Vai is an expert digital media content strategist who believes in the power of ‘listen, ponder, change’ to induce a positive shift in anyone’s journey. She says, “I found it very appropriate that [Selina] come on the show to talk about adapting an Ayurvedic lifestyle in the Western World, or for that matter in other parts of the world. Getting better health outcomes is the most vital role for anyone in life; more so, preventing diseases before they manifest into stages that become perplexing.”

In this conversation, Vai and Selina discuss:

• Different stages of conditions per Ayurveda
• Stages of discomfort before a condition becomes a disease
• Being in tune with current and birth conditions
• Different elements and their make up – air, fire, earth , recognized as Doshas by Ayurveda
• What ghee is – based on ancient texts of Ayurveda
• Medicated ghee for certain conditions
• Gritha or ghee as it relates to certain conditions
• Dairy or lactose intolerance and ghee
• Digestive fire – Agni and its importance
• Ghee and Omega 3
• Role of cold beverages and fat deposits
• Aging and role of ghee in combating aging
• Adaptogenic quality of ghee
• Immunity and conditions manifesting; how Ayurveda deals  with it
• Role of Chyawanprash and how it helps immunity
• Selina’s daily routine – as an example for life in the Western world and incorporating healthy practices
• Eating based on one’s needs, systemic cleanse

and much more …..

Tune in today to benefit from this conversation: Follow the podcast on Spotify, Google, Apple , Amazon or the podcast website.

The post Fresh Leaf Forever Podcast Interview with Selina appeared first on PIOR Living.

If you have a predominantly Vata constitution or suspect that you have a Vata imbalance, you may wonder what to look for in a Vata recipe. Vata recipes balance out the inherent qualities of Vata dosha. The light, cool, and dry aspects of Vata dosha are balanced by foods that are warm, moist, and somewhat heavy or nourishing.

What Are Vata Balancing Foods?

Vata-balancing foods include warming spices, such as cinnamon, ginger, clove, black pepper, turmeric, and truly most spices in moderation. Also, Vata recipes generally include oil or at least a watery component, as moisture balances the dryness of Vata dosha. Ghee, ghruta, and sesame oil are especially balancing for Vata dosha.

In addition, heavy foods such as whole grains and nuts balance the lightness of Vata dosha. Good choices include oats, whole wheat, rice, almonds, and cashews. As far as veggies are concerned, many Vata-types will gravitate to salads and leafy greens, which tend to be light, bitter, and drying. Small amounts of leafy greens are fine for Vata dosha, but greens should be cooked and salad is best eaten with an oily dressing. In general, root veggies and starchy vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, parsnips, and squash will be better suited to Vata dosha.

Vata Recipes: A Few Ideas

The foods mentioned in this article are certainly not an exhaustive list of Vata-balancing foods, but provide a few ideas as to some places to start when you wish to keep Vata dosha in check. Here is one Vata recipe that makes a great treat or snack. This recipe comes from the California College of Ayurveda. I received this recipe during my training there and have handed it down to many clients who have attested to its tastiness. Treat this recipe as an initial guide—feel free to come up with your own variations!

Nourishing Nut Butter Date Balls

8 ounces almond, cashew, or sunflower butter
4-6 soft Medjool dates
1/8 cup honey or maple syrup
1 tablespoon ghee/ ghruta
1/2 teaspoon. cinnamon powder
1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder
1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
1 tablespoon adaptogens (such as maca, ashwagandha, or shatavari) – optional
1 tablespoon raw cacao powder

Directions

Put all ingredients into a food processor. Blend until evenly mixed.

Move mixture into a bowl. Refrigerate covered for 1/2 hour.

Roll into bite-sized balls. Optionally coat with raw cacao powder or cinnamon.

Store in refrigerator for up to one week or freeze. Eat 1-2 when you need a nourishing snack or wish for a healthy treat.

These Nourishing Nut Butter Date Balls are just one idea for a Vata Recipe.

