Yoga & Ayurveda: Prana, Tejas, and Ojas for your Home Practice

Yoga and Ayurveda are complimentary sciences to inform and direct a therapeutic practice.

Ayurveda translates as ‘the science of life’, and provides a focus for physical, mental and spiritual fitness through diet and lifestyle. Yoga is a technology to help your body detox, it provides a technique to stabilize energy and mind, and it offers a glimpse into the subtle and spiritual realm of experience. Any type of yoga you practice will help you feel better, but in order to develop a self-guided personal practice, you must first understand the basic principles of yoga practice and healthy lifestyle.

This blog will focus on three subtle essences that influence our wellbeing called Prana, Tejas, and Ojas.

Prana – the vitality as represented by breath, movement and energy, the guiding force of life. Higher Awareness at the universal and cellular level. Prana provides the ability to fully and completely express yourself in the world. Balanced Prana provides enthusiasm, and adaptability. It is the vital Higher Intelligence.

Tejas – the courage, strength, and willpower to stand strong in the face of change. Balanced Tejas is evident in the bright glow of healthy skin, personal magnetism, a strong metabolism, good memory, inspiration, and ability to assimilate information and see clearly. Tejas is the ability to deal with paradoxes and move positively to digest the mind’s limitations. It is the vital Fire.

Ojas – the support of a healthy immune system and well nourished tissues. Ojas is the foundation for patience, stability, and the essence of nurturance. It is the nourishment from good foods, ability to give and receive love, positive bonding, kindness, devotion, and prayer. It is the vital reserve.

Each of these can subtle essences can be diminished, or imbalanced, due to the stressors of life.

Prana is depleted by poor food choices, over-stimulation of the 5 senses, lack of breath training / pranayama, multi-tasking, time spent on the computer, being too talkative, expending too much energy.

Tejas is depleted by poor food choices, improper living habits, overuse of drugs. When Tejas is too high, it can burn ojas, reducing immunity, and overstimulate prana, causing tissue disorders in the brain and body.

Ojas is a result of proper diet, self care, relaxation, rest, sleep, love, and can be impacted if these practices are not followed. Too little ojas leads to lack of concentration, fear, general weakness, loss of sensation in one of more of the five senses, and eventually death. Ojas can be depleted or disturbed by a stagnant lifestyle, lack of spiritual practice, poor foods, too much sex or masturbation, negative thinking and acting.

In order to bring Prana to a clear, stable, sufficient level to power your life and activity, you can practice:

• Pranayama – consider alternate nostril breathing daily

• Ripe, fresh, local fruits and vegetables cooked well, avoid leftovers

• Yoga Asana, particularly backbends and laterals

• Certain herbs and teas such as Tulsi / Holy Basil, or the herbal jam Chywanprash

• Chanting mantra 

In order to build Tejas that burns bright, clear, stable, and strong, you can practice:

• Tending to your digestion with foods that support digestion such as ginger, cinnamon, clove, black pepper.

• Avoiding grazing throughout the day, consider routine meal and snack times

• Meditation on Light or Fire

• Chanting mantra

• Yoga Asana, particularly Twists and Belly-Down Backbends 

In order to maintain healthy Ojas that is clear, smooth, flowing, and sufficient to fight infection and toxins, you can practice:

• Improved eating habits that include fresh, seasonal, foods, whole grains, healthy oils, and food cooked with ghee

• Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga, Guided Relaxation to promote deeper sleep and rest that allows your deep tissues and organs to heal

• Self-oil massage, and other forms of self-care; this is the message of self-love, which is necessary for a happy and long life

• Positive thinking, prayer, meditation

• Laughter, love, and kindness; spending time with loved ones

Considering all three of these influences in our daily choices can help us refine our choices and our practice to live a more adaptable, powerful, and peaceful life.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti - Peace Peace Peace

For Lydia - thanks for asking

Photo by Yayan Sopian on Unsplash

Sticking to a healthy routine in times of change

When life gets turbulent, our minds and bodies can be well served by developing or maintaining a healthy routine. Just as the sun rises and falls, a wise and predictable self care routine can support you as the seasons of the year and the seasons of our life experience change.

Below are a few suggestions to help you gain a new habit - try this for 30 days and make note of your progress in your journal or practice diary.

Waking Routine - wake at the same time each day prior to sunrise  to enjoy the peaceful calm of life. Take a deep breath, look at your hands, and gently brush your energy from head to chest. Say a prayer of gratitude. Consider a gentle ear or facial massage. Notice your breath and take 5 gentle and complete inhales and exhales. Set an intention that not only benefits you, but also all of the world. Step out of bed and enjoy your day.

