In search of creating balance and helping out an up and coming Ayurvedic guru, I have committed to revamping my diet and lifestyle ayurvedically. Ayur = life Veda= knowledge the science is the knowledge of life. It is also a sister science to the practice of yoga and the age old medical science of India. I have studied and experienced it myself, unintentionally, growing up in an Indian household. Every time there was an ache, pain, or minor cold, my mom would boil some water… throw in some spices… and wahlah a disgusting concoction to drink that always worked!
I have studied and experimented with Ayurvedic treatments over the course of my yogic training and practice but failed to stay committed. What has been engrained in me is the importance of the elements within and around us. There are 5 elements that make up the entire universe, including our bodies. These are: Air, ether, fire, water, and earth. The combination of these is represented in 3 qualities: Vata: Airy, Pitta: Fire, and Kapha: earth. Our bodies and all pre-symptomatic disease stems from an imbalance in any of these 3 states. Too much Air causes arthritis and joint pain, too much fire may lead to ulcers, and too much kapha leads to obesity and more. There is no ideal state except maintaining balance in all. At times one may deviate from balance and without awareness we continue our activities that feed this imbalance. Our bodies give us early signals to this imbalance but we remain unaware and at times mask the symptoms with pills and potions…. I am finally throwing in the towel and listening to the body!
After reviewing the brief questionnaire I completed, my friend Eden begins to shake her head, and sigh. “What? WHAT?” “ Pitta is rising in you”, she says. “ME – PITTA?! No way, I am a yoga teacher and so calm, I’m vata.” I continue to rattle of my symptoms of heated upper back pain, my addiction to sweets… and she only smiles. Basically everything I am doing is aggravating the heat within me and my craving for sweets is my body’s way of trying to cool itself from the inside out. Who knew?! I am slowly cooking my vehicle to death! At least the heated feelings and sensations now make some sense but how do I fix it.
I am not the most disciplined person when it comes to restrictions and rituals but this time I am going to try. I have been prescribed a few things to do daily: drink water, cook with ghee, eat 3 meals a day, and take castor oil (sounds disgusting)! The other challenge in doing this will be my conflicting western principles of nutrition that I teach and preach which partially contradict the prescriptions. I have agreed to 2 weeks of work in hopes to reduce my Pitta and reinstate balance. Will keep you all posted.
For more information on Ayurveda or to request a consultation please visit:
www.edenayurveda.com
Metta Love
