Book Review & Challenge

We spend so much time “out there” looking at all the things we want (grasping) and all the things we don’t want (aversion).  If we come back from “out there”, we do the things we’re supposed to do to keep our physical body healthy.  We watch our food, we exercise.  We count calories, nutrients, and pounds.  Sometimes, we check in and ask ourselves: how do I feel?

But it’s not about “out there” or even our physical body.  When it comes down to it: it’s about our Mind (yes, capital M, Mind), our Heart, and our own Truth.  Yes, lots of capitals in today’s blog.

Yes, I’m talking about a cookbook.  No, I didn’t link the wrong image.

There isn’t anything I haven’t learned as an Ayurvedic Practitioner, or that I don’t (mostly) do, in the book, but reading it ‘landed’ it for me.  It solidified the way I serve my clients, my students, and the way I take care of myself.

For some reason it was the perfect book, at the perfect time, to give me a gentle nudge and a bit of a lightning bolt.  It’s like everything I’ve been thinking about, studying, and working on fell into place.  Everything that is important to me came to me reading this book, even things that weren’t in the book.

I found myself pondering: what’s most important to me in the “outer world”, in my body, and most importantly in my Heart/Mind.  I saw the big “out there” picture: the world around me, my people, my tribe.  I saw the bigger world beyond that and I found a sense of clarity about the things way out there that have been weighing on me, but that I have no control over.  I thought about the way I care for the physical body, the breathing body, the senses, the mental body, the heart space, the mind space…everything.

Ayurveda is often translated as the Wisdom of Living.  Are we living wisely?  Where are we cutting corners?  Where are we forgetting, or ignoring, pieces?  The definition of Health includes: Mind, Body, Spirit, and Senses.  Do we actually nourish all four of those pieces or do we focus daily-ish on the physical body and then do an annual cleanse to clear the fog of the mind, but make no day-to-day shifts?

How does one nourish the Heart/Mind?

It’s not a diet.  It’s not exercise.  It’s not the medicine.  Those are pieces, but what is the whole picture?   I’m seeing more and more: The Ayurvedic Diet or the Ayurvedic Exercise Program for your Dosha.  It’s not about that.  It truly is a wholistic lifestyle.  A practice.  A day to day commitment to being the best version of your Self in mind, body, spirit, and senses.  It is commitment to a simple, daily lifestyle of wellness in the way we take care of the body, mind, spirit, and senses so that we can interact in the world from the best versions of ourSelves.

That all being said.  That big, giant, deep picture above.  It all still comes back to simple daily practices of good food, good thoughts, good deeds, and self care.  In that spirit, here’s a simple seven day challenge for you:

“When attempting to clear the head, it is important to clean the mouth.”

–Start each morning with a mug of hot water. Add a slice of lemon and/or ginger and/or honey.  Lemon is a gentle cleanse.  Ginger kicks up digestive fire.  Honey helps clear excess mucus.

If you already start your day with a mug of water, consider trying something new. If you don’t use ginger, try ginger. If you don’t use honey, try honey (it’s great for spring congestion). If you chug your mug of water, take a few moments to sip and savor and relax with your mug of water. Challenge yourself.