International Day for Tolerance

In 1996 the UN General Assembly proclaimed November 16th as International Day of Tolerance. This is the day for recognizing the true beauty, power and magic within each other and in ourselves.

Many people try to be nonjudgmental, or nonviolent. We may have recognized how our judgments separate us, and it’s painful. In trying to be tolerant or nonjudgmental, though, we’re cutting off the part of ourselves that is judgmental and intolerant. We can’t make it go away. It’s a defensive reaction that has to do with something we’re afraid of, something that we don’t understand yet, or the times when we haven’t expressed ourselves in some way.

Trying to be tolerant, nonjudgmental or non-violent, is just a way of repressing a part of yourself. You are actually being judgmental of your judgmental self and violent to your non-violent self!

Instead, recognize and accept the judgmental part of yourself, then look underneath it to see what’s causing it to come forth.

“I accept my judgmental self as a part of me”

Mindfulness practice:
Get comfortable. Close your eyes, relax and take a few full breaths.
Picture or imagine your child or your own inner child in front of you.
Look into their eyes and sense the powerful being within them.
Take enough time to receive feelings, ideas or impressions about who your child really is. Communicate to them your respect and appreciation.
Imagine that your child is communicating respect and appreciation to you.

Ayurveda & Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 

What is Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrated worldwide every October to raise awareness and support people affected. 

According to The World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases and a growing health issue globally, and breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In the United States, 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. 

Designating a whole month to breast cancer awareness for women and men to learn the importance of education about the signs and symptoms, how to perform breast self-exams monthly, and annually receive a clinical breast exam. Of course, prevention is always preferable, and according to The American Cancer Society, early detection has been shown to have a 99% 5-year relative survival rate. 

Educate yourself and others because you can save a life. Take this month to become informed, spread awareness, and share hope, as we celebrate the survivors, pray for the fighters, and remember the ones who lost their lives.

Prevention + Treatment in Ayurveda

Ayurveda, the science of life, focuses on preventing and maintaining one's health through personalized lifestyle and diet, and Ayurvedic Practitioners offer a wide range of treatments to help patients manage symptoms and side effects of traditional therapy, that may also include many healing techniques to create balance in our lives.

 

Ayurveda defines health as one with a balanced constitution (doshas), who's waste products eliminate properly, tissues are well formed, and having a bright and shining soul or energy through experiencing one’s natural and true selves.

 

It identifies 3 root causes of disease as stemming from not living according to one’s constitution and their true nature, along with circadian rhythms, natures rhythms and laws and disconnection or wrong relationships or misuse of people and things, through wrong thoughts, ideas and beliefs, causing us to make choices that will adversely affect the free flow of energy through our body and mind, toxins to accumulate, causing aggravation to the health of our tissues and organs, resulting in a variety of health issues, including cancer.

Studies on the effects of circadian rhythms have shown a 30% increase in cancer in night shift workers, along with the "circadian fog" that results when we are awake at night rather than sleeping, and coinciding with the fact that light is coming into the eyes and affects brain chemistry and inhibits melatonin production.

 

In addition to traditional medical treatments, Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy are complementary interventions that can decrease the side effects and negative impacts of chemotherapy and radiation that are often prescribed. Ayurveda can help restore the bodies' natural healing mechanisms by removing accumulated toxins, improving diet, implementing healthy daily activities, and offering a wide range of treatment options such as massage therapy and body treatments, yoga therapy, yoga nidra, deep relaxation and herbal therapies, to improve all the systems of the body as well as supporting the mental and emotional stress associated with cancer and helping women be mentally and physically healthier and stronger.

 

Someone living with breast cancer or recovering from treatment can benefit from a diet rich in easily digestible foods, according to their constitution.  Cold foods should be avoided as they tend to be hard to digest and can weaken the body's ability to transform food into energy, causing accumulation of ama or toxins. Sugar, along with processed foods should be avoided and a diet rich in plant-based foods, that are cooked well to help the body digest and assimilate them.

 

Choosing the right foods can aid digestion, build strength, and improve the immune system. According to Ayurveda, one of the causes of disease is improper food and an Ayurvedic Practitioner can create a diet plan that will restore balance.

