What does it mean to be healthy?
The World Health Organization defines good health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Good health is an internal resource that allows us to recover quickly and adapt to the challenges that are a part of life. Good health gives us the means to grow and lead a fulfilled life, thereby achieving what Kundalini Yoga’s global community, 3HO, expresses in their very name as every person’s birthright: happy, healthy and holy (whole).
According to Ayurveda - the oldest system of health & wellness and translated as the Science of Life - there are 3 key ingredients for good health. What you see in parenthesis below is how I’ve paired these 3 ingredients with the 3 birthrights of every person per 3HO:
Good health is an internal resource that allows us to recover quickly and adapt to the challenges that are a part of life. Good health gives us the means to grow and lead a fulfilled life, thereby achieving what Kundalini Yoga’s global community, 3HO, expresses in their very name as every person’s birthright: happy, healthy and holy (whole).
According to Ayurveda - the oldest system of health & wellness and translated as the Science of Life - there are 3 key ingredients for good health. What you see in parenthesis below is how I’ve paired these 3 ingredients with the 3 birthrights of every person per 3HO:
- Having a balanced mind & body constitution (healthy)
- Having a Discriminating Intellect (whole)
- Bliss (happy)
How to attain good health
aka get happy, healthy & whole
First, let's talk about the big C word
😮
😮
- Begin with Commitment. Decide you want to be happy, healthy and whole. With commitment comes ease in decision making. This first step will rev up your Discriminating Intellect engine.
- If you find it difficult to commit, revisit your level of desire. Check in with your body. Do you really want it? What are you willing to "give up" for it? As you become more resolved in something, the difficulty begins to lose it’s edge. Knowing why this resolve even matters to you helps strengthen your commitment. If it’s vague, like, “well of course I want good health, doesn't everybody?” then it's really more rhetorical and it won’t sustain you. Know that everything worth its weight in turmeric comes with an exchange of some sort. A natural foods chef that I once worked with who cooked for cancer patients said he had one goal for them: to alkalize their blood... because he said disease cannot live in an alkaline body. While it's true everyone wants to get (and fee) better, for some, the silent caveat is, only if it's easy. So when the rubber meets the road, some will say that they'd rather die sooner than give up their steak and fries. It can be difficult to understand how yummy true health really is.
- Act on behalf of your commitment (we'll talk more about this later). The more you feed your commitment, the more chiseled your Discriminating Intellect becomes.
- Awareness happens. There will be a struggle between the direction you are pulled and what’s pulling you back. Welcome to the club. Here is where you will need the support of mentors and community of kindred spirits to help you stay aligned in action with the newfound clarity and the “tug” away from your comfort zone. The question is, which way will you go? Look to your commitment.
- Show up to your community. Get the support. Practice on the mat. Transfer that practice off the mat. It cost more on multiple levels not to. You build your Discriminating Intellect muscle every time you make the choice that feeds you. 💪
- As you work the below activities into your day, not only will your discerning intellect continue to become so buff you will become the self-care self-advocate warrior you always wanted to be; your mind-body constitution will come into balance. This is no small thang! As your Mind & Body comes into balance-- bliss. just. happens. Alternatively, the experience of sustained Bliss is how you will know Mind & Body is truly in balance.
Stay with me on this commitment thing...
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say to yourself: "On a scale from 1-10, I make good health a 10." Why is it important that this is a 10 and not an 8 or a 5? And what about your busy schedule?? For the same reason that while it takes precious time and investment to properly train another person to do something when it’s easier - in the short term anyway - to do it yourself, in no time at all, it frees you up to do what you want to do and expand into a whole new level of freedom of time and space. Bonus: this is an investment in YOU so that you have more time, mental and emotional space and energy to make the right decisions, to act on them most effectively, and to appreciate and enjoy your life decisions. Good health helps turn on the "happy switch" that allows us greater enjoyment in things that are good and quicker turn-around time for the things we experience as not-so-good. And the shift happens faster than you think. IF you stick to your commitment. BE BRILLIANT. COMMIT TO SELF. |
Now work it.
Once you’ve really committed, you have scaled more than half the mountain. Stop re-negotiating with yourself every time it's time to do something, and your discriminating intellect will continue to buff.
A discriminating intellect is your cognitive ability to have a broader understanding of what is good for you and what is not. It helps you understand things through your internal, infinite wisdom and presence of mind. The strength of a discriminating intellect determines how you develop your beliefs and prejudices, how you relate to yourself and others, and how you interpret your experiences, which, of course, influences your responses to them. It determines where in the spectrum your life feels in flow or in chaos.
A discriminating intellect is your cognitive ability to have a broader understanding of what is good for you and what is not. It helps you understand things through your internal, infinite wisdom and presence of mind. The strength of a discriminating intellect determines how you develop your beliefs and prejudices, how you relate to yourself and others, and how you interpret your experiences, which, of course, influences your responses to them. It determines where in the spectrum your life feels in flow or in chaos.