More ideas for Vata recipes include:

• Kitchari with ghee and Vata-balancing vegetables, such as carrots and sweet potatoes
• Almond butter toast
• Rice pudding
• Roasted squash served with cinnamon and ghee
• Roasted sweet potatoes with sauteed kale and mustard seeds

And more ideas for a Vata balancing breakfast!

Greta Kent-Stoll is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (NAMA), as well as a writer, editor, and Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher. She is the co-owner of Iyengar Yoga Asheville. You can learn more about Greta’s work at Asheville Ayurveda.

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Why Grass Fed Ghee is Better for You

Scientific studies show that ghee and butter which come from grass fed cows are better for you than ghee and butter which come from grain-fed cows. A study by the International Journal of Vitamin Nutritional Research found that grass fed milk had a higher omega 3 fatty acid content as compared the milk of grain fed cows (2). In addition grass fed butter has higher amounts of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a type of fatty acid that may support heart health.

Also, intuitive wisdom supports this. Grass fed cattle eat the way that nature intended, munching on a variety of seasonal, wild grasses and herbs. According to Ayurveda, the nutrition and plant wisdom from those varied plants is passed on through the milk of the cows. The result is milk that is more nutritious and medicinal.

Grass Fed Ghee Even Tastes Better Than Grain Fed

Not only is grass fed ghee better for you, most people find that grass fed ghee tastes better too. A 2016 study that compared the taste and nutritional quality of butter from grass fed versus grain fed cows found that the butter from pasture fed cows was both nutritionally superior and better tasting than that of grain fed (1). Consumers reported significant preference in terms of flavor, color, and appearance of the grass fed butter as compared to the grain fed (1).

Buying the Highest Quality Grass Fed Ghee

When you buy grass fed ghee, make sure you also consider the treatment of the cows and whether it was made ayurvedically. This will ensure you are buying the highest quality ghee available.

PIOR Living offers Ghruta ghee which is made from free-range, grass fed Indian Gir cows that roam the Gujarati plains and forests of India. The ghee is also made according to Ayurvedic traditions. Learn more about Ghruta ghee and how it is superior to conventional ghee.

References

(1) O’Callaghan, T. F., Faulkner, H., McAuliffe, S., O’Sullivan, M. G., Hennessy, D., Dillon, P., Kilcawley, K. N., Stanton, C., & Ross, R. P. (2016). Quality characteristics, chemical composition, and sensory properties of butter from cows on pasture versus indoor feeding systems. Journal of dairy science, 99(12), 9441–9460. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11271

(2) Hebeisen DF, Hoeflin F, Reusch HP, Junker E, Lauterburg BH. Increased concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids in milk and platelet rich plasma of grass-fed cows. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1993;63(3):229-33. PMID: 7905466.

Greta Kent-Stoll is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (NAMA), as well as a writer, editor, and Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher. She is the co-owner of Iyengar Yoga Asheville. You can learn more about Greta and her Ayurveda practice at asheville.ayurveda.net.

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Spices for Vata: Warm and Comforting

In order to understand the best spices for Vata, it may help to first consider the qualities of Vata dosha. Vata dosha is light, dry, cool, rough, and subtle. Therefore, warming spices tend to be helpful for Vata dosha. Also, cinnamon and licorice, which are sweet, are helpful spices for Vata since the sweet taste consists of earth and water. Earth and water balance the light, dry, cool qualities of Vata dosha.

In addition, Vata types tend to experience bloating and variable digestion, so carminative spices such as cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and small amounts of black pepper are helpful. Also, the light, mobile, airy aspects of Vata dosha can make these types susceptible to feelings of insecurity. Therefore, warming, comforting spices such as star anise tend to be pleasant and balancing spices for Vata.

Let’s take a closer look at a few favorite spices for Vata!

Cinnamon

The smell of cinnamon tends to evoke a sense of warmth and comfort. This sweet, pungent spice assists with healthy circulation and digestion. It assists in the absorption of nutrients and has a calming, sattvic energy that pacifies Vata dosha (Dass, 2013). Use this spice for Vata on stewed or baked apples with ghruta ghee, sprinkled in hot cocoa, and as a key ingredient in masala chai. Cinnamon is also an ingredient in Chyawanprash. There are numerous ways to enjoy cinnamon, and these are just a few ideas for starters!

