There are countless interpretations of Ayurveda available online and in books. Each person has their unique perspective: for some, it’s viewed as a holistic healing system, while for others, it’s dismissed as pseudoscience. However, there are those like me, who see it simply as a matter of selecting the right kitchen ingredients and consuming them at the right times, and voilà, it works effectively for us. It’s perplexing how Ayurveda has evolved into either pseudoscience or an alternative healing system because, in our view, the concept of eating right has been passed down through generations. Let’s delve into what my grandmother taught me, which she learnt from her grandmother.
By Shreya Bali
It All Comes Down to the Ingredients
As a child, I can’t recall taking pharmaceutical medicines for various ailments. Whether it was a fever, a minor injury, or a seasonal cough or cold, we believed that my grandmother’s herbal concoction, known as ‘Kadha,’ could cure anything, and it never failed us. Granted, it may have taken a bit longer to heal compared to over-the-counter medications like paracetamol and cough drops, but the results were well worth the patience, as they addressed the root cause. Whenever someone in the family fell ill and sought medicine, my grandmother would remark, ‘Sab dawaiya tumahri rasoi me hai, tumhe bas istemaal karni nahi aati’ (‘All medicines are in your kitchen; you just don’t know how to use them’).
Balancing the Three Elements
Picture landing a job with the salary package you’ve always dreamed of. You start working, instantly falling in love with the job. Each day seems better than the last, until one day, you experience stomach pain. You decide to see a doctor, who diagnoses it as a liver infection. You express your frustration, stating that you don’t even consume alcohol, but the doctor attributes it to your lifestyle. Now, you return home, consumed by worries, and this in turn takes a toll on your mental well-being. Would you still feel as content with your job under these circumstances?
Now envision a more delightful scenario: you arrive at work and prioritize your well-being. Instead of coffee breaks, you take breaks to stretch. You recognize the significance of staying hydrated and having timely meals. Rather than indulging in cafeteria junk food, you bring your lunch and savour it mindfully. Even if there were no significant events, you exhibit kindness to your colleagues. You appreciate your job and the ability to balance your health and work. You haven’t burdened your mind today. The synchronization of the three elements (i.e., body, mind and soul) is balance, and remember, there is no health without balance. We often miss out on understanding the importance of balancing self and our surroundings.
The Three Doshas
When someone begins to explore Ayurveda, the key concept to grasp is the understanding of our body’s energies. Ayurveda identifies three types of energies: Pitta, Vata, and Kapha, known as the three doshas. It’s important to note that each person has a unique combination of these doshas. So, the journey to Ayurvedic well-being starts with recognizing our individual dosha balance. However, going into great detail on this topic is beyond the scope of this article, as it’s a substantial topic in its own right.
Balance is in Routine
‘Dincharya’, my grandmother’s daily routine, was devoid of soap, lotions, or any skincare regimen. She never resorted to pills for improved well-being, and I can’t recall a single instance of her falling ill or appearing lethargic. She remained a vibrant woman with glossy, grey-black hair and porcelain skin.
Curiosity led me to inquire about her secrets to maintaining such youthful energy and flawless skin. Her response was simple: ‘Nothing special, just adhering to a routine.’ I found it hard to believe that her unassuming daily regimen was the key.
Despite being 86 years old, she exuded the energy of a child chasing a kite, attributing it solely to her daily routine. According to her, there exists an invisible natural clock that guides us on how to make the most of every minute. This ‘clock’ even allocates time for doing nothing, as she believed that healing and rejuvenation commence with taking breaks and allowing moments of rest.
Her daily routine shaped her identity. She would rise before sunrise, engage in the Abhyanga oil massage every morning, and follow a bathing ritual involving neem leaf, gram flour, turmeric and homemade rose water. I still have a faint memory of her grinding something in mortar and pestle each morning before her bath, likely sandalwood. Following these practices, she would prepare a nourishing meal for us, consisting of fresh curry and chapatis (Indian bread) generously adorned with homemade white butter.
It brings to mind another occasion when my grandfather scolded my father for leaving food uneaten and intending to save it for later. Leftovers were a big no in my grandparents’ household. They firmly held the belief that food should be consumed within three hours of being prepared, as anything beyond that time frame would lose its life force or ‘prana’.
However, it was certainly simpler for our grandparents to adhere to a routine like this. It might appear somewhat impractical to overhaul our entire way of life to pursue a healthy one.
So how do we do it? How do we build a routine?
The beauty of Ayurveda lies in its approach, which doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your lifestyle, unlike certain trendy diets. Instead, it encourages gradual changes, one habit at a time. Abrupt and forced transformations often prove unsustainable and can lead to unnecessary stress. Building a routine starts with incorporating small, positive habits and making gradual adjustments. For instance, if you have a habit of starting your day with tea or coffee, Ayurveda prompts you to question whether this serves your well-being. Does it offer any health benefits, or does it potentially introduce toxins in your system? Once you have the answer, consider using that same pot to boil lukewarm water instead of making coffee. Savour this water, appreciating how it rejuvenates every cell in your body and eliminates accumulated toxins. Consistently practice this small change until it seamlessly integrates into your daily routine, gradually pushing tea or coffee into the background. Taking inspiration from my initial mentor, my grandmother, I too managed to establish a routine that has undeniably played a significant role in shaping my identity.
In today’s fast-paced life, this is what my daily routine or Dincharya looks like:
I start my day with oil pulling, followed by brushing my teeth and tongue scraping—a crucial step to eliminate undigested toxins and prepare my system for its daily functions. Afterwards, I enjoy a glass of warm water, occasionally with a pinch of rock salt. Setting intentions during these activities has seamlessly become a part of my routine. If time permits, I indulge in an invigorating sesame oil massage known as Abhyanga, which offers numerous benefits. As a dedicated yoga enthusiast, I’ve successfully integrated yoga into my morning regimen, striving not to miss a single day. The most pivotal aspect of my daily routine is breakfast—a simple yet hearty meal designed to provide sustained energy without burdening my system.
