We are all moving through life doing the best we can with the tools and knowledge we have acquired. Still there are times we feel exhausted, irritable, battle digestive discomfort and a whole host of other imbalances. And from what I have seen in my practice, living in a state of imbalance has sadly become the norm. The good news is Ayurveda has clear guidelines for living that can support us to make lasting positive changes but first we must understand how we got here in the first place.
Ayurveda recognizes three main causes of disease or imbalances. If we can manage these three areas then our bodies, minds and spirits should remain in a relative state of ease and dynamic harmony.
#1 Making Careless Choices – prajnaparadha
Also known as crimes against wisdom, prajnaparadha is a big factor in what are likely our deepest imbalances. You are a result of your daily actions and choices. When those choices consistently go against your wisdom and experience then you get into trouble. How many times have you said to yourself, “I shouldn’t have done that,” or “I ate too much”, or “I knew better”? Poor choices pile up and lead to more cravings and poor choices. I am guilty of this for sure. I know that when I eat late at night I sleep poorly, feel heavy and lethargic the next day and then end up craving sugar. I am defiantly better about eating an early light dinner but sometimes go against my wisdom, eat late and suffer the next day. The first cause of disease is therefore hurting yourself by not trusting your self, not learning from past suffering and making better choices.
#2 Misuse of Your Sense Organs
Our senses guide us and allow us to make contact with the world, offering a delight of wonderful sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touch. Our senses also tell us when we have had too much but often we are not tuned in enough to listen or are conditioned to ignore them completely. When we overstimulate our senses the nervous system becomes taxed. This in turn causes stress and our sense organs suffer. For example, if you have trouble sleeping consider limiting TV and device use in the evening. To keep your sense organs happy limit screen time and aim for natural light, avoid processed and overly sugary, salty foods, listen music at a reasonable level, reduce fragrances and oil your skin daily.
#3 Living Out of Rhythm with the Flow of Nature
Like nature, we have an inherent rhythm that moves through us. Time, seasons and aging all have a natural rhythm we are meant to follow. Syncing up with the natural cycles of the cosmos is the key to ease and freedom. Establish a daily routine, attune your sleep cycles to follow the movement of the sun, eat a big lunch and small supper, make seasonal food choices and practice seasonal cleansing. Sync up and feel better. These small changes set the foundation for your vibrant living.
Whether its making careless choices, disrespecting your senses or not honoring your relationship to natures rhythms the key to getting back on track is to slow down. Let me know how it goes.
Wishing you Vibrant Living
Kate