Ginger

Ginger is easily one of the most versatile and broadly applicable spices for Vata. Revered in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, this warming spice supports agni (digestive fire), aids circulation, calms nausea, and is an effective anti-inflammatory. The warming, sweet qualities of fresh ginger in particular make this a powerful spice for Vata. Ginger is a key ingredient in masala chai and many savory Ayurvedic dishes. Add fresh or dried ginger to kitchari, curries, and stir-fry vegetables. Ginger is also an ingredient in Chyawanprash.

Cardamom

Cardamom is not as hot as ginger. However, it is gently warming and is considered refreshing and sattvic. This aromatic, tasty spice is a good choice for Vata for many reasons: it gently stimulates agni and soothes bloating and indigestion (Dass, 2013). Cardamom also helps with the digestion of heavy, dairy foods such as milk and ice cream. Oftentimes, those with a Vata constitution have variable or delicate digestion, so carminatives such as cardamom should definitely be included in spices for Vata.

Spice Is More Than Nice

This is just an introduction to spices for Vata. In fact, most spices are helpful for Vata dosha, with the exception of very hot spices. Overall, when it comes to spices for Vata, warming, comforting, sweet spices are good choices.

References

Dass, V. (2013). Ayurvedic Herbology: East & West. Twin Lakes, WI: Lotus Press.

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A1 or A2: Why Milk Protein Matters

B-casein is the primary protein in milk, and can be classified as A1 or A2. The difference between A1 and A2 protein is significant because A1 and A2 amino acid structures vary from one another.

A2 milk and the ghee made from it are generally much easier to digest compared to A1. Furthermore, as Ayurveda teaches, optimal digestion is the root of health. Disturbed digestion can lead to all kinds of trouble both immediately and down the road. For many people, milk and ghee made from milk with A1 protein is more difficult to digest. This can lead to greater inflammation. Tummy troubles and inflammation…no thanks!

Unfortunately, most conventional milk (and ghee) come from cow varieties such as Jersey, Holstein Friesian, Ayrshire, and British Short Horn, which produce milk with primarily A1 protein. For those who are sensitive to dairy products, this distinction is meaningful.

Anecdotally, there are reports of people moving from India to the United States and experiencing a much harder time digesting the dairy here. This is because the native breeds of Indian cows are A2. This is also true of Indian buffalo. Have you ever visited India and enjoyed a local chai masala made with milk? If so, you may have tasted that special something that you just can’t get in the United States. Of course, part of it is methodology passed down through the generations. Yet, I have known more than a few tourists who hypothesize that the difference in the milk is a big part of it!

How To Buy A2 Gir Cow Ghee

If you are looking for A2 Gir cow ghee, PIOR Living ghruta is made using the milk of A2 Indian Gir cows. Our cattle are free-range and grass-fed so not only do you get a more easily digested product, but milk and ghee from free-range cattle are also more nutritious and sattvic. In addition, on an ethical and subtle level, the cattle that our ghruta comes from are treated as sacred. This is reflected by the fact that they are milked only at their own free will. This, sadly, is vastly different from most conventional dairy farms in the United States.

Balancing your digestion and reducing inflammation are two major ways in which you can set the stage for optimal health. Choosing A2 Gir cow ghee over conventional ghee products may be an important factor in supporting your digestion and overall wellness.

The post Why is the ghee from A2 gir cows superior for digestion and health? appeared first on PIOR Living.

Rasa – Taste

In Ayurveda, taste is multi-layerd. There is the initial taste (rasa), the energetics (virya), and the overall or post-digestive effect (vipaka). This post will focus on the rasa, the initial taste. However, for general understanding, the virya is whether a food is cooling, warming, or heating and the vipaka speaks to whether a food is nourishing or purifying.

What Are The Six Ayurvedic Tastes?

