What is Your Original Nature?

person holding green vegetables

Your original nature is established at the time of conception and pretty much stays the same throughout your life. Often it is known as your “constitution.” In Sanskrit, it is called Prakrti and is defined as “the original or natural form or condition of anything, it’s an original or primary substance.”

To put it simply, it is the inherent nature of a person (reflected in one’s particular body, mind and spirit).

What is a constitution? 

Our individual constitution is made up of the elements that exist all around us, from the space, air, fire, water and earth components. In last week’s blogpost, I introduced the different elements or building blocks that make up our world. 

How do we receive our individual constitution? 

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The Chakras in a Nutshell

Last May, I began my monthly zoom class series called Yoga & the Chakras. I invited my dear friend Kayo Malik (Chinese doctor/acupuncturist) to join me and for the past six months we have been blending our healing systems to achieve one synergistic presentation of the chakra energy model.

It has been very educational to discover that, although the system of Yoga was practiced a continent away from China, each culture developed a subtle body concept that was identical at its core. Just goes to show you that when something is authentic, it is eventually known by all.

I have enjoyed our journey immensely. And, now that we will be culminating with the crown chakra this month, I have decided to give a synopsis of the progression we’ve made through the energetic body – highlighting our two perspectives.

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Becoming More Intuitive

The mind’s eye, also known as the third eye, is spiritually located between the eyes at the level of the brow. Physically, it has been related to the pineal gland which resides within the brain directly between the right and left sides – deep center to the spiritual third eye mark.

René Descartes called the pineal gland the “principal seat of the soul, and the place in which all our thoughts are formed.”

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It’s a Great Time to Cleanse

According to Ayurveda, there are specific times during the year when recalibrating our systems is essential. The time for cleansing is at the Ritu Sandhi or the 2 week or so juncture between the seasons.

This cleanse routine isn’t meant to be a method for losing weight (necessarily) and it certainly isn’t designed to deprive you of nourishment. On the contrary, Ayurvedic cleanses support and nourish your digestion so that you can reestablish your sleep habits, elimination, energy levels and, ultimately, restore your overall well-being.

How does a seasonal cleanse re-balance our systems?

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The Heart: Deep Cuts

This month we have been exploring all of the basic aspects of the heart: the feelings, emotions and connections that it provides as well as the subtle energies of the heart chakra. But, there are still lesser known and deeper layers of the heart that Ayurveda and Yoga describe to us. These “deep cuts” speak to the expansive quality of the heart chakra as it relates to its element – air.

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Balancing the Fire of Ayurveda

The term ayurveda means the “science of life.” Its practice utilizes diet, herbs, bodywork, breathing and meditation in a holistic fashion for healing the body. Ayurveda teaches us how to harmonize ourselves with sunrise and sunset, the seasons of the year and the stages of life. Ayurveda and yoga are sister sciences that grew up from the same root in ancient India.

Ayurveda recognizes that we all possess individual constitutional types or doshas in mind and body. Vata, Pitta and Kapha are the specific doshas and the categories by which the science of ayurveda is designated. Someone’s dosha can be determined by their body type, their temperament or even by the kind of food, exercise and lifestyle they gravitate toward. Ayurveda can give us a better understanding of our unique nature.

As summer approaches and things begin to heat up, it’s a good time to consider the concept of Ayurveda and discover what the Pitta (fire) dosha has in store for us. The practice of ayurveda can help to alleviate any excess heat that we experience in these months because we all gravitate toward a specific dosha in certain seasons despite our natural inclination.

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Balancing Summer’s Heat Through Yoga

Young woman practicing morning meditation in nature at the park. Health lifestyle concept.Any activity in the summer can get strenuous. These are the months when our bodies generate the most heat. To combat the warmer temperatures, we eat refreshing fruits, seek the shadiest spots and relax near the water with a good book. Inherently, we are searching to balance summer’s intensity.

The practice of yoga and ayurveda can also help to alleviate any excess heat that we experience in these months. Continue reading “Balancing Summer’s Heat Through Yoga”