shower, or in the evening before bed.  Start by warming the oil to skin temperature, and drizzle a small amount of oil into the palms of your hands.  Massage the top of your scalp (on days when you wash your hair), pay particular attention to the circumference of your ears, and the soles of your feet.   Massage with long strokes on your limbs, and round strokes on your joints.  It’s best to leave the oil on the body for 20 minutes before washing it off in a warm shower or bath.