Swept Up by the Circus When I was in college, I was truly considering getting swept up in the actual circus. Unfortunately, my fear of heights combined with my inability to keep pointed toes while engaging in super muscular feats deflated that prospect. So, I stuck with Mime and acting. But, I digress… This week […]
According to the AH.Su.11.3, Kapha is made of the combinations of Earth (Pṛthivi) and Water (Jala). Its presence confers stability, lubrication, compactness (firmness) of the joints, forbearance (capacity to withstand strain – physically and emotionally). Kapha is the most similar to the majority of the Dhātus (tissues) and Malas (wastes) of the body, therefore healthy Kapha is the reason […]
Pitta Doṣa is described as a Pathogenic Factor made of the guṇas : oily, hot, sharp, liquid, and fluid. It is also known to be pungent and sour. (Ca.Su.1.58) It is balanced by guṇas which are opposite to those just described like cold, soft, and dry as well as the Tastes which are Sweet and Bitter, […]
Ok, so we grappled a bit with Doṣa as a whole, so now let us look at each one individually to better understand its function and how to engage with it. We’ll begin with Vāta because it is often called the King of Disease as well as Yama Raja – the King of Death (Ca. […]
We are diving into the world of Doṣa. It is complex – partially because it requires some unlearning. I love this quote from Ganesh Mohan that speaks to the importance of waiting for right knowledge before consuming it! What are Doṣa? (and Why are They so Confusing?) Doṣa are, in some ways, shorthand for other […]
When we think of health outside of the Āyurvedic paradigm, some of the things I look for as definitions are : Absence of Pain – The body does not ache regularly and any pain does not last long Mental Clarity – Thoughts feel unfettered and easy to interact with Bright Skin – Skin feels soft, has an […]
Not all Oils are the Same Before we go into Essential Oils themselves, let’s examine the differences between Oils prepared Āyurvedically and those that are not. The way Oils (Tailams) are made in Ayurveda is very different than how they are often made commercially. So, first things first. Not all massage oils that are called […]
…and a deeper look at Sweat and its functions In a variety of ways, we have peered into the management of health. In summary, the means to protecting your health is through your gut – by managing the proportion of space around your digestive fire, the stability of your digestive fire (Jaṭhara Agni), and the […]
Last week we learned about the 6 tastes of Ayurveda and how a balance of these tastes is a prerequisite for health. We discussed how we are only healthy if we can digest what we consume and if what we consume contains the balance of the 6 tastes that we, in particular, need at that […]
Rasa means many things in Sanskrit. It can mean the Divine play of Lord Krsna, it can mean energetic characteristics in Yoga Tantra, it can mean the first tissue made in Ayurveda – the one we mentioned often carrying Āma in last week’s conversation. It can also mean taste. Every one of the 6 tastes is made […]
