EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT AYURVEDA

For the new Ayurveda Tea Collection from Cafe Couture Pieter Loridon asked his followers if they knew a good Ayurveda coach… one name kept coming up over and over again and we couldn't help but send her a message to ask if she was interested to introduce us to Ayurveda . With great enthusiasm we received a positive response and here we are…

Lily Joan Roberts is besides Ayurveda, Herbology and Functional Nutrition coach also (plant based) chef and functional bowel therapist. She did her training as Ayurvedic coach by distance learning in Belgium, as well as a private training from England. With a holistic approach, scientific substantiation, personal experience and a modern twist, Lily Joan ensures that Ayurveda is accessible to everyone .

Her mission is to set things right by thinking long term instead of treating symptoms, and that health and happiness, of both mind and body are connected . She gives you the tools to improve your own health to bring into balance and find a current to a healthy lifestyle, based on intuition, peace and pleasure .

Contribution of Lily Joan Roberts / Functional Nutritionist, Ayurvedic lifestyle & Guthealth coach, Herbalist
LilyJoan | Instagram | Facebook | www.thehappyhealthyjourney.com

Ayurveda has truly changed my life, allowing me to live, eat and flow intuitively, without always having to think about all the rules of what I 'should' do to be healthy. Before that I was already living holistically, but Ayurvedic insights were the missing link for me to bring it all together . Yoga, meditation, breathing, granulating, using herbs.. it all comes naturally now with no sense of obligation or guilt if I don't.

So it's an honor for me to tell you more about it, hopefully to plant those first seeds on your path to optimal health and inner peace .

---

Let's start at the beginning...
Ayurveda is the mother of all medical systems , originated in India but now used worldwide. It was developed thousands of years ago to to help people live in sync with nature , so they can thrive in an ever-changing environment.

The word itself is translated from Sanskrit as 'knowledge of life' ('Ayur' means life and 'Veda' is knowledge) with an emphasis on how to live holistically according to your unique and individual constitutional make-up. In a modern guise it serves as a kind of guideline to keep yourself in balance , both mentally and physically. You learn to frame yourself and to better frame and respond to the signals of your body and energy - with nutrition, herbs, exercise, yoga, meditation, breathing, self-care, community, massage and spiritual insights.

A philosophy for life
The principles of this ancient holistic system of medicine are based on the belief that health and well-being depend on the fragile balance between mind, body and soul, all of which are connected. If any one of the three is out of balance, it directly impacts the others .

Rather than viewing health as simply the absence of disease, it defines well-being as achieving and maintaining this unique balance.

Ayurveda focuses on promoting good health as a proactive method of warding off common diseases, and working with certain principles that provide a comprehensive approach to treating disease and discomfort, by slowly unraveling the causes of ill health and restoring the imbalances.

The basics are quite simple, but the depth of application is endlessly complex medical system, as we look not only at diseases, but also at all other layers of health: physical health, mental balance, spiritual and social well-being, relationships, environment, nutrition, habits, daily routines, and seasonal lifestyle. It empowers us to take our health and happiness into our own hands . Not only when we are sick, but especially by knowing how to bring ourselves into balance on a daily basis.

"Ayurveda teaches us to respect nature and place ourselves as part of it. It helps us understand how our health is inseparable from our family, work, society or planet."

 

What I love is that it brings a certain intuitive logic to the confusing fact of 'healthy living'. It gives many lessons about what to eat or not to eat, when to get up, what rhythm to live by, but not in the form of restriction or rules. It gives insight into how to make your own choices . So it is not about a certain diet or golden key with an end goal, but it shows a new path that leads you on a lifelong journey of discovery, where the applications evolve with the flow of your unique life.

Ayurveda and nutrition
Ayurvedic cooking is itself a part of the medicine of well-being. The principles of Ayurveda can therefore find a home in our daily diet and be carried through to our meals via the ingredients, preparation and the process of eating itself. Food gets a whole new layering, which starts from feeling more than reason.
According to Ayurveda, meals should be nutritious, nourishing, full of life and satisfying . In short, they bring comfort, support, recovery and sustainable energy, and not by counting calories for example. Food gives life, and the more life there is in your food (think color, textures, fresh products, ....) the better for your energy. So you see that health starts from a very poetic but obvious point of view.

"Without proper nutrition, medicine is of no use. With proper nutrition, medicine is of little need."

