Ayurveda: The Sister Science of Yoga

Ayurveda is a 5,000-8,000 year old system of natural healing that is rooted in the ancient culture of India.  When I was in my mid 20s, I went on a pilgrimage to India for a few weeks and made my way to an Ayurvedic center in Varkala.  I met with an Ayurvedic practitioner who took my pulse and asked me some random questions about my sleep, my stress, my job, and whether or not I shaved my arms. He looked at my nails, looked into my eyes, and talked to me a bit more about things that didn't appear to have anything to do with the sinus infections I'd been getting every year since I was a teenager, the strep throat I got every winter, and my ongoing skin issues.  I didn't understand how the quality of my friendships, the food I ate, and the time I woke up and went to bed could have anything to do with preventing disease in my body.  

During my stay at the Ayurvedic center, I had to wake up every day before or right at sunset to receive treatments for my sinuses.  I'd go into a little hut where I'd inhale a steam infused with herbs picked fresh from the garden. I'd then lie down and have oils dripped into my nose while my sinuses were massaged.  After the first morning, I remember feeling like I'd never taken a full inhale until that day. Each day after my sinus treatments, I received massages that left me absolutely covered in oils and ate the most delicious, fresh food I'd ever had.  I felt nourished and extremely taken care of. A few days later, I noticed my skin seemed smoother and my joints weren't cracking anymore.

Before leaving the center, I was told to use a tongue scraper each day before brushing my teeth and to use certain oils to massage myself with. I was also told to use certain oils for my sinuses and continue the morning treatments myself.  When returned home, I kept up with these simple practices. I haven't had a sinus infection or strep throat since.  I haven't suffered from any skin issues.  And if I do sprain or hurt something, I tend to heal quite quickly.  My short stay in Varkala was the beginning of my journey to wellness and ease and I am so excited to share this transformative, healing, loving practice with you!

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a science that helps us understand the rhythms of ourself and the rhythms of this world.  It's often called the sister science to yoga because Ayurveda and yoga are meant to be practiced together.  Yoga helps us tune into our soul and to the divine.  It helps us understand the nature of our mind and access our heart so we can remember who we really are.  Ayurveda helps us understand this body and how it works in this world.  Ayurveda helps us understand matter, the world, and the elements that make it up.  It allows us to live in this world while having a connection to our soul.  

What is perfect health?

According to Ayurveda, we look at our mind, body, senses, and soul when we measure our health.  We might be in perfect shape with excellent blood work from the doctor, but we are suffering from deep depression.  Or maybe you feel wonderful in your mind and body, but you are unfulfilled with where you are in life and you don't quite know your purpose.  When you aren't answering the call to our purpose, we can't be in perfect health.  

The Three Causes of Disease:

1. PARJNAAPARADHA

I know what is best, but I choose something different.

I know eating this second slice of pizza will make me feel gross, but I eat it anyway because it's so good and I haven't had pizza in a month.

I act from ignorance, ignoring my own wisdom. 

2. ASATMENDRIYARTHA SAMYOGA

Misuse of my senses.

I watched 6 hours of Netflix today and don't know where the day went. 

What I take in through my senses can either be medicine or poison for me.

3. PARINAMA

Living life out of rhythm. 

Staying up late all the time and eating at sporadic times throughout the day.

There is a natural process of decay over time, but we speed up this process when we live life out of rhythm. 

PRINCIPLES TO CULTIVATE

• Life is happening for me, not to me.

• Servant of the servant ("das anu das")

• See the good in others and let them know it

• No gossiping, complaining, or criticizing

LIKE INCREASES LIKE

OPPOSITES BALANCE

THE DOSHAS

We all have three maha (great/main) doshas present in all of us. They are kapha [earth + water], pitta [fire + water], and vata [air + ether]. The way these doshas work within each of us determines our basic nature, our physical constitution, and how we carryout our purpose in this life. Many of us have one dominant dosha, but the other two are always present. We move in and out of balance throughout this life and understanding the doshas is one way to find and maintain balance as we move through the rhythms of our day, the seasons, and our life.

