Nowadays, it seems like having a harmonious life is easier said than done. We’ve been searching for true happiness, a healthy lifestyle, and overall wellness without realizing that we can achieve it by looking into the power of our mind and body. This is precisely what Ayurveda promotes.

Ayurveda, also known as Ayurvedic Medicine, is defined as the science of life. From the word itself, Ayur means “life,” while Veda means the “science of knowledge.” It originated in India more than 5,000 years ago, and it’s known for being one of the world’s holistic approaches.

Ayurveda approach believes that everyone has our unique constitution or “Prakriti,” which determines the balance between our mind, body, and spirit. It’s body wisdom and a way of life to keep a healthy and vibrant life.

To fully apply Ayurveda in life, one must understand the two guiding principles of this holistic approach. First is the belief that the mind and body are interconnected with one another. Second is the idea that there is nothing more powerful than our mind in terms of healing and transforming our body.

Within Ayurveda, they see a person is made out of five essential elements, including space, air, fire, water, and earth. When combined in the human body, these elements form energy called Dosha.

What is Dosha?

Dosha or the mind-body type is the main foundation of Ayurveda. It expressed a unique blend of our physical, emotional, and mental characteristics. The doshas that control how our body works can be identified into three:

1. Vata Dosha

Elements of space and air, which defines our body movement, including breathing and blood circulation.

2. Pitta Dosha
Elements of fire and water linked to the control of our digestive and endocrine systems.

3. Kapha Dosha
Elements of water and earth, which is believed to be the primary control of our growth and strength.

A balanced dosha means an optimum health condition, but every person has a different mix of three doshas. One energy can be stronger than the others leading our mind and body to lose its balance. The balance of one’s doshas determines how the body will function. The more unbalanced our doshas are, the more we are prone to sickness and to develop health issues.

How Do You Create Balanced Health Through Ayurveda

Ayurveda does not look into diseases but promotes good health. To achieve this, you must apply the following practices:

1. Eat A Fresh and Colorful Diet

Aside from breathing, eating is an essential function of our body. In Ayurveda, ingesting food to your stomach to feel full is not enough. Ayurveda approach believes that one must eat fresh and nourishing meals to achieve optimum mind-and-body health.

Fresh foods which prepared adequately is the ideal diet for people who practice Ayurveda lifestyle. Processed food which lacks color, flavor, and nourishment are not welcome in this practice. To make sure that you are giving your body a fresh and colorful diet, you must check if your meal includes all six tastes. It consists of the primary flavor of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent.

Incorporating all six tastes will ensure that all nutrients and major food groups are present in your meal. When you apply this practice, you’ll notice how your body will feel more satisfied with one meal. You will also have less urge for grabbing snacks and overeating. 

2. Boost Your Metabolism

Our digestive energy (also known as Agni in Ayurveda) should be in robust condition. A healthy Agni means being able to metabolize the nutritional, emotional, and sensory details of the food we ingest. A healthy metabolism also creates healthy tissues and gets rid of waste products and eventually produces a subtle essence called Ojas.

Ojas is our body’s source of vitality, which gives us more physical strength, perception, and immunity to diseases. A weak Agni results in incomplete digestion leading our body to attract toxic residue called Ama. When Ama is present in our body, it blocks the flow of energy and nourishment, which may lead to diseases.

To increase your Agni’s power, you must do the following:-

1. Eat within a calm atmosphere
2. Eat calmly
3. Avoid eating with distractions like the TV, computer or mobile phones
4. Sit while you eat
5. Do not eat when you are full of negative emotions
6. Eat only when you are starving
7. Drink hot water with ginger
8. Avoid eating raw foods that are harder to digest
9. Exercise every day
10. Allot time for meditation

3. Get Plenty of Quality Sleep

Aside from breathing and eating, another necessity in life is sleeping. When we sleep, our body recharges, repairs, and rejuvenates itself. Restful sleep means six to eight hours of natural sleep without the help of medicine or alcohol.

An ideal restful sleep is when you turn off the lights and slowly drift into sleep through the night. Ayurveda believes that lack of sleep loses our body’s balance leading to a weak immune system and the faster-aging process.

To achieve a night of truly restful sleep, you must apply the following in your bedtime routine:

1. Avoid electronics at least two hours before bedtime
2. No reading in bed
3. Drink warm water, tea, or milk and avoid coffee before going to bed
4. Meditate before sleeping

4. Listen to Your Body

Always listen to what your body says instead of fooling your body on what it should feel. Take cue when your body signals discomfort. It means you are slowly losing your balance. To listen to your body, try standing still for a few hours and let your body express what it feels.

When caught up in situations, always ask your body, “how do you feel about this?” Wait and listen for your body’s response through signals of comfort or discomfort. When your body is relaxed, you may proceed with the activity. But when your body signals physical and emotional distress, take it as a guide for your next step.

5. Live in Tune with Nature

Last but not least, have a healthy desire to live with what you need. Follow your human nature of eating healthy, getting quality restful sleep, and exposing yourself to things that nourishes your physical and mental health.
 
Notice that when you’re out of tune with nature, it is easy for your mind and body to crave for non-nurturing things like eating junk foods, overeating, staying up all night, less body movement, and unwanted behaviors.

Now that you have read about the primary principles of Ayurvedic, you can start living a new life! If you don’t know how to start, let me help you out click this contact form, and let me help you out.