What am I working?
Answer 1: Your Discipline
...which is the highest form of self care and nourishment. Flaking out when you feel the urge to chill because you “deserve it” isn’t self-care and nourishment. Having said that, it’s not about over-working yourself either. It’s about respecting your intentions and understanding this important fact:
the moment you commit to something important, something else will come up to test your resolve.
You might say it’s not meant to be. Or you will say where there’s a will, there’s a way. Look at it as the Universe saying, are you really serious about this? Show me, and I’ll respond in kind 10-fold!
Start where you know to start, and pace yourself in a way that you can sustain. Remember that the Hare lost to the Tortoise because he stopped. Don’t start so gong-ho that you need to contract and stop. The momentum is harder to get back each time you stop. Steady eddy, or constancy, wins.
Acting in Alignment is acting in alignment with your physical, mental and emotional health. When good health exists, you begin to prosper everywhere: work, relationships, play. Otherwise, you might prosper in one area but at the cost of another.
the moment you commit to something important, something else will come up to test your resolve.
You might say it’s not meant to be. Or you will say where there’s a will, there’s a way. Look at it as the Universe saying, are you really serious about this? Show me, and I’ll respond in kind 10-fold!
Start where you know to start, and pace yourself in a way that you can sustain. Remember that the Hare lost to the Tortoise because he stopped. Don’t start so gong-ho that you need to contract and stop. The momentum is harder to get back each time you stop. Steady eddy, or constancy, wins.
Acting in Alignment is acting in alignment with your physical, mental and emotional health. When good health exists, you begin to prosper everywhere: work, relationships, play. Otherwise, you might prosper in one area but at the cost of another.
Answer 2: Your Daily Pace
There are 3 basic personalities. One that keeps an irregular pace. They stop and they go. They have an abundant amount of energy one moment and get so much done, and then they fry out and can't look at their project for days or even weeks. This person is often anxious. Then there is the one that is continuously over-scheduled, over-stressed. and super irritated with no space for anything else. The third is challenged to get much started, can be complacent, feel lethargic and tired and is resistant to change. You will want to adopt a pace that will balance out those tendencies that come from your (imbalanced) mind-body constitution. Below, we will go over the basic guidelines on how to do that.
These guidelines may seem like luxuries, but in fact they are necessities for good health and a more fruitful life. Remember that in a symphony, it's the rests (pauses) that bring brilliance to the entire composition. In comedy, it's the timing (the spacing) that makes the joke funny. In yoga, it's the savasana that brings it all together. And with that, these guidelines (that feel like true luxuries) make for better, clearer decision making that makes every action more fulfilling and energizing.
These guidelines may seem like luxuries, but in fact they are necessities for good health and a more fruitful life. Remember that in a symphony, it's the rests (pauses) that bring brilliance to the entire composition. In comedy, it's the timing (the spacing) that makes the joke funny. In yoga, it's the savasana that brings it all together. And with that, these guidelines (that feel like true luxuries) make for better, clearer decision making that makes every action more fulfilling and energizing.
Answer 3: Your Daily Plan
To know which of the below guidelines to go with, you will need to:
- Determine your mind-body constitution
- Work the daily guideline provided below based on your predominant mind-body constitution.
- This is your daily discipline. With every successful day, the stronger your discriminating mind becomes. Which delivers a more balanced mind-body system. Which in turn delivers a stronger discriminating mind. And then bliss.
Determining your mind-body constitution (aka dosha)
What does it mean to have a balanced mind-body constitution?
According to Ayurveda, everything that exists in the Universe is made up of a cocktail of 5 elements: air, ether, fire, water and earth. Those elements that you are most predominant in becomes your mind-body constitution.
Most of us are a combination of two, and the stronger expression of the two is stated first:
Now determine your constitution based on the descriptions below.
***Don't think too hard, and it's okay if you are not sure. Just use it for now. Also, you are probably not Kapha predominant if you are too worried about it. 😜
Vata characteristics (characteristics of air and ether):
Pitta characteristics (characteristics of fire and water):
Kapha characteristics (characteristics of water and earth):
While most of us are typically two of the three doshas, it is possible to be tri-doshic, or nearly equal in all three. Still, there is an order of predominance.
According to Ayurveda, everything that exists in the Universe is made up of a cocktail of 5 elements: air, ether, fire, water and earth. Those elements that you are most predominant in becomes your mind-body constitution.
- if you are made up of more air and ether, your constitution is Vata.
- if you are made up of more fire and water, your constitution is Pitta.
- if you are made up of more earth and water, your constitution is Kapha.
Most of us are a combination of two, and the stronger expression of the two is stated first:
- vata-pitta
- pitta-vata
- pitta-kapha
- kapha-pitta
- kapha-vata
- vata-kapha
Now determine your constitution based on the descriptions below.