Sweet

The sweet taste is the most nourishing and nutritive of the 6 Ayurvedic tastes. It is composed of earth and water. Dr. Lad teaches that “The sweet taste increases the vital essence of life.” (1) Some of the foods that are characterized by the sweet taste are dates, milk, rice, licorice, and ghruta ghee. Many of these foods nourish ojas (vigor/vitality) and support the integrity and strength of all the bodily tissues (1). When enjoyed in moderate amounts, the sweet taste provides essential stability and strength. When taken in excess, the sweet taste can dampen the agni (digestive fire) and may lead to ama or Kapha dosha issues.

Sour

The sour taste is also nutritive, though not as much as the sweet taste. Of the 6 Ayurvedic tastes, the sour taste is the best for building up the agni in the long run. Amla berry or amalaki, the base ingredient in Chyawanprash, is a great example of a sour food/herb. Other examples of sour foods include citrus fruits, yogurt, vinegar, cheese, lemons, and fermented foods such as kimchee and kombucha (1).

Salty

The salty taste is composed primarily of water and fire (1). When used in moderation (just a dash or pinch will do!), the salty taste supports digestion and augments the flavor of food. I think we can all relate to the importance of getting the “just right” balance with the salty taste. Too much salt may aggravate Pitta and Kapha doshas and can lead to signs of premature aging (1). However, just the right amount of salt will assist digestion and is essential for proper electrolyte balance.

Astringent

The astringent taste is perhaps the most difficult to describe of the 6 Ayurvedic tastes. If you think of an unripe persimmon, that is the quintessential expression of the astringent taste. Astringency relates to dryness, and also many astringent foods have a fair amount of earth element. Examples of astringent foods are cauliflower, beans, sour apples, and cranberries. The astringent taste is balancing for both Pitta and Kapha doshas.

Pungent

Pungent means spicy, and the pungent taste stimulates digestion and circulation. Pungent foods include spices such as cayenne, ginger, and black pepper, as well as naturally spicy foods such as radish. The pungent taste is balancing for Kapha doshas.

Bitter

The bitter taste is the most purifying of the 6 Ayurvedic tastes. Foods that are characterized by the bitter taste include dark leafy greens such as dandelion greens and kale. Also, aloe vera and coffee are bitter. The bitter taste is balancing for Kapha and Pitta doshas.

Just a Taste…

There is much to understand when it comes to the 6 Ayurvedic tastes. However, hopefully this gives you a taste (pun intended!) and a launching point for understanding the quality and effects of the 6 Ayurvedic tastes. Bon appetit!

References

Lad, V. & Lad, U. (1997). Ayurvedic cooking for self-healing (2nd ed.). The Ayurvedic Press.

Greta Kent-Stoll is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (NAMA), as well as a writer, editor, and Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher. Her Ayurveda practice is based in Asheville, North Carolina and she is the co-owner of Iyengar Yoga Asheville.

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The Reasoning Behind Ayurveda Oil Pulling

Firstly, in a broad sense, Ayurveda teaches that the simple act of caring for something and keeping it clean helps extend its longevity. Therefore, proper eye washing, nasal rinsing, and cleaning of our bodies are hygienic practices that show self-love and help circumvent illness and disease. Ayurveda oil pulling is a practice that nourishes the gums and supports dental health. It is a practice that bolsters overall oral hygiene.

Our mouths are full of bacteria, many necessary and beneficial. However, given that there are between 1,000 and 100,000 bacteria on each tooth in even a clean mouth, it stands to reason that there are a few bad actors among those bacteria! (1). Furthermore, each bacteria microorganism is coated in a thin layer of fat. Oil, another lipid, works by pulling in those fat-coated bacteria. Thus, the bacterial load in the mouth is reduced.

In addition, maintaining good oral hygiene has an effect on more than dental and periodontal health. Your oral microbiome can play a role in the health of your heart, immune system, sinuses, and may even impact pregnancy and delivery (1).

