HeyMonicaB: A Blooming Resource on Ayurveda

Hey! A friend of mine recently asked me how to stay healthy during flu season. The first thing that came to mind was ojas!

What the heck is ojas? Ojas (OH-jus) is the essential energy of our vitality, immunity, strength, luster and health. Ojas is the pure essence of all bodily tissues which means that after all the tissues in the body have gone through their digestive processes, ojas is what is left. It’s our immunity and in addition, it is responsible for reproduction and creation. We only have a tiny bit, a few drops, and it lives in the heart. People with good ojas rarely get sick and people with low or low quality ojas will get sick often.

Hooray! Well, what enhances ojas!?

• Ghee is the best ojas enhancer!! Use it in your food or drink with warm milk.
• Milk is also good for ojas (tip: after sex, have a small glass of milk to replenish ojas)
• Get good quality sleep
• Proper diet according to who YOU are
• Stress management through Pranayama* nadi shodhanam, kapalbhati, and/or so hum.

*Important!! It is said in Ayurvedic texts that if we do 10 minutes of pranayama a day, disease cannot set in Period! Sounds too simple to work, doesn’t it? Well, how many people are sick? Lots. And how many do you think are doing daily pranayama? I would guess…none. Dude, just try it! You can’t say it doesn’t work if you don’t try it. Make time daily and you will not get sick!!! (jumping off my soapbox…)

Ok what depletes ojas!?

• Improper diet including: alcohol, caffeine, carbonated bevy’s, fast food, stale food, super cold or raw foods
• Anything in excess including work, stress, worry/anxiety, sex, and exercise.
• Lack of sleep or poor quality sleep

One more thing to add. Mind over matter. If you THINK you are going to get sick, you probably will. Keep your mind clear and think healthy. When doing pranayama inhale pure life and healing energy. On the exhale release toxins, negative energy and negative thoughts. Let it all go. Pure mind equals a pure body.

Use the tips above to help keep yourself flu free this winter! And as usual, wash your hands a lot, don’t lick shopping carts, and don’t let people cough on you. Stay healthy!!