Cleansing Routine - Rinse your face and mouth with cool water. Evacuate bowels and bladder. Scrape your tongue to remove oil based toxins and stimulate digestion. Swish 1 T. sesame oil for 5-15 minutes for healthier teeth, gums and fresher breath. Floss. Brush your teeth - consider Neem toothpaste. The Neti Pot works to cleanse sinus passages and reduce allergies. Drink warm water to cleanse kidney, stomach and colon before taking any other food or coffee to help complete your evacuation process.

Nourishing / Restoring Routine - Consider using Nose Drops (Nasya Oil), Ear Drops, and enjoy a Self-oil Massage (abhyangha). Try a bath or shower with sandalwood soap. Enjoy healthy organic seasonal foods that are simple to digest. Practice mindful eating by turning off TVs, phones and other distractors from your meal. Routine meal times daily support your digestion. Don't skip breakfast! Restore daily with Legs up the Wall, Yoga Nidra / Guided Relaxation, Pranayama (breath training), Yin / Deep Stretch, or Restorative postures.

Fitness Routine - Physical stretches and movement is good for everyone. Go for a walk, use the stairs - get your heart rate up each day. For the yogis in the crowd: Slow Sun Salutes for Vata / Butterfly People. Moon Salutes for Pitta / Tiger People, Fast Sun Salutes for Kapha / Teddy Bear People.

Mental Fitness - Mindfulness is being in the present moment - not remembering or ruminating, not imagining or creating anxious scenarios, but actually being aware of your 5 senses and your surroundings, including your thoughts, desires, and how you’re showing up. Mindfulness helps you focus on one thing at a time - a one pointed mo=ind leads to a mind that enjoys meditation. Meditation is a state beyond the external senses, ancient texts and teachers reveal an illumined intelligence beyond learned behavior and memories. Begin a practice at the same time, every day - even if it’s 3 minutes - this is how we start! For the yogis, try 3 mins. Alternate Nostril for Vata, 7 rounds cooling or Bumblebee breath for Pitta, 10 rapid Bellow Breath for Kapha. Meditation for all! Vata consider meditation on the breath, building roots, or fire at navel. Pitta meditation on breath, compassion and surrender, Kapha meditation on breath, heart, fire at navel.

Bedtime Routine - cleanse mouth, face and hands. Go to bed at the same time each night. Enjoy a technology cleanse - all devices off and away 30 minutes prior to bedtime. Bed should be clean, clear of clutter, with clean air. Yoga Nidra / Guided Relaxation, Legs up the Wall can help ease you into a more peaceful rest. Recall the highlights of your day. Give thanks. Meditation on the breath and intention to sleep well in health and peace can help you develop a better sleep pattern.

Build your personal playlist of self love and care! When you have extra time on your hands, give extra attention to your pieces, parts and heart!

Example of a simple daily ritual:

1. Routine Wake Time

2. Massage Face and jaw

3. Scrape Tongue

4. Pranayama / Breath Training

5. Meditation

6. 10 Moon Salutes / other exercise

7. Bedtime Yoga Nidra or Guided Meditation

Build a new Morning Ritual:

1. Routine Wake up

2. Prayer and Gratitude

3. Scrape the Tongue

4. Oil Pulling

5. Oil Massage the body - or at least the joints!

6. Neti Pot for clean sinus passages

7. Pranayama / Breath Training

Develop your afternoon health break:

1. Stretches to loosen shoulders and hips

2. Pranayama / Alternate Nostril Breathing

3. Short Yoga Nidra or Meditation to re-boot for the afternoon

Bedtime can be better:

1. Routine bedtime

2. Technology fast

3. Gratitude journal

4. Oil Massage - at least the scalp and soles of the feet

5. Lunar Pranayama (inhale in left, exhale out right. Repeat 7-10 times)

6. Yoga Nidra or bedtime meditation

There’s no better time than now to practice routine health practices! You deserve it!

Photo by Zoltan Tasi on Unsplash

Blessing Way- A New Old Tradition

My dear step-daughter Candice is expecting her second child, a son this time named Basil – we’re over the Moon excited for this little sage to be welcomed into this lifetime alongside sister Paisley Jayne, so when I was offered the opportunity to throw a shower, I was delighted.

With the kids being in Tampa, I’m not always able to do on-the-spot family events, so I missed the first shower with ‘Mimi’, and the second shower hosted by Nik’s employer. Third shower – OK – I got this. Then Candice called; ‘we’re doing a Blessing Way – Google it.’

On a last minute of inspiration, I did a quick search of headlines to get the gist of things.

