Ayurveda and Yoga

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Ayurveda and Yoga are sister sciences and they support one another in achieving one another’s goals. Ayurveda means the “knowledge of life”- it is a science that looks after health, balance and harmony of the body, mind and soul. Yoga is a science that prepares the body and mind for the liberation and enlightment of the mind and the soul.

Ayurveda advises us to follow several steps or rituals as we wake up in the morning. Doing these rituals work as preventive medicine and it helps us to get the best of ourselves during our day and life. If you are a Yoga Practitioner and follow these tips you be healthier as well as get the best out of your practice, and you will start to integrate more Yoga into your daily living.

Adriana

4 Ayurvedic Tips to Help you Feel Your Best:

  • Practice early morning: In Ayurveda, it is advised to perform any spiritual practice between 3am and 6 am, the time of the day governed by Vata energies (the element of air + ether). This is a time of calmness, called Brahma Muhurta, a time where you can access the most divine wisdom within you. It is recommended to chant mantras, practice pranayama, start morning rituals and meditate at this. In between 6am and 10am is the time governed by Kapha energies (element of earth and wáter) and is perfect for doing Hatha Yoga, or any kind of active yoga that activates the fire within us.
  • Be clean on the inside and out: In Ayurveda cleanliness is preventive medicine. The practice of yoga is a mean of purification of the body and the mind, so we want to follow this Ayurvedic guideliness to be lighter during our asana practice. Drink a glass of lukewarm wáter to stimulate your gastointestinal tract movement and will help you to flush your vessels. You can add a fresh slice of lemon or lime to help loosen ama, or toxins, in the digestive tract. Wash your face. Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper, which helps to remove bacteria. Then, wash your teeth and follow with a 10 min. coconut or sesame oil gargling.
  • Food: Eat sattvic food and fresh and in season food. Eat in order to balance your Doshas. Eat a light dinner no less than 12 hours before your morning practice time. Add clairfied butter or ghee to your diet as ghee is considered a rejuvenator that supports overall health and wellbeing.
  • Massage: Massage your body once a week with the oil that serves better to balance your Doshas: Almond oil if you are Kapha dominant, Coconut oil if you are Pitta dominant and Sesame oil if you are Vatta dominant.

Remember you are made of the 5 elements (ether, air, fire, earth and wáter) and through asana practice you are balancing them. It is through a healthy body and mind that we can perceive the world and the self and thus attain Self-realization.

I deeply encourage you to go to an Ayurvedic consultant, so you can determine your Dosha constitution and learn what better serves the unique person you are.

I leave you with this Shanti Mantra from the Rig Veda that reminds us one of the promises of Yoga to its devoted practitioners:

Stiraiangais tushtuvagumsastanubhih

Vyashema devahitam yaddayuh

Om Shanti shanti shanti

‘’While praising, may we of strong and steady limb enjoy the life given by the Gods. Om peace, peace, peace’’.

Book an Ayurvedic Yoga Massage to Help Balance Your Doshas with Adriana at Samasati’s Spa

Adriana Leiva Trejos started her path as a massage therapist and yoga teacher 14 years ago. In 2007, she graduated with a Post -Graduate degree in Physical Therapy and recently received a degree for Parapsychology and Spiritual Therapy. Along with her Reiki Master credential, she specializes in Thai Massage as well as Ayurvedic Yoga Massage. Adriana shares her healing gifts with guests at Samasati, teaches yoga, plays harmonium, sings in a bhakti band and enjoys her “pura vida” lifestyle with her family in the Caribbean.