How To Do Oil Pulling

With all the benefits of oil-pulling, why not incorporate Ayurveda oil pulling into your daily oral hygiene routine? It is best to practice oil pulling in the morning on an empty stomach. You can do it after or before brushing your teeth, but some experts suggest brushing and then oil pulling. If you tongue scrape, you can tongue scrape, brush, and then oil pull. This way you will retain the positive effects of oil-pulling (2).

To oil pull, take about one tablespoon of oil into your mouth and gently swish around for anywhere from 1-20 minutes. It is often recommended that you work up to 15-20 minutes of oil pulling. However, some experts say that just a few minutes is plenty of time (2). Be sure to swish the oil all around the inside of your mouth and “pull” between the teeth to sweep up as much harmful bacteria as possible. Spit the oil into the toilet or trash (not down the sink as the oil may clog your pipes).

Which Oil is Best for Ayurveda Oil Pulling?

You have a few different options when it comes to the best oil for oil pulling. Sesame oil is nourishing and balancing for Vata dosha. Some people enjoy coconut oil and tout its function as an antimicrobial. Or, try oil pulling with Ghruta ghee, the most beloved oil in Ayurveda! Known for its nourishing, ojas building properties and ability to balance all three doshas, Ghruta ghee is one of the best oils for Ayurvedic oil pulling.

Greta Kent-Stoll is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (NAMA), as well as a writer, editor, and Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher. Her Ayurveda practice is based in Asheville, North Carolina and she is the co-owner of Iyengar Yoga Asheville.

References

(1) Emery, J. (2014). How dental professionals can respond to ‘oil pulling’ patients. Dentistry IQ. Retrieved from https://www.dentistryiq.com/dental-hygiene/patient-education/article/16359465/how-dental-professionals-can-respond-to-oil-pulling-patients

(2) Burhenne, M. (2020). Oil pulling: Benefits, risks & how to oil pull. Retrieved from https://askthedentist.com/oil-pulling-coconut-oil/

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Pitta Dosha: Light, Hot, and Oily

When thinking about the best recipes for a particular dosha or time of year, it is always good to first recall the predominant qualities of that dosha. Some of the qualities that describe Pitta dosha are: (1)

• Hot
• Sharp
• Light
• Oily
• Spreading or Mobile

Therefore, cooling, astringent foods, and foods that are a little bit heavy and stable tend to be balancing for Pitta dosha. The sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes are good for a Pitta dosha diet.

Pitta Shopping List

Keeping the above attributes in mind, let’s look at a few recipes and food ideas for Pitta dosha. Here are some good items to include on your Pitta shopping list in the summer:

• Kale
• Zucchini
• Okra
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Green beans
• Beets
• Pomegranates
• Figs
• Apples
• Rice
• Ghruta ghee
• Coconut
• Sunflower seeds
• Barley
• Chickpeas
• Mung dal
• Fresh basil

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but rather some ideas to get you started. When shopping for produce, look for items that are local and organic whenever possible. This will naturally guide you to choices that are in season—and balancing for the dosha that predominates during the time of year. For instance, during mid to late summer where I live in the southeastern USA, kale, green beans, okra, and beets are readily available from my local farmer. It’s no coincidence that these foods are also balancing for Pitta dosha!

Take a look at this comprehensive list of Pitta foods to learn the best foods for balancing Pitta.

Pitta Recipes

Now let’s look at some fun Pitta recipe ideas and ways you can turn these delicious foods into simple, nourishing, balancing meals.

Whether I am in India or the American South, okra is a personal favorite! Okra has a sweet and astringent taste, a cooling energy, and a sweet (nourishing) post-digestive effect. (1) These qualities make it perfect for Pitta dosha and Pitta recipes. There are many different ways to prepare okra. I like to chop it up into small wheels and oven roast with Ghruta ghee, salt, and spices until crispy. This also takes away the slimy quality that many find so unappealing. For spicing, choose from coriander, turmeric, black pepper, caraway, cumin, or try a mild yellow curry powder. You can also garnish with fresh basil or fresh parsley.