***Don't think too hard, and it's okay if you are not sure. Just use it for now. Also, you are probably not Kapha predominant if you are too worried about it. 😜
Vata characteristics (characteristics of air and ether):
- dry, spacey, light, cold, itchy, rough— look to your skin, your bones, how you experience your mind
- fast moving, fast speech
- more prone to nervousness and anxiety, more likely to have sleep issues.
- creative like crazy; may be challenged to finish anything you start
- fast learning, quick to forget
- irregular, changeable: resists keeping a schedule
- typically a thinner build
Pitta characteristics (characteristics of fire and water):
- hot, light red, eruptions— look to you skin
- penetrating (as a person)
- more piercing, direct, outspoken communication
- more prone to anger and irritability
- tends to get things done; see things through to the end; great at delegating
- is more likely purposeful and precise, has a powerful intellect and strong concentration.
- has a good metabolism, transforms things; has fire-like qualities; more likely to experience acid reflux, indigestion, heartburn, skin eruptions
- typically a medium build
Kapha characteristics (characteristics of water and earth):
- cold, heavy, oily
- slower speech
- prone to lethargy or complacency
- resistant to change; love routine; doesn’t want to deal with stress
- loyal, anchoring, patient, strong, loving, thoughtful, calm, sleeps well or excessively
- has a regular digestion
- more prone to retain water and weight
- slow to learn, retains it forever
- typically a rounder, heavier build
While most of us are typically two of the three doshas, it is possible to be tri-doshic, or nearly equal in all three. Still, there is an order of predominance.
A SHORT STORY CHARACTERIZING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE THREE MIND-BODY TYPES, or DOSHAs.
The teacher dismissed class later than usual, and the three students named Vata, Pitta and Kapha had to get into their cars to get to an important lecture that is happening across town, and it is now rush hour.
Vata is so anxious she is losing weight in the middle of traffic, praying to the traffic gods to get her there on time. 😬
Pitta is pissed off and full of road rage because no one can drive, and she doesn't understand why a little rain causes complete brain malfunction in drivers. 😡
Kapha bluetooths her phone and turns on Spotify, sits back, and listens to her favorite playlist figuring there's nothing she could do about it now. 🙂
Of course, they all basically get there at the same time, though Pittas like to think they'll get there first and Vatas are pretty sure she's screwed. Kapha's like whatever.
Which one are you?
What's your dosha?
Write it down. If you are more than one - most of us are two - then be sure to write them down in the order of predominance. Trust and use your intuition.
The daily guideline
involves...
Commitment |
Pace |
Balance |
These routines are created appropriate to each dosha to balance out your mind-body system. Based on the characteristics of each dosha, a Vata predominant person will need practices that support Calm. A Pitta will need practices that support Cooling, and for Kapha, practices that support Energizing. If it doesn't specify the dosha below, the guideline then applies to all mind-body types.
Here are the basic guidelines. Work from your predominant dosha as determined above, and schedule as much of these daily routines into your day.
Here are the basic guidelines. Work from your predominant dosha as determined above, and schedule as much of these daily routines into your day.
mornings...
- Wake up by 6 am daily. This helps develop a good routine to ensure abundant, restful sleep. In Ayurveda, 6 to 10 am is a time of increased Kapha energy, so by getting up before this Kapha period, you’ll avoid that feeling of heaviness (a Kapha characteristic) you can get even after a good night’s sleep.
- Upon waking, drink a glass of warm water: this signals the body to eliminate
- While morning is ideal, this can be moved to the evening: Massage body with oil before showering. VATA: sesame oil, PITTA: coconut oil, KAPHA: sunflower oil. Good for all 3: jojoba. This self-massage is called abhayanga, and it is incredibly soothing, moisturizing, balancing and feels absolutely luxurious.
- Practice Yoga & Meditate for at least 11 minutes each: let the inner quiet set the tone for your day. Ask your UYC teacher for a daily practice if you don’t have one.
- Eat a healthy breakfast with awareness. Do not multi-task!
- Perform morning work and activity.
notes on morning work & activity...
- VATA: Focus on one thing at a time. The brain can’t actually multi-task, so trying to type an email while answering a call and planning a trip will only add to your Vata element and create imbalances in your mind-body system.
- PITTA: Leave plenty of space in your schedule between appointments and due dates. Pittas tend to over-schedule and become stressed by the time pressure. Whenever you find yourself feeling pressured or irritated, focus your attention on taking three slow, deep breaths.
- KAPHA: Exercise daily Try invigorating practices such as running, bicycling, swimming, dancing. Break a sweat every day. While you can benefit by exercising for longer periods, even 20 minutes will energize Aim for between 45 and 60 minutes.
do the hot water sip throughout the day: 2-3 sips of hot water (as hot as your mouth can take it w/o burning) every 20 to 30 minutes.