KAPHA

Elements: water + earth

Qualities: oily, cool, not cold, heavy, slow, dull, smooth, soft, stable 

Season: spring (damp, cool, heavy)

Main Site: stomach, lungs 

Function: structure, cohesion 

Time of Life: early years through age 30

Time of Day: 6am - 10am & 6pm - 10pm

ARCHTYPE OF KAPHA

Kapha is the "Beyonce of the Doshas"

Broad frame, strong bones, muscles, curvy, physical + mental strength

Easy to gain wait, difficult to lose weight

Sometimes slow digestion

Strong constitution 

Walks slow

Booming voice

Talks leisurely 

MENTAL + EMOTIONAL 

Works well with others

Likes routine and structure 

Can do the same thing all the time and love it

Steady, dependable, loyal

Learn by repeating

KAPHA IMBALANCED

by eating heavy, thick, oily, cold foods

cool, wet climates

spring

too slow with not enough heat

spring allergies

lack of appetite

stubborn 

WAYS TO BALANCE

dry skin brush

sauna + steam

deep massage

wake before sunrise 

challenging exercise 

light, simple cooked foods 

avoid heavy food + meat

PITTA

Elements: fire + water

Qualities: penetrating, oily, sharp, hot, light, spreading

Season: summer

Main Site: small intestine where food gets "cooked" - pitta transforms food into nutrients that move through the body

Function: digestion and transformation

Time of Life: 30 - 60ish

Time of Day: 10am - 2pm & 10pm -2am

ARCHTYPE OF PITTA

Nicole Kidman is very Pitta

medium side frame

warm skin

light, intense eyes

intense gaze

strong digestion (sometimes too strong and they get "hangry")

walks with intention

talks to the point

MENTAL + EMOTIONAL 

organized

focused

needs goals

passionate

learns quick

good memory

PITTA IMBALANCED

skin rashes

loose stools

anger and frustration

manipulative and controlling 

WAYS TO BALANCE

nourishing and cooling foods

avoid caffeine and alcohol

listen to calm music

rose water

cool down 

VATA

Elements: ear + ether 

Qualities: dry, light, cold, subtle, mobile 

Season: late fall into winter

Main Site: colon 

Function: movement 

Time of Life: 60 years +

Time of Day: 2am - 6am & 2pm - 6pm

ARCHTYPE OF VATA

Gwyneth Paltrow is totally Vata

light bones and muscles, long, straight frame

cold skin, hands, feet

hard to gain weight, easy to lose 

Walks slow

variable digestion

eats, moves, talks fast

MENTAL + EMOTIONAL 

poets, dancers, writers, cooks

social, creative, travels

learns and forgets quickly

needs lists and reminders

VATA IMBALANCED

eating excessive dry, light, uncooked food

winter months

too much talking

WAYS TO BALANCE

eat in a mindful way

avoid caffeine

warm meals 85% of the time

slow walks

walks in nature

oil massage

routine

THE MAHA GUNAS

We acknowledge that we need rajasic qualities for stimulation, movement, passion, motion, and activity.  These qualities are all around us and help us to go about our day show up for what we  love.  We are always in the process of picking up and transferring energy, so we need to be aware of how much we take in or give off and what that energy is like.  

In Ayurveda, we want to be aware of excess rajas, which can look like:

aggression, disturbed sleep, restlessness, anxiety, self-critical 

Rajas is increased by

smell: rosemary, citrus, cinnamon, scents that stimulate the mind

taste: caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, multi tasking while eating

sight: action movies, sports, fast movement 

feel: intense exercise, fast environments, impulsive behavior, competitive environments 

hear: gossip, music with deep beats, quick thoughts 

We acknowledge that we need tamasic qualities for sleep + rest.  But when we increase tamas, we fall out of balance

In Ayurveda, we want to be aware of excess tamas, which can look like:

lack of self control, depression, dishonesty, worry, addictions, dependent 

Tamas is increased by

smell: rotten smelling things, scents that activate trauma 

taste: processed, packaged foods, canned food, microwaved anything, food that has been produced from cruelty 

sight: sex and violence in media, lack of time in nature, no access to fresh air or sunlight and moonlight

feel: sedentary lifestyle, not enough movement, being inside

hear: music with degrading lyrics, music that numbs emotions 

The natural state of the mind is sattvic, but it can be colored by rajas and tamas because of what we take in through the senses.  Rajastic and Tamasic impressions are the cause of all dis-ease because they distort our perception and make us choose what we want now rather than what we want most. 