Other recipe ideas for Pitta dosha include:

• Kitchari made with cooling, seasonal veggies
• Oatmeal spiced with cardamom and cinnamon
• Seasonal vegetable stirfry with balancing grains and/or beans
• Roasted beets
• Sauteed beet greens
• Avocado toast

Furthermore, ghee and ghruta are great cooking oils for Pitta recipes as ghee is mildly cooling and tridoshic.

Here’s to fully celebrating the delicious foods and recipes for Pitta balancing!

References

(1) Lad, U., & Lad, V. (1994). Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing. The Ayurvedic Press.

Greta Kent-Stoll is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (NAMA), as well as a writer, editor, and Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher. Her Ayurveda practice is based in Asheville, North Carolina and she is the co-owner of Iyengar Yoga Asheville.

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The Power of Nasya

Nasya oil can be used in a couple of different ways. There is a day-to-day self-care method for using nasya oil and a deeper, therapeutic application. Before we discuss these two methods, let’s first consider why nasya oil at all!

Ayurveda teaches that the nasal passage is the “door to the brain and consciousness” (1). Furthermore, prana, or life force, is carried on the breath. So when you inhale you are also taking in prana. Therefore, keeping the nasal passages clear is one way in which you can keep the gates of prana open.

Nasya Oil for Daily Care

If you experience dry nasal passages, sinus congestion, headaches, or hoarseness, a bit of daily nasal passage oiling can be a great help! You can purchase special nasya oils from Ayurvedic product suppliers. Many of these oils are are infused with supportive and aromatic herbs.

Or, you can use a bit of pure ghee or ghruta for your daily nasya practice. Remember that our bodies digest ghee quite easily and that ghee builds ojas and nourishes the brain. Therefore, daily nasal massage with a bit of ghee is a great way to support clear breathing, healthy nasal passages, and optimal intake of breath and prana.

A Practice For Better Breathing and Emotional Flow

For nasal massage with ghee, put just a dab of ghee on a clean finger (be sure your fingernails are trimmed!) and massage gently for several seconds using a circular motion (1). Dr. Lad writes that this practice supports clear breathing and may help one’s emotions to flow better (1).

Furthermore, if you don’t love the idea of massaging your nasal passages, you can simply dap a bit of ghee inside your nostrils. Or, use a dropper bottle to apply a drop or two to each nostril. For this method, you will need to slightly warm the bottle of ghee and lie back for a couple of minutes until the ghee is absorbed.

Nasya Oil in Clinical Use

Many Ayurvedic practitioners practice nasya as a body therapy. This is a more involved process compared with a drop or two of oil in the nose. In this case, one typically uses herbal-infused oils and a more generous amount of oil. Facial massage and steaming may also be part of a more involved nasya therapy.

When Nasya Oil Is Not Appropriate

Nasya oil, whether applied in a daily self-care way or as part of a deeper therapy, is useful for many conditions. Indications include headaches, neck and jaw stiffness, dental issues, speech disorders, and depleted sexual energy (2). At the same time, there are contraindications for nasya. Contraindications include pregnancy, menstruation, hunger, and dehydration (2). Also, one should not do nasya after consuming alcohol, or immediately after bathing or eating. In addition, nasya is not for children under 7 or those over 80 years old (2).

There are many benefits to using nasya oil. You can try just a dab of ghee in the nose daily. Or, seek out a practitioner for the full nasya treatment! As with any Ayurvedic practices, if you are unsure as to whether nasya is a good fit for you, consult with a trained Ayurvedic practitioner for guidance.

REFERENCES

Lad, V. (1984). Ayurveda: The science of self-healing. Lotus Press.

(2) Lad, V. (n.d.). Nasya. The Ayurvedic Institute. Retrieved from https://www.ayurveda.com/nasya/

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Why does some music make me feel good, even if I was in a bad mood before? I know that Ayurveda is a holistic health system, so is there an Ayurvedic explanation for the power of music?

Aah the healing powers of music, one of my favourite topics! I would argue that music is a fast track to feeling well.