This is great for inflammation, elimination, detox, hydration and for digestion.
lunch..
...between noon and 2 pm in calm, peaceful environment, sitting down. Your digestive fire is strongest during these hours.
VATA: Eat foods that are well cooked; avoid dry or uncooked foods, esp. salads and raw fruits. It doesn't matter whether or not nutrients "cook out." If it's difficult to digest, the nutrients can't be absorbed into the body.
PITTA: Favor sweet, bitter and astringent foods; reduce pungent, salty, and sour flavors.
KAPHA: Favor lighter, drier foods with pungent, bitter and astringent tastes.
ALL DOSHAS: Eat slowly and mindfully.
PITTA: Favor sweet, bitter and astringent foods; reduce pungent, salty, and sour flavors.
KAPHA: Favor lighter, drier foods with pungent, bitter and astringent tastes.
ALL DOSHAS: Eat slowly and mindfully.
... and sit quietly for about 5 min after eating. Then walk 5-15 min to aid digestion (it will go a long way and creates better afternoon work/ activity efficiency).
then go on with your boss self into your work and everything else you do in the afternoons. Some notes...
VATA: Can take a short nap between 2 and 4 pm. Stay warm. Vata is a cold, dry dosha, so it’s important to make sure your home and work place are well heated and that the air has enough humidity. Since Vata is extremely sensitive to moving air, it’s wise to avoid drafts or sitting near fans or ventilators.
PITTA: Avoid engaging in intense exercise or competitive sports in the late afternoon or evening as this will spark your Pitta spirit too close to bedtime. Walking slowly along a natural body of water is deeply healing. Allow the water’s cooling influence to calm and sooth you. If you don’t live near the lake, take a walk where there is lush vegetation or simply lie down in the grass in your backyard or park. The color of green plants, blue sky and rich earth are wonderfully pacifying for Pitta types.
KAPHA: Avoid taking an afternoon nap as this will increase the Kapha dosha in your mind-body system.
PITTA: Avoid engaging in intense exercise or competitive sports in the late afternoon or evening as this will spark your Pitta spirit too close to bedtime. Walking slowly along a natural body of water is deeply healing. Allow the water’s cooling influence to calm and sooth you. If you don’t live near the lake, take a walk where there is lush vegetation or simply lie down in the grass in your backyard or park. The color of green plants, blue sky and rich earth are wonderfully pacifying for Pitta types.
KAPHA: Avoid taking an afternoon nap as this will increase the Kapha dosha in your mind-body system.
extra love bonus to take care of those witching hours
you know, that time when we reach for the chips, wine, coffee, etc and/ or think of everything that is wrong with our lives...
meditate around sunset
Ask your UYC teacher for a meditation if you don’t have one.
evening...
- Eat a light dinner by 7 pm. Same food guidelines from lunch apply. Lunch is ideally the biggest meal of the day. This does not preclude you from having a social dinner with friends and family!
- Sit quietly for 5 min after eating.
- Walk 5-15 min to aid digestion.
- Enjoy some time with friends or family in a relaxed loving setting. Helps to feel connected. Helps with Bliss.
bedtime...
- Avoid overly exciting, dynamic or intensely concentrated work in the evening.
- Stop it with the social media and news in bed.
- Begin winding down for sleep at least 30 minutes before you intend to go to bed. Keep readings light and inspirational.
- BONUS: Enjoy a relaxing, warm bath before bed. Add a few drops of the pure essential oils appropriate for your constitution. Calming oils for Vata, Soothing for Pitta, or Stimulating for Kapha
- Aim to be in bed with lights off by 10:30 pm.
This daily discipline of nourishment & self-care strengthens discernment and balances the mind-body constitution, bringing the experience of BLISS to your life. Good luck!
May we be free from the obstacles of illusion
and be lead to the shores of fulfillment.
May we know what to do, where to go, who to talk to, and what to say.
May we all be healed, loved and fed;
happy, healthy and whole.
And may peace dwell in our hearts and on our planet.
and be lead to the shores of fulfillment.
May we know what to do, where to go, who to talk to, and what to say.
May we all be healed, loved and fed;
happy, healthy and whole.
And may peace dwell in our hearts and on our planet.
Sat Nam. 🙏
With love, grit and gratitude,
Savitree & Jodh, co-conspirators, evangelists and creators at UYC
p.s.
You can do this.
And if you want individual help and support working this, we have a 40 Day Challenge in Self-Care and Nourishment for you. This challenge is between you and yourSelf with the help of a guide. Please visit us here for more information.
And if you want individual help and support working this, we have a 40 Day Challenge in Self-Care and Nourishment for you. This challenge is between you and yourSelf with the help of a guide. Please visit us here for more information.