Learning Work-Life Balance
By Dr Partap Chauhan
 Body
According to Ayurveda we should eat foods that are
specific to our Doshas (body-types). Ayurveda
recognises three Doshas—Vata (space
and air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha
(water and earth). Every human usually has varying
degrees of Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
The Doshas are usually not present in equal
proportions. In most people there is a natural
uneven distribution.
Although we each have characteristics of Vata,
Pitta or Kapha to different degrees,
one of these elemental natures will dominate and
that is the “main” Dosha. The secondary
Dosha is the one present in the next highest
proportion. Every Dosha type or combination
is acknowledged in Ayurveda, which lists seven
separate physical constitution types based on the
basic three: 1) Vata, 2) Pitta, 3)
Kapha, 4) Vata-Pitta, 5) Vata-Kapha,
6) Pitta-Kapha and 7) Vata-Pitta-Kapha.
In order to enjoy health and prevent diseases from
occurring, we should try to keep the Doshas
balanced by introducing some changes in our diet so
as to include foods that pacify our dominant
Doshas.
The Jiva website has a free online body-type test (VPK
or Dosha Test). You may
give the test here.
Once your Dosha is determined, it will lead
you to a list of foods (diet chart) that are
appropriate to your dominant Dosha.
Mind
 We should imbibe the habit of keeping our mind in
the highest Guna (state). The mind has three
Gunas (states). They are Sattva
(knowledge, purity), Rajas (action, passion)
and Tamas (inertia, ignorance). Ayurveda
considers a mind with high Rajasic or
Tamasic qualities as unhealthy. Mental disorders
or imbalances are caused when Sattva
decreases and Rajas and/or Tamas
increase(s). As Sattva decreases, mental
strength, determination and the power to
discriminate (to distinguish right from wrong) also
decrease. When such a state is prolonged, the mind
becomes stressed. This may then lead to other mental
disorders like anxiety, depression, fear and nervous
debility.
Here are a few ways to
enhance your Sattva:
-
Switch to foods that are Sattvic in nature and
lead a pure and clean life. Some examples of Sattvic foods include
almonds, rice, honey, fresh sweet fruits, moong beans and
easy-to-digest, fresh seasonal vegetables and leafy greens. To get the full
Sattva from Sattvic foods, prepare and eat them whole and fresh.
-
Use deep-breathing techniques. When we take in deep
breaths from the belly, we give the lungs a chance to get more oxygen, which
in turn, helps the brain cells in oxygenating themselves properly. This
results in proper functioning of the brain.
-
Reduce excessive sense-gratification. Avoid
continual gratification of desires (unnatural sex, spicy food, etc.),
excessive stimulation of the senses (loud music, sharp colours, strong
fragrances, etc.) and overmuch entertainment (late-night parties, frequent
luxury travel, etc.). Minimise eating foods that are strong and excessive in
flavour (spicy, hot or salty).
Senses
 Keep your senses clean so as to maintain active interactions with the
environment. According to Ayurveda, if our senses are ‘unclean’, they are likely
to attract ‘unclean’, ‘filthy’ or ‘unhealthy’ objects. E.g., if we do not clean
our sense for excretion, in simpler terms, if we do not evacuate our bowels
regularly, we will in all likelihood catch gastro-intestinal diseases, arising
out of the deposition of Mala (wastes) inside the anus. (In Ayurveda, the sense
of excretion is a Karmendriya or operative or working sense.)
In order to balance all the senses and the entire mind-body, Ayurveda prescribes
certain therapies that may involve massage using medicated oils, detoxification
and internal cleansing or herbal powders and infusions. Such therapies clean and
soothe the senses and their associated organs. Similarly, the aim of daily
routine advocated is to keep the senses clean and operating at maximum
efficiency. This enables us to asses our environment adequately, analyse
information correctly and adjust to it promptly, before it distresses
(unbalances) our body or mind.
Soul
In order to attain the complete benefits of Ayurveda, we must understand the
role of soul on our body, mind and senses. The physical body is simply a shell
for the soul. It is the physical outer layer or material expression of it.
According to Ayurveda, the soul controls our body and mind which are just two
aspects of our being. So it is important to feed the soul by realising the truth
that the soul is our real being. In simpler terms, we need to understand that
I is soul—it is neither my body nor my mind.
Anomalies arise when we fail to realise this simple yet paradoxical truth and
identify the eternal myself with the temporal body or mind. When we
ascribe perpetual properties such as I am the most powerful, I am the
most handsome/beautiful and I am the richest to the temporary aspects
of our being—body and mind—the natural flow is disturbed and we are bound to
receive sorrow, pity or disdain.
On the contrary, when we remain firm in our path to self-realisation, our soul
remains free from any kind of mundane bondage and there is flow of love both in
our inner and outer worlds. We begin to shower true love on others—the one in
return of which we do not expect anything. This can lead us to help others and
derive spiritual happiness and permanent shine of bliss will adore our
countenance.
Jivananda
 Over the years, I have been explaining to my patients, students and
workshop-participants, across the world, the importance of leading a life in
abidance with Ayurvedic principles for a healthy life. A vast majority of them
have benefited from it. The hurdle, if any, they face in their Ayurvedic
pursuits, has been their inability to take out a chunk of their time off from
their busy schedules.
Keeping the above in mind, I devised a lifestyle regimen called Jivananda
in consultation with my colleague and eminent Vedic scholar Dr. Satya Narayana
Dasa. Jivananda lifestyle regimen includes simple routines and practices
that help people in the busy life of today to lead a natural life and conduct
themselves effortlessly through the maze of life’s variables and constants.
Jivananda, based on the jewels of ancient Indian tradition and philosophies,
is especially useful for people who are completely occupied with their daily
chores.
For the past few years, I have been recommending Jivananda to one and all
through my numerous interactions with people globally. The success of this
programme in attaining its goals has prompted me to work for its widespread
publicity. Jivananda lifestyle regimen includes almost all the elements
discussed above such as breathing and stretching exercises and the Jiva
Meditation.
We have a webpage devoted to Jivananda. You may
visit the link by clicking here.
For specific queries you may write to our experts on
info@jiva.com or call one of them at our
Telemedicine Centre on +91-129-4088152. Learn to strike work-life balance and
enjoy a happy, healthy and peaceful life with Ayurveda!
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