Ayurveda Ireland

I often ask myself this question especially while working with my clients.  I think to myself, “they’re here, right?”, “they must want to be healthy, right?”, then why are they not taking my advise about what foods they are eating?  Do they think I don’t know what I’m talking about?  Do they think that food isn’t important?  Do they think that they aren’t eating foods that are creating problems for them?  Then why are they here, sitting in front of me, telling me they didn’t have time to try anything new?  Why ARE they here?  I’ll tell you why.  They are here because they know they need to change something in order to feel better, but when I suggest food they then realize how hard it is to change.

I know how hard it is to change bad eating habits.  I used to be Burger King’s Queen.  I ate hamburgers and fries for at least two of my meals.  It used to be a treat to eat at a “fast food” joint.  I also know how rotten I felt physically and mentally.  My mood swings were up and down and I didn’t have a firm leg to stand on.  I know that everyone has heard this term a thousand times plus a thousand times but, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.  There is no way around this.  If you aren’t feeling good you can be on as many exercise regimes as you like, but you still won’t physically feel good until you change what you put in your mouth.  Not only does food affect your physical body giving you health and vitality, but it also affects your mind either stabilizing it or creating manic episodes of depression and excitement.  From my own experience I realized that sometimes we need to feel good before we start to change what we eat, but it’s a catch 22 if you don’t eat well you won’t feel good and if you don’t feel good you won’t eat well.  At some point you need to get off the marry-go-round, stand firmly and change if you want to see any health in your life.

Making the necessary changes takes courage, conviction, commitment, determination, education and support.  You need to come up with the first 4 and I can give you the last 2.  That is what I am here to do, educate and give you support.  If you are serious about your health you have to eat healthy foods that are specific for your body type.  One size does not fit all and we are all different so you best get yourself informed about what would be the best foods for you. But please don’t be one of my clients who comes to me and says you didn’t have time, instead tell me “Yes, I do care about food and will change”.

Many of you would be surprised to learn that the elements that dominate your body contribute to your habits and traits including your personality.  In Ayurveda, it is believed that everything in nature is made of 5 basic elements.  These elements are Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth.  We have all 5 elements in varying degrees within us.  The amount or percentage of the element determines many things about us and includes our personalities.  So what does your element say about your personality?  Let’s have look.

Those who are dominated by Ether/Air or the Vata dosha generally have these characteristics when it comes to their personality:
❦    Very Creative
❦    Love Excitement
❦    Very Friendly and Sociable
❦    Have Many Friends
❦    Fast Talker
❦    Fast Walker
❦    A Bit Scattered
❦    Loves to Travel
❦    Loves Warm Tropical Places

Those who are dominated by the Fire/Water elements or the Pitta dosha generally have these characteristics when it comes to their personality:
❦    Workaholics
❦    Very Focused
❦    Likes to Set and Meet Goals
❦    Wants to be the Owner or CEO of Company
❦    Great Thinkers
❦    A Bit of a Loaner
❦    Prefers Work to Socializing
❦    Loves a Challenge
❦    Intense
❦    Can get Angry and Explode
❦    Direct with Words
❦    Prefers to Holiday near water or where the temperature is cooler

Those who are dominated by Water/Earth elements or the Kapha dosha generally have these characteristics when it comes to their personality:
❦    Unconditionally Loving and Caring
❦    Never Moves far from Home
❦    Loves to Visit close Friends and Family
❦    Will not go on Holiday unless Persuaded by Family
❦    Will give Directions using Restaurants
❦    Accumulates Many Things
❦    Will Not Give Up Childhood Items
❦    Stubborn
❦    Slow Talker
❦    Slow Thinker (takes time to make decision)

If you have characteristics in more than one category then you probably have more than one dominate dosha.  This is normal as most of us function from a couple doshas that makes our preferences fluctuate depending on many factors.  But never underestimate the elements and the roll they play in your life for they can tell you more about yourself and how to help yourself than anything or anyone else can.

I recently suffered from a headache which gave me the idea to write this article. I don’t get headaches very frequently, though they seem to be more now than ever before in my life. The headache is like your cars little red light that goes on when the car needs attendance. A headache is your body’s engine light going on to let you know that something needs attendance or servicing. What most people do when they get a headache is give themselves tablets to make the pain go away which is equivalent to putting a plaster over the red engine light and hoping it stops. Headaches should be taken seriously as an indicator that your body isn’t happy and things need to change. Now, not everybody’s body creates a headache for them if something is wrong, but a good number of people will have experienced a headache and this article will give you an idea of what your body may be saying to you and simple remedies to aid the body in not getting them.

There are many possible reasons for getting a headache and they include but aren’t limited to eyestrain, tension, musculoskeletal problems, misaligned spine, sinus or ear infection, high blood pressure, allergies, caffeine withdrawal or coffee toxicity, P.M.S., chocolate, hormonal fluctuations, an imbalance in arteries in the head, changes in barometric pressure, overdose of vitamin A, low blood sugar and hangovers. Though there are many reasons for headaches your body will react according to the dosha that is out of balance.

Ayurveda says you can have a Vata (ether/air), Pitta (fire/water) or Kapha (water/earth) headache. Vata headaches are severe and pounding and can move about the head and are often caused by constipation. Pitta headaches occur in the middle of the day during Pitta time and may be burning and throbbing due to impure blood, anger, irritability, judgments or too much heat in the body. A kapha headache usually occurs upon awakening and the pain is dull and is related to sinus congestion.

Natural remedies include using essential oils as a compress, in a warm bath or to burn in a room:
For Vata headaches
❦ Eucalyptus
❦ Camphor
❦ Juniper
❦ Bergamot
❦ Lavender
❦ Tea tree
❦ Peppermint
❦ Ginger
For Pitta headaches
❦ Menthol
❦ Lavender
❦ Tea tree
❦ Lemon
❦ Peppermint
❦ Geranium
❦ Chamomile
For Kapha headaches
❦ Eucalyptus
❦ Menthol
❦ Camphor
❦ Juniper
❦ Bergamot
❦ Lavender
❦ Tea tree
❦ Geranium
❦ Ginger
❦ Chamomile

Other natural remedies include:
❦ Meditation
❦ Visualizations
❦ Relaxation
❦ Hot baths
❦ Tai Chi
❦ Yoga
❦ Dance
❦ Oil enemas

I found that my headaches were related with hormonal imbalance and occurred during the day with throbbing pain. Making sure my stress levels were low, yoga asana’s and watching my food intake completely got rid of my headaches. It doesn’t have to be complicated and hard to adjust, just determination and deciding to listen to your body will lead yo