SIGNS OF SATTVA:

clarity, joy, peace, healthy habits, good memory, truthfulness, calm sleep

INCREASES SATTVA:

smell: natural scents of rose, jasmine, lavender, sandalwood

taste: freshly prepared food, fresh fruits, mindful eating, vegetables

see: the sky, sacred places, natural environments, clean spaces

feel: good company, self care practices

hear: uplifting conversations, spiritual discussions

Ritucharya: Your Seasonal Rhythm

Winter into Spring - Kapha

As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, imagine how the body feels when we turn on the shower expecting it to be warm, but it's actually freezing cold.  Our body seizes up and clenches and turns inward.  That's sort of what happens to us (our tissues, our being) during the winter, so as things warm up, imagine an ice cube melting.  If something was stuck in that ice cube, it comes out as the ice turns to water.  The warmer weather can begin to bring out allergies, congestion, colds, the flu, and any other imbalances that we perhaps didn't take care of.  

During this time, we want to work on a kapha pacifying lifestyle and eat warm, light foods that are easy to digest.  Try to go for a walk after every meal and spend time outside in the sunshine.  

Summer - Pitta

During the summertime, we see a lot of light, sharp, and hot qualities in the world around us.  Think about how you feel after a long, hot summer day.  You probably aren't craving something that you'd eat in late November, right?  The body naturally wants lighter, smaller, easier to digest meals.  This is because that agni, our digestive fire, gets used throughout out body to cool the body down during summer.  We don't have that agni working to digest bigger, heavier meals.  

When we think of summer, we also think of ease, vacation, and taking it easy, right?  Our body craves this type of rhythm during this time.  Listen to it.

Fall Into Winter - Vata

Think about your first memory of this season.  It probably involves wind, dry leaves, cracking branches, and movement.  It's a time of transition and sometimes even emptiness.  When we think of the traditional idea of going back to school, we think of new beginnings, leaving home, being somewhere different, and moving forward.  

This is a time for warmth, routine, grounding, and cultivating more cozy and warming moods.  A typical lunch that you'd have in July isn't going to do it for you in this season and it'll probably leave you feeling unnourished and craving more.  

Dinacharya: Your Daily Rhythm

MORNING SELF CARE

• Wake up around sunrise

• Use the bathroom

• Oil-pull

• Scrape tongue and brush teeth

• Rose water for eyes

• Neti and/or nasya

• Abhyanga (oil massage)

• Drink warm water with lemon or lime

• Move

• Meditate, pray, gratitude practices

• Shower

• Breakfast

MID-DAY SELF CARE

• Lunch should be your main, biggest meal

• Pray or have gratitude for your meal

• Eat quietly and in a peaceful environment. Eat alone or with people you love

• Avoid eating at your desk, in front of a computer, television, phone, or while reading

• Avoid eating if you're angry, stressed, or depressed

• Take a walk after you eat lunch

• Spend time in nature somehow or bring nature to you (hiking, walk in a park, keep house plants)

• Cultivate a gratitude practice

EVENING SELF-CARE

• Go for a walk to watch the sun set

• Have a light dinner. If you don't have much of an appetite, enjoy spiced milk

• Come back to your gratitude practice by connecting with someone you love (send a text to remind them you care about them, call them, or spend time in person if they're with you)

• Shut down electronics at least one hour before you go to bed. This includes computers, televisions, phones, and tablets

• Meditate, practice pranayama, and/or read

• Give yourself a foot massage with oils

• Clean face, brush teeth

• Ideally, it's best to be in bed two hours after sunset and by 10pm the latest