What is Health?

Health in Ayurveda is called “swastha.”  The Ayurvedic philosophy of health really doesn’t differ that much from the Western philosophy of health. In a nutshell, everyone wants to look good, feel good, and have energy. Ayurveda, however, is a little more expansive. It looks at physical, emotional and spiritual health.

A person living in a state of balance is healthy. This means that the doshas are balanced, the digestion is strong, and the metabolism is appropriate. The tissues of the body are healthy. That means that the plasma and blood are light and quick and able to feed the muscle, fat, bone, marrow and reproductive fluid. The mind is calm, clear and has the ability to discern. It doesn’t mean you are thin. It doesn’t mean you are big and strong. It doesn’t mean you have supernatural abilities. It means you radiate. You are vibrant.

Happiness is part of the Ayurvedic definition of health. If you are not happy, you are not healthy. You should be able to:

• Enjoy the company of others.
• Enjoy the places that you find yourself.
• Organically and naturally without a lot of effort make the best most nourishing choice.
• Reserve judgment for self and not others. I don’t mean walk around criticizing yourself, simply look within before you look without.
• Maintain balance regardless of the seasons. That means that you know and you choose to adjust your diet and lifestyle seasonally.

If you are healthy, you can expect to live to be about 100 years old.  You will be respected, have friends, be loved by family, feel successful and enjoy wealth and be connected with Spirit. This is the path of yoga. 

• Dharma or life’s purpose: This is why you incarnated or why you were born.
• Artha or wealth:  You need material possessions to fulfill your Dharma.
• Kama or desire:  God’s desire created the entire universe. Desire is not a bad thing.  Your desire is part of the creative force.  If you manifest your desires in using right action and heart-centered choice making, you are using this creative force appropriately.  If you expect rewards, fame or wealth, you are not using your desire appropriately.
• Moksha or freedom:  This is the highest goal. You are working to be free of your delusions, your maya and your misunderstanding that you are separate from spirit.  You realize that there is more to life than dharma, artha and kama. You can’t get here without those, however.  It’s a process.

Your are considered to by young between the ages of birth to 30 years. Within that, anyone who is 16 or under is considered immature and anyone over that age until 30 is considered to be mature. If you experience these ages in balance you will have a nice physical form, be attractive, have good muscle tone and be peaceful or sattvic.

Middle age is the period between 31 – 60. This is when we do the work of life. Hopefully you will connect to your Dharma and have rewarding work helping and serving others. You will accumulate wealth and your desires will be met.  Around the age of 40, your attention will naturally go to the Spiritual or if it doesn’t, you will naturally start to suffer and feel separated.

Old age is the period between 60 and 100 or death. This is a beautiful time of life that can be active and rich.  Most will still suffer the effects of aging, but these will be minimized if you are in balance.

How do we maintain health?

• Follow a dosha balancing diet and lifestyle routine.
• Cleanse annually whether you think you need it or not.  You can Sign Up for our January 13th Cleanse!  Learn More
• Cleanse for 1 – 3 days on a monthly basis.
• Surround yourself with like-minded and supportive people.
• Enjoy work that is connected to your dharma.

Sat Nam, Pamela