Blessing Way isn’t the usual shower, with baby gifts, oohhs and aaahhs as you pass around plush, nice smelling baby things, with games and rituals. Rather, it's about the Mother and the amazing journey she’s on, as we lift her up with support and intention, to welcome our newest loved one. It’s literally blessing the way for a graceful birth and a circle of unconditional love and joy for the baby.

We’ve come a long way to get back to the roots of family, compassion and community.

Meghan welcomed us into her plant store – I was in heaven. We made space for tea and goodies (thanks to co-host and Candice’s BFF Christy), and I set about meeting the people that Candice considers her spiritual circle. I was among pranic healers, doulas, and teachers of boys (thank you), I met midwives, mothers, massage therapists and more. These were the Wise Women and Mothers of her beloved community; a haven of healers from so many wisdom traditions in one place…BOOM just like that. It was easy to be inspired beyond my original vision.

We opened with a meditation to enliven the elements and join our hearts. We enjoyed stories of how we met Candice, tales of laughter and remembering, paired with tears of love. I led The Chocolate Meditation, inspired by my recent training with Elena Brower, releasing more joyful tears, bringing forth loved ones lost. Then the radiant mother Candice passed around feathers for our Intention Setting Meditation – they hang over Basil’s crib in a handmade mobile, so he can feel our love daily.

I’m grateful to the women who joined us, to Candice who has clearly touched all of their lives with mutual love and respect. I see a future where women raise children in homes of meditation and mindfulness, regardless of their background or income. I'm hopeful this momentum will bring a wave of peace the world so desperately needs right now.

Fear cannot grow where seeds of love have been planted. 

#aditi #blessingway

Beginning Meditation - Month 1

Learning to sit….

1. Environment matters
Find a clean, quiet space in your home where you can sit undisturbed, away from the distractions and pressures of the external world.
The air should be clean, fresh and well ventilated but not breezy.

2. Cleanliness is a factor
Your face, hands and feet should feel clean and fresh, adding a certain respect and vibrancy to your practice. If you practice meditation in the morning, you will want to evacuate your bladder and bowels first.

3. Preparing the body, energy and mind
If you have time, spend 5-10 minutes stretching the muscles, soft tissues, joints and glands, to circulate the blood, regulate energy channels, calm the mind and prepare the hips and back to sit. It should be gentle and mindful. You should consult a qualified Teacher for the Hatha postures most appropriate for your stage and dosha (constitution).

4. Consistency is key
Agree to sit at the same time every day, without fail, as this will train your Mind to develop your new habit automatically. Depending on your schedule, either early in the day or in the evening will be most accessible.

5. Sitting options may vary!
You can sit cross-legged, keeping your head, neck and torso in alignment. The first month you can sit with your back against a wall, while your muscles and soft tissues are being trained. You may also sit in a chair, with your feet resting comfortably on the ground or use blocks or blankets to bring the ground to you! It’s best for your low back if your hips are level with, or slightly higher than your knees. If sitting on the floor, use folded blankets, or a sturdy pillow or bolster to elevate your hips.

6. Relax your body...please!
Scan the body from toe tips to scalp, acknowledging where you might feel yourself holding or tense, and observe the tension release; ust feel each segment of your body relax. Then move from the scalp to the toes again, spine tall, body relaxed. Be effortless.

7. Meet your breath – it’s the secret we so often overlook
Without changing anything, experience your body breathing. Observe where and how it breathes, and then gently begin to shape your breath. Take 10-15 smooth, even, quiet breaths, neither to deep nor too shallow, allowing the breath to become smooth. Resolve any hesitations or shakiness. Feel the body relax and release on the exhale, and experience refreshment and clarity on the waves of your inhale. When your breath becomes smooth, release all effort. Relax. Then bring your attention to the effortless breath beginning at the tips of your nostrils, and experience the sound of ‘So’ on the inhale and ‘Hum’ on the exhale. Repeat, relax, and sit as long as if comfortable or as time allows. If the Mind wanders, it's ok and natural, just bring your attention back to your breath and the sound and feeling of So Hum.
(There are several breath practices that are beneficial to meditation preparation, which can be suggested by a qualified Teacher.)

To finish your meditation and transition from the inner experience to the outer world, become aware of your breath again and allow it to gently deepen. Observe your body, and how it feels to be held by the surface on which you are sitting. Place your cupped palms over your closed eyes and as you become ready, gently open your eyes on an inhale. Then slowly lower the hands, and in your own way, give thanks for the time you had to dedicate to your practice and experience the joy of looking forward to the next practice.

Mindfully transition back into your day – when stress hits, just remember your happy place of peace and calm.

Process and methodology comes from the tradition of the Himalayan Masters, and the teachings of Swami Rama.