The cornerstone of health in Ayurveda comes back to the simple concept of agni, our digestive fire. Likewise, the seed of disease comes back to the concept of āma, toxins. Balanced agni is the key to proper digestion, assimilation of nutrients, sustained energy, healthy aging, and maintaining homeostasis. Quality agni can prevent, āma from forming and burn existing impurities that are stagnated within the body and mind.
There are three essences that govern the functions of the sthula sharira and sukshma sharira (gross and subtle bodies) on a finer plane than the three doshas. These subtle essences are known as Prana, Tejas, and Ojas.
Keeping our doshas balanced is an important part of maintaining a healthy body and mind throughout the entire year. Seasonal shifts are big news in the world of Ayurveda and can cause doshic imbalances if we aren’t honoring their cycles and living accordingly. While the summer season is a magical time of year, it is also Pitta season, and if we don’t adjust our diets and lifestyle to keep Pitta at bay, we risk accumulating excess heat in the body. A Pitta imbalance can show up as anger, irritation, loose stools, acid reflux, skin disorders, and more.
For the Ask Dr. Sheila column, Dr. Sheila Patel, Chopra’s Chief Medical Officer, answers questions from our community. If you have a general question for Sheila around health and wellness, please send an email to askdrsheila@chopra.com, and your question may be the one she answers next.
What we eat and drink seasonally can have a profound effect on our bodies, either aggravating or pacifying our Doshas. During the summer, it’s imperative that we prioritize consuming foods and beverages with cooling qualities to soothe any excess heat accumulated from the summer season. We all love a refreshing summer beverage, and it’s important that we choose one that is equally balancing as it is delicious. Here are a few of our favorite Pitta Balancing Beverages to sip all summer long.
Traveling endows us with the clear, light, mobile qualities of Vata, and can provide insights and open our eyes to a perspective we may have been missing. Vacations inspire us with new beauties of the world, cultures, and nature, and remove us from the redundance of our day-to-day energy bubble and life routine.
We all want to age gracefully, but sometimes it can feel like life is working against us. So how can we stay on top of our health while also managing a busy life?
As the days get longer and the air gets warmer, we’re all looking forward to bringing in some fresh summer energy. When summer begins to take over, we welcome Pitta season. Pitta is one of the three Ayurvedic Doshas, and it governs the summer season.
Creativity is an inherent quality of being human. Everywhere within us, in every cell and atom, is the creative energy of the entire universe. This energy is creating new cells and tissues every day, as well as allowing for new ideas and inspirations.