What we eat effects our health
Ayurveda, the ancient healing art of India, teaches that food plays an essential part in our health and sense of well-being. Recipes are formulated using herbs and spices that help balance the constitution of each person.
The Ayurveda diet works because it looks at the effect of the foods on the individual constitution. This is included with every recipe together with the medicinal properties of many of the foods.
Ayurveda is a way of healing and a way of life that always takes into consideration the whole person. According to the teachings of Ayurveda every aspect of life contributes to overall health.
Poor health seldom has a simple or single cause and diet is the best place to start.
Dosha’s our unique make up
Our sense of well-being reflects the inner state of health. Good health is the maintenance of our unique combination of the Dosha’s. For the Ayurveda diet to work for you, It is equally important to have the following:-
- A balanced condition of the Agni (digestive fire) and
- the seven body tissues and
- three water systems (urine, sweat & faeces)
- as well as a balance in the mind, senses and consciousness.
- to have love, happiness and clarity in daily living.
Doshic imbalance governs internal biochemical changes that eventually lead to either high or low metabolism.
The Pitta dosha and how the Ayurveda diet works
If the Pitta dosha is out of balance there will be an increase in digestive fire which will burn the skin and digestion will be too fast to absorb any nutrients. Anger and controlling impulses will become more dominant.
Pitta dosha governs all physical and bio chemical changes that take place within the body. Through this process foodstuffs are transformed into energy, heat and vitality. It is the Pitta that performs these functions throughout one’s life, but is especially prominent during the adult years. All these activities of Pitta depend upon the “digestive fire or Agni.” Poor Agni means poor health.
Wrong diet such as hot spicy foods, wrong lifestyle such as living in a hot climate and repressed emotions alter the normal function of Pitta.
The Kapha dosha
Kapha dosha is from the heart upwards and when in excess weight increases as well as fluid and mucus. When out of balance the kapha can lose motivation and sleep a lot.
Anabolism is the process of building up the body. It is the repair, growth and creation of new cells. This process is managed by Kapha and is most active in the baby child and teen years. Kapha dosha is disturbed by excessive intake of sweet, dairy and cold oily foods.
Vata dosha
The Vata dosha symptoms are from the navel down. Vata being made of air and either is effected by either an upward or downward flow. When disturbed the vata can cause constipation, insomnia, anxiety and fear.
Catabolism is the destructive, but necessary stage of metabolism. Larger molecules are broken into smaller ones. This molecular death is governed by Vata dosha and is most active in old age. Repeated intake of Vata provoking food, such as salads and popcorn, and over-exercising escalate Vata and disturb health.
Improper eating habits
- Overeating
- Eating soon after a full meal
- Too much water or no water during a meal
- Drinking very chilled water during a meal, or indeed anytime
- Eating when constipated
- Wrong time of day-either too early or too late to eat
- Overuse of heavy foods or too little light food
- Drinking fruit juice or eating fruit with a meal
- Eating without real hunger
- Emotional eating
- Incompatible food combinations
- Snacking in between meals
Eating time of day and season
The bodies’ biological clock is regulated by the Dosha’s. The time of maximum activity of Kapha is during early morning and early evening, 6am to 10 am and 6am to 10 pm.
Pitta period is during midday and midnight, 10 am to 2am and 10pm to 2am, while Vata hours are dawn and dust, 2 to 6 am and 2 to 6 am.
Thus a Pitta-type disease, like ulcers, cause the most discomfort late at night in the Pitta time and of the bio-clock. Likewise the reverse is also true, in the sense that experiencing a sharp pain in the stomach region late at night may signify ulcers or another Pitta type aggravation.
Every act you perform around food should be in a loving honouring and sacred manner.
Food is medicine
When growing the food, selecting it in the supermarket or preparing it for cooking always demonstrate respect. The amount of loving awareness and respect you give transfers exactly to the food and to the hungry stomachs. Food that is prepared in a loving manner brings truly healing results to everyone.
Yoga Works for Over 40s Ayurveda Therapy Programs
Currently our Yoga Ayurveda Therapy personalised programs are conducted online. There are so many benefits from combining Yoga and Ayurveda, together.
Indeed together they make a complete therapy for body and mind. Yoga and Ayurveda are taught together the traditional way. As a final point you will be given a personal practice that suits your individual needs.
To start with, we work with each person who may be:-
- working in a job that is sapping energy
- experiencing menopausal symtoms
- recovering from surgery
- in chronic pain and injury
- anxious or stressed
- any chronic condition
- ageing and adjusting to life’s challenges
- in the corporate world
We are currently running all our classes (online). They are Good Morning Yoga Therapy, Lunchtime Chair Yoga Therapy and Sleepy Time Yoga therapy.
Read about the 7 benefits of Yoga for Seniors here and more information send us a note, we would love to hear from you or call +61 407 956 071 or email Zoe at contact@yogaworksforover40s.com