As you point out, Ayurveda is a holistic medicine meaning it looks at the whole picture of a person. Someone made up of a body, mind and soul. All responding and reacting to everything that goes on in their environment. Our experience of life is subtle; think how someone’s words can affect our mood, or how a sharp wind can make us feel cold and uncomfortable. How qualities meet each other is the key to Ayurveda, and the magic of music as medicine. But let me take you on a deeper dive as you’ve asked for an explanation…

Back to the Big Bang 

Both science and the major religions of the world talk about how the world and everything in it began with sound. The first lines of the Bible’s St John’s Gospel say: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This is also the thesis of the ancient Tantric philosophy Spanda Shastra. It explains how the entire universe is made of vibration: that everything came into being via an original pulsation that became a sound, which then produced the beginnings of the Cosmos. 

This ancient Tantric science says it all began with no-thing, before there was some-thing: the Big Bang. The moment spirit and matter collided with a noisy bang was the beginning of creation. So if everything came into being in this way, that includes us (our bodies and minds). Where there is matter, it was sound that originally made it what it is. Ayurveda therefore sees that sound that will bring it back to its original state of balance. 

Theory in Practice 

My Ayurvedic Master (a brilliant doctor and holy man who is also blind) runs his clinic in Maharastra, India. One of his main forms of treatment is through sound. 

He perceives everyone as a bundle of energy, each with their own ring or hum to them. He feels their pulse and listens to the song each cell, organ and system is playing, and can then map out an MRI scan of their body in his mind. He can perceive where, how and why they are out of balance. Through sound he sees this, and through sound and mantra he helps put them back in balance. 

His main source of healing is through Sanskrit Mantras, for they have a primordial sonic power which puts a person’s subtle body back in touch with something utterly balanced and harmonious. 

But what’s this got to do with the music I listen to? 

Everything in Ayurveda has a quality to it, and that quality has an action. Just as a bitter medicine will scrape the toxins from the body; the sound of drums will fire the digestive system up. Music can be like medicinal formulas with their mixtures of sounds, melodies, tones and rhythms. 

Each instrument has a different quality, these make us feel different as a result. These sounds also act on different parts of the body. They act on our nervous system, circadian rhythm and hormones. This is why listening to certain pieces of music at certain times of day is a fast track for us to feeling balanced. It is a way to plug ourselves into a frequency, sometimes energising us other times chilling us out. 

An overview of the elements and how they correspond to sound 

Once we start to think of music in elemental terms, this can make us be more mindful when playing music: 

• Stringed instruments correspond to spaces in the body and the nervous system. They can therefore put us into a parasympathetic (chilled) state. These spaces in our body are vulnerable to being filled with worry and anxiety, but by means of strings, they can be filled with positivity.
• Flute and wind instruments correspond to the air-like movement of our body. Our thoughts, the way we move our body, the streams that course through us. These instruments can help create steady comfort and relief as oppose to erratic ungrounded changeability.
• Drums are like fire in our body. They allow for heat, skin prickling passion and drive. They wake us up, get us going, help us digest our food and thoughts. They allow us to have sparks of creativity and imagination. They can add flavour and bursts of vitality.
• Piano is like water in the body. It has the capacity to go with the flow, refresh us and chill us out. It corresponds to our emotional selves, the reproductive system and streams of consciousness. The piano can also put us into chilled balanced emotional states.
• Bassy music, the double bass and low slow melodic beats correspond to earth element, they ground us and can get us ready to sleep. They help us get back in our bodies which is great for physical stuff like exercise or sex. Earth element is grounded, the opposite to being scattered and all over the place.

Our Own Personalised Medicine

A key thing to keep in mind is how music that you listen to relates to you. How do certain songs make you feel? As Ayurveda states, we are all made differently and will respond differently to different things, we just need to trust what we are feeling – and that goes for music too. So when you connect with a piece of music know it is bringing you into your body, into this moment and has the power to restore and rebalance you.

For more information on tailored sound healing get in touch.

By Selina Van Orden

atyourbest.one

@_atyourbest

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