Sattvic food

 When talking about food in Ayurveda, it often concerns its effects on the doshas vata, pitta and kapha. Another aspect of the food is whether it is sattvic, rajasic or tamasic. Sattva is the creative force, rajas the sustaining and tamas the destructive. All are needed in nature, but they are also transferred to mental doshas in us humans, and then only sattva is positive, while rajas and tamas are negative.

If digestion works well, Sattvic food can create ojas, the healthiest substance there is. Sattvic food is also good for our spiritual development. Examples of sattvic food are milk (organic and from healthy cows), ghee, rice and many fresh fruits. Examples of tamasic and rajasic foods are meat, mushrooms and onions. Food also becomes more sattvic if it is prepared with love and eaten with gratitude 😊

Autumn

 Autumn is here whether we like it or not. This means that we have entered the part of the year dominated by vata-dosha. Vata is cold, mobile, dry, rough, light and subtle. It controls all forms of movement in the body, such as blood circulation, breathing and the functioning of the nervous system. Vata is sensitive to stress, anxiety and excessive activity and stimulation. Therefore, it is very common for people in today's society to have vata imbalances. And since vata is the leading dosha, imbalances in vata can also lead to imbalances in the other doshas. Therefore, it is essential to keep vata in balance - especially now during autumn and winter. The key words to do that are warmth, regularity and rest. Please consider these points.

• Try to live regularly with the same times for food, sleep, etc., preferably also on weekends.

• Make sure to get to bed early in the evenings so that you get the deep and beneficial sleep that comes at the beginning of the night, especially in the hours before midnight.

• Eat hot, well-cooked, nutritious food such as soups and stews. Avoid cold and raw food.

• Never drink cold drinks. Instead, drink warm water with and between meals or warming herbal teas - and perhaps warm milk in the evening before going to bed.

• Feel free to do abhyanga, oil massage, with warm sesame oil. Sesame oil is the most vata-balancing substance out there, and vata is related to touch, so that combination is perfect. Leave the oil on for 10 minutes, and then take a warm bath or shower.

• Body contact is good for calming vata, so feel free to give those you care about little extra hugs during this time.

• Exercise is good, but you should take it easy during this time and avoid overexerting yourself – especially outside in cold and windy weather.

• Stay warm. Protect especially the ears and neck from the cold.

• Yoga and meditation are great for getting into balance.

• Do not worry about the world or the future. Your life is here and now, not in the future or the past or in some troubled part of the world but the very thing that you are experiencing right now. Enjoy the little things in life, and then they are the ones that grow.

• Try to avoid stress. I know, it's not always that easy. But there may be activities in your life that you don't absolutely have to do. Try to reduce the activity and focus on what is important - your health, your joy in life and your loved ones.

Have a lovely autumn 😊