Contributed by SDYC Presenter and Guest Blogger, Lana Svien
“The state of ill health is a moment to moment happening. Healing is moment to moment balance, bringing awareness to our thoughts, feelings, emotions and how we respond.” Dr. Vasant Lad, Ayurvedic Medical Doctor
Yoga and Ayurveda are sister sciences descending from the same Indian lineage 5000 years ago. Yoga asana, pranayama and meditation are utilized as self-healing practices in Ayurveda. The word Ayurveda means science of life. As an ancient medical practice, prevention of disease and self-healing are emphasized. Ayurveda is a holistic science in which everything matters. One thing affects everything else. Ayurveda looks at the root cause of problems, rather than treating symptoms; bringing your life into balance and feeling the vibrancy of life. Ojas is our vitality in life.
Don’t we all want strong immunity, vibrancy and bliss?
The habits of Ayurveda will be the foundation to create that Ojas, or vitality. Ahar (food), vihar (lifestyle), nidra (sleep) and brahmacharya (management of energy) are the four pillars of health in Ayurveda.
Food is important to us relationally, socially and emotionally; and since food can either create disease or create ease, ask yourself “What are my habits regarding food? When do I eat, how do I eat and what do I eat?” As previously stated, everything matters. Ayurveda recommends eating an early light dinner, so that during sleep, the digestive tract is not digesting a large meal, but digesting toxins which can cause disease. Have you been eating your main meal later in the evening before bed? Start with small changes. Move your dinner back by 5-10 minutes until the meal is over by 7pm. Eat the dinner on luncheon plates and don’t take second helpings or snack later. Ayurvedic texts, like the Charika Samhita, recommend eating the quantity that can fit into your cupped hands. We have become used to supersized plates and portions. Another important habit regarding food is to chew food thoroughly. According to Ayurveda, you can have that blissfulness, vitality, strength and good health.
Start by eating an earlier lighter dinner (then no snacking before bed) and chewing your food thoroughly.
Two very simple habits to create Ojas. To your health. Namaste
Lana Svien is founder of Essential Living Ayurveda and Yoga. She has completed an Ayurvedic Health Counsellor Certification from Halepule, a NAMA certified curriculum, as well as an Ayurvedic Chef Certification. Lana is furthering her education in Ayurveda at the Himalayan Institute as part of the Ayurveda Yoga Certification. In addition to her 200-hour yoga teacher training, she has completed therapeutic yoga trainings at Duke Integrative Medicine Institute. Lana has degrees in physical therapy, anatomy and applied physiology and is devoted to spreading the wisdom of Ayurveda, the science of self-healing. Currently she is providing Ayurvedic Health Consultations.