Nowadays, it seems like having a harmonious life is easier said than done. We live in a hectic society that demands a lot of running around, making it challenging to find time for ourselves. 

To feel happy, healthy, and overall wellness Ayurveda promotes that we look into the power of our mind and body. 

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 its holistic approach. 

To fully apply Ayurveda in life, one must understand the two guiding principles of this holistic approach being:

1. The belief that the mind and body are interconnected with one another. 
2. The idea that there is nothing more powerful than our mind in terms of healing and transforming our body.

In Ayurveda, it is believed that 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 expresses a unique blend of our physical, emotional, and mental characteristics. Three doshas make up our unique constitution. These doshas are:

1. Vata Dosha

Vata dosha is made up of the elements of space and air. These elements define our body movement, including breathing and blood circulation.

2. Pitta Dosha

Pitta dosha is made up of the elements of fire and water. It is part of controlling our digestive and endocrine systems.

3. Kapha Dosha

Kapha dosha is made up of the elements of water and earth. This dosha 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 the three doshas. One energy can be stronger than the others leading our mind and body to lose their balance. The balance of one’s dosha determines how the body will function. The more unbalanced our doshas are, the more we are prone to sickness and develop health issues.

If you would like to know more about the different doshas, you can read more here

Tips on how to create overall balance 

 Ayurveda does not look into diseases but promotes good health. To achieve this, it is recommended to apply the following practices:

1. Eat a balanced meal

Eating is an essential function of our body. In Ayurveda, eating food to fill your stomach is not enough. To achieve optimum mind-and-body health, it is important to eat balanced meals that are easy to digest.

Fresh foods prepared adequately (including different oils and spices) are the best way to create digestible meals. Processed food that lacks color, flavor, and nourishment will compromise your digestion in a bad way resulting in pain, discomfort, and eventual dis-ease. 

The first step of making a balanced meal includes augmenting and extracting vegetables, legumes, and grains. The next step would be to include all six tastes. The six tastes consist 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 to all your meals, you'll notice how your body will feel more satisfied. This will help with overeating and cravings. 

You can find about how to make balanced meals here.

2. Boost Your Metabolism

Our digestive fire (also known as Agni in Ayurveda) should be strong. A healthy Agni means metabolizing the nutritional, emotional, and sensory details of the food we ingest. A healthy metabolism also creates healthy tissues, eliminates 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 energy and nourishment, eventually leading to dis-eases.

To increase your Agni's power, I would recommend 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 hungry 

7. Chew your food to liquid

8. Avoid eating raw foods 

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.

Good quality sleep would mean falling asleep quickly and sleeping continuously for six to eight hours. Ayurveda believes that lack of sleep will cause an imbalance in our body, leading to a weak immune system and a faster aging process.

To achieve a night of truly restful sleep, I recommend the following in your bedtime routine:

1. Avoid electronics at least two hours before bedtime

2. Don't read in bed

3. Drink warm water, tea, or milk and avoid coffee before going to bed

4. Listen to Your Body

Always listen to what your body says instead of fooling your body on what it should feel. Take the cue when your body signals discomfort. It means you are slowly losing your balance. Try to tune in and listen to what your body is trying to tell you.

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 non-nurturing things like eating junk foods, overeating, staying up all night, less body movement, and unwanted behavior.

Try to implement these tips in your daily life, have fun with them and see how you feel. If you don't know how to start, you can always send me a message.