Ayurveda and teas
The use of herbs is very central in Ayurveda. Every herb has a medicinal effect, often processed into a tea . An infusion of healing herbs hydrates, promotes digestion and feeds your body with the necessary nutrients. But it also creates a moment for yourself to relax. All powerful tools for holistic well-being.

---

The biodegradable Ayurveda Tea Collection is available at Cafe Couture.

With the most specific and single the very best quality herbs , Cafe Couture has set out to put together a tea collection, in which the 3 different infusions fit the 3 Ayurvedic dosha types. Of course you will find in this blend only pure products , without any added aromas.

CLICK HERE FOR THE AYURVEDA TEA COLLECTION.

---

The language of nature
Individual life is part of universal life. We are truly microcosms of the universe and are influenced by forces greater than ourselves: the sun, the moon and the wind.

Science and Ayurveda tell us that if we break everything down to its smallest detail, we are made of the same atoms and energy. Everything around us and within us is a kind of recycling of that energy. The world works in rhythms: of the moon, the sun, the ebb and flow, the seasons… and so do we . If we don’t go with that, we feel the effects of moving in the opposite direction, which makes life hard. Ayurveda helps us to live in sync with the flow of nature – which I believe, combined with living from love, is the direction we need to go to heal the world.

The Five Elements as the Building Blocks of Life
Ayurveda originated in a time when cultures were heavily dependent on their environment, and therefore uses a language derived from nature as a metaphor to describe and prescribe our health.

According to her teachings , the fundamental elements of Ether (or space), Air (or its more dynamic aspect, wind), Fire, Water, and Earth are the building blocks that make up our physical world and the universe . Since the human body is also a combination of these elements, it requires a proper balance of nutrients from all five to be healthy. Too much or too little leads to disease.

We use adjectives to describe these elements as they appear in their various forms, which have more than 10 pairs of opposite qualities (known as gunas ): hot, cold; heavy, light; wet, dry; oily; sharp, dull; rough, smooth; stable, mobile; soft, hard; liquid, solid; subtle, coarse; slimy, non-slimy.
The nice thing is that we already use this language automatically. We often say 'it's a hot day', 'the ground is wet', but this is also your language to describe yourself in sickness and in health: 'my legs feel heavy', or 'my skin is dry and rough'. Next time you observe something like this, think about its qualities: is it hot, cold, wet or dry, light or heavy?
Think of places and ecosystems: the Arizona desert, with its arid, sandy outcrops, is hot and dry. While the British countryside, with its lush green fields, is cold and wet.

Each disease also has a typical blueprint; fever is a hot and dry disease because you have a fever and are thirsty, while a cold is a cold and damp disease because you feel cold and have a stuffy nose.

Foods also have different properties: wheat products are heavy, wet and cooling – think of a bread dough or cake mix: it is very sticky and moist.
Spices are generally light, dry and warming. Just chew on a chili pepper and feel your mouth burn. Fresh herbs are often cooling.

Since we recognize these characteristics from nature, we will also intuitively bring them into balance:
- If you are cold, put on a warm sweater or eat something warm like a stew.
- If you are hot, drink something cold or eat something fresh like a cucumber salad.
- If you're making a moist cake, you might want to top it with something fresh, like berries, and something crunchy, like grilled nuts.
- If you feel chaotic ('moving thoughts') in your head, do something grounding to find peace, such as sitting with your hands in the earth or doing yoga.
So you see, we don't have to look far. But the deeper you go into this, the more levels of application you discover.

The doshas are qualities that influence all bodily functions, from biological processes to thoughts and feelings.

The three mind-body types, better known as the Doshas
Although we are all beautifully unique, Ayurveda divides us into three main mind-body types; vata, pitta and kapha, also called doshas . In the West this is the most well-known part of Ayurveda. These doshas stem from the 5 elements. Vata is mainly wind, Pitta is mainly fire, Kapha is mainly earth.
We all contain vata, pitta and kapha, but it is their specific combination and amount (sort of percentage) that makes us who we are. Some people are pure vata, pitta or kapha, but many are vata-pitta, pitta-kapha or vata-kapha (dominant quality listed first), or - more rarely - call a balance of all three, vata-pitta-kapha ('Tridoshic').
The differences between doshas is the cornerstone of understanding how Ayurveda works . It helps us determine and manage our genetic makeup, or ‘prakriti’ . Understanding this profound knowledge, passed down for over 75 generations, has the potential to change your life, even a modern urban life.