So, you may wonder, how much time have I invested in all these activities thus far? The answer is one and a half hours. Yes, just ninety minutes of my day, easily attainable by rising with the sun. Ironically, we often struggle to allocate a mere two to three hours for self-care within a twenty-four-hour day, only to later lament our health and body’s lack of support.
Then comes lunch and dinner, and without question, I adhere to the age-old adage of having lunch like a king. According to Ayurveda, the digestive fire is most active during the afternoon, making it the ideal time for the day’s heaviest meal, and I make a concerted effort to follow this guideline. If my schedule permits, I prepare a nutritious meal in the morning comprising rice, pulses, and vegetables. I also incorporate some pickle, which is rich in probiotics, further aiding digestion. When dining out, I select my food thoughtfully. Additionally, I endeavour to conclude my dinner as early as possible, but if work constraints intervene, I ensure to finish eating at least two hours before bedtime.
I’m not implying that my daily regimen is better or that it holds all the solutions. As humans, our path is one of ongoing self-enhancement. Each day, we gain new insights and shed old beliefs, yet in the modern world, certain age-old practices should endure. Ayurveda encompasses far more than what I’ve described here. What I’ve shared is not even one percent of its vast wisdom. However, at its essence, Ayurveda revolves around achieving balance. As an ordinary person, I’m simply endeavouring to discover that equilibrium through Ayurvedic principles of moderation in everything. I started growing more intuitive about myself and my body’s needs.
Food: Foundation of the Healing Process
We’ve all encountered the saying that ‘you are what you eat,’ and this holds in every aspect, especially within the realm of Ayurveda. When you consult an Ayurvedic practitioner, or a Vaidya, as we call them, for any health concern, their initial approach often involves providing you with a list of food items that may appear unconventional to you. However, they firmly place their trust in the potency of food, much like we rely on the efficacy of medicine. To a Vaidya, food is medicine.
Ayurveda doesn’t recognize the concepts of protein, carbohydrates, micronutrients, and macronutrients. Instead, it focuses on understanding your body’s specific needs. According to Ayurveda, when your body’s natural balance is maintained, it will intuitively crave the foods it requires. An Ayurvedic practitioner may suggest removing certain foods from your diet and incorporating specific foods into your daily meals. While it might initially appear challenging to adhere to, over time your body will naturally respond to the foods that are inherently beneficial for it.
Having said this, I recognize that adhering to the many guidelines of Ayurveda can be hectic, but making an effort to integrate a few whenever feasible can significantly impact one’s life. Here are a few that I personally try to follow:
- Eat local, eat seasonal
In today’s interconnected world, where virtually everything is accessible through smartphone applications, it becomes challenging to appreciate and adhere to Ayurveda’s emphasis on the consumption of locally sourced foods. Eating foods that are in season and grown locally is considered beneficial for maintaining balance and good health. These foods are believed to be more attuned to the current environmental conditions and are often considered more nourishing and easier to digest. Ayurveda believes that such foods are rich in vital life force (prana) and offer maximum nutritional value, contributing to physical and mental well-being
- Eat warm and fresh
Consume freshly prepared and warm meals whenever possible. While Ayurveda discourages eating leftovers, it doesn’t imply that you should make your life difficult or feel guilty about having some leftover food in the fridge. For instance, if there’s leftover curry in my refrigerator, I wouldn’t discard it in the name of adhering to Ayurveda. Instead, I typically heat some ghee (clarified butter) and cumin in a pan. When it’s slightly warm, I add the leftover curry over medium heat until it reaches a boiling point. I then serve it while it’s warm.
- Cooked salad approach
Cooked salad may sound like a bad idea, but as per Ayurveda, food should be cooked to make it easier to digest and to enhance its nutritional value. Ayurveda generally advises against the consumption of raw food, especially during the colder seasons, as it is considered to be rough, cold and harder to digest. However, Ayurveda also recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and dietary recommendations may vary based on an individual’s constitution, current state of health, and the season. In some cases, small amounts of raw food, such as salads, may be acceptable for individuals. Ayurvedic dietary guidelines are personalized, taking into consideration various factors to support overall well-being.
- Be grateful, set intentions
To be honest, I didn’t have the habit of praying or establishing intentions before my meals; it simply wasn’t something I did. However, one day, after returning from a two-month trip, my mother prepared a nourishing khichdi meal for me. It was the same khichdi I had enjoyed since my childhood, but after the extended journey, it felt like a heavenly dish, with ghee resembling clouds. I expressed my gratitude to my mother for the meal, and I felt so thankful that I instinctively found myself setting intentions for how it would help alleviate my travel fatigue and soothe my upset stomach. Now I find myself praying in the same manner as my grandfather did.
Fundamentally, while there’s much more to Ayurveda than I, as an everyday individual, can convey, I hold the belief that embracing Ayurveda doesn’t require in-depth study or rigorous training. What it does require is your presence at the moment, your commitment to your well-being, and the conscious selection of healthy choices in your daily life. It’s about opting for fruit over sweets, prioritizing sleep over late-night movies, or going for a post-dinner walk. This, in essence, embodies Ayurveda. It’s about having faith in your capacity to heal. Ayurveda promotes a lifestyle that enhances your overall health, reducing the frequency of illnesses. To clarify, I don’t disregard modern medicine or science, but I firmly believe that they can complement each other effectively.
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November 2023 | Life Lovers Magazine.
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