Doshas, ​​although present from birth, are not permanently fixed: they can change with our emotions, different circumstances, such as what we eat, how happy we feel, what time we go to bed, what season it is .

The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word dosha is 'disturbance' , because when circumstances cause a particular dosha to build up excessively or become aggravated, it can lead to discomfort - the doshas are literally 'overflowing', and it is up to us to keep them in balance .

We all have a threshold and when it is reached it causes a temporary imbalance in the dosha - known as vikriti (literally 'unbalanced'). If left unchecked this imbalance becomes chronic and health problems begin .

Ayurveda focuses on learning how to stay within our comfortable limits, and understanding the three doshas helps with that.
 

Take the test on my website to discover which doshas are most important to you !

Description of the Doshas
vata
Usually slender with bony limbs and a straight body shape, vata types gain weight in the middle. Their skin is fine and dry, they feel colder than others and have difficulty sweating. They do not have an irregular and erratic appetite. These types are prone to stress and restlessness and may feel tired in the late afternoon. They are creative, enthusiastic, active, alert and restless and jump from one idea to another.

Despite not having good memories, Vata types are quick learners, spiritually perceptive, and happiest when in touch with nature and the outdoors. They have a heightened sense of touch and appreciation for beauty. You might recognize them as having their heads in the clouds and talking a million miles an hour.

In balance
Vata Personalities are energetic, lively, cheerful, friendly, broad-minded, free-spirited, embrace change and learn easily, are clear and alert, sleep long and lightly, have balanced digestion, good circulation and an even body temperature.

Out of balance
Vata personalities may feel tired or fatigued, unwell, anxious and exhausted with a lack of focus, have difficulty falling asleep, suffer from occasional constipation and poor circulation.

Pitta
With a moderately athletic build, Pitta types gain weight evenly or on the lower half of the body. They have soft, shiny, warm skin and become hot easily. They have a strong metabolism, good appetite and digestion. Pitta types are determined, competitive, ambitious and highly intelligent, with good insight and keen discrimination. They like to be in control and the center of attention, they are very focused, often innovators with a matching energy level and can be lightened into a 'type A' personality. Pitta types, although night owls, are deep sleepers and prone to vivid dreams and nightmares.

In balance
Pitta personalities are perfectionists, intelligent, organized, have strong digestion, are radiant, have glowing skin, sleep through the night, are effective workers, and have inner peace and happiness.

Out of balance
Pitta personalities can be controlling, irrational, judgmental, fiery, irritable, workaholic, overheated, and prone to skin rashes and acne. They may suffer from interrupted sleep, acid reflux, frequent headaches, and loose bowel movements.

Kapha
With well-developed bodies, broad shoulders and soft, oily and shiny skin, kapha types enjoy a regular appetite with a relatively slow-burning digestion. They are naturally deep sleepers, akin to mother earth.
Kapha types are patient, grounded, caring, stable and supportive of family and loved ones.

Kaphas have an appreciation for the arts of dance and music. They have an innate sense of taste and smell and love food. They can be very attached to their possessions and territory, and have difficulty distinguishing between essentials and luxuries. Despite being hardworking people, they also tend to be lazy and sleep in later than others. They hate the cold and love the heat.

In balance
Kapha personalities have stable temperaments, good long-term memory, good strength and stamina, healthy and robust builds, are team players, are reliable and enjoy good sleep, are compassionate and affectionate.

Out of balance
Kapha personalities gain weight easily, have slow digestion, are often prone to sinus and respiratory problems, feel the magic, find it difficult to wake up, may have difficulty with too much change, and may experience food cravings and depression.

Bringing Balance
If you understand the doshas, ​​you understand Ayurveda.

Balancing your doshas is key to your health and inner peace , and to do this it is important to identify the characteristics of your dominant doshas, ​​then tune into them with your senses, mind and heart. Focus on what makes you feel best and do this step by step, day by day, season by season.

In Ayurveda, food or actions are not labeled as 'good' or 'bad', they are simply either aggravating or calming to your dosha (and therefore health) in certain amounts.

This is where the saying "all things in moderation" rings true. But only if it's true for you. Because one man's poison is another man's medicine!

 There are many subtleties in caring for your mind-body type, but starting by being aware of the elements in your environment, food and drink will help you find balance in your life .
Enjoy the journey to happiness and health, and don't forget to approach the adventure with curiosity!

Love,

Lily Joan

Contributed by Lily Joan Roberts