In addition, estrogens play a major role in promoting the proliferation of normal breast cells as well as neoplastic breast epithelium. Hence, blocking the estrogen receptor for the treatment and chemoprevention of breast cancer is one of the significant approaches. Plant-based estrogen-like compounds or phytoestrogens were originally proposed as cancer-protective agents.

Soybean and soy products are a rich source of isoflavones. Other phytoestrogen classes are legumes and lignans found in seeds, nuts, whole grains, fruit, and vegetables. Historically, the rate of breast cancer occurrence in the United States is 4–7 times higher than that of the Asian population where the consumption of dietary isoflavones is comparatively as high as 20 to 80 mg/d. In addition, epidemiological observations also revealed a modest 30% reduction in breast cancer risk for women with a higher percentage of dietary lignan intake. Therefore, consumption of phytoestrogen-rich diet is one of the many potential protective lifestyles against breast cancer.

Such foods as flax seeds, sesame seeds, soy beans and their products like tofu, edamame and tempe, dried fruits such as apricots, dates and prunes, garlic, peaches, berries, cruciferous vegetables and wheat bran contain phytoestrogens, which may reduce the risk of breast cancer, though Ayurveda’s personalized approach would need to adjust these recommendations according to one’s constitution and current imbalance.

           

 A healthy diet and lifestyle are vital to prevention, treatment and a recovery plan. It is shown that yoga can help improve breast cancer patients' quality of life by boosting their self-esteem and motivation throughout treatment, enhancing their coping strategies and capacity to heal, and engaging them in physical activity as well as deep relaxation, where the body and mind can rebalance and reduce the production of harmful inflammatory stress chemicals that affect hormones and all of the organs and tissues. For more information on the benefits of yoga and breast cancer, check out the studies linked below or contact us for a yoga therapy program.

 

Ayurvedic Massage and Bodywork treatments can address lymphatic drainage, which is helpful at some stages of treatment, and is used as both prevention as well as rejuvenation. Combined with shirodhara treatment that works with the brain and the nervous system, one can reduce harmful stress hormones that contribute to disease. (We also offer courses to learn these modalities).

 

Lastly, Herbal therapy has been shown to boost the immune system, relieve pain, fatigue, and remove toxins. 

Traditional herbal medicines are popular because of their cost-effectiveness, abundancy, and less or no side effects. In recent years, global emphasis on plant research has increased to find drug-like substances from traditionally used medicinal plants. Moreover, several naturally occurring plant-based compounds like curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, and many more showed promising anticancerous effects and are gaining interest as an adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent. Besides, naturally occurring compounds cause less toxicity to healthy cells and in certain cases show selective toxicity against abnormal or diseased cells. This might be the reason that today a large number of drugs being marketed are structurally similar to the structure of naturally occurring compounds, and some are actually being used in chemotherapy treatments (see the chart on page 9 in Herbal Remedies for Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment, in the resources below).

Herbal compounds show a variety of anticancer activity mainly antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and apoptosis-inducing activity that may help prevent cancer development in the early stage. Dietary consumption of adequate quantity of these herbal products may help in prevention and treatment of breast cancer by cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, regulating carcinogen metabolism and oncogenic expression, inhibiting cell adhesion, proliferation and migration, and blocking signaling pathways that are essential for cancer progression. To read more about herbal therapy, and the link between herbal remedies and cancer prevention and treatment, check out the research study below.

 

For more personalized recommendations, a live online Ayurvedic Consultation with Chaya is only a phone call away. Contact us for more information.

 

Resources:

Breast Cancer Resources from the National Breast Cancer Foundation  

Studies:

Herbal Remedies For Breast Cancer Prevention andTreatment

New Approaches in Breast Cancer Therapy Through Green Nanotechnology and Nano- Ayurvedic Medicine

Yoga Therapy and Breast Cancer

Yoga for Patients with Early Breast Cancer and its Impact on Quality of Life- a Randomized Controlled Trial

Podcast:

Yoga: Benefits and Precautions for People with BreastCancer

Inhale and Exhale; The Benefits of Yoga

 

What is the "experience" of the breath known as prāna? 

Have you ever noticed that every yoga class begins and finishes in stillness, except for the movement of your breath? 

This is no coincidence, but rather a key step to ultimate connection between oneself and the universe that happens through the feedback loop of the breath, our thoughts and the nervous system that determines our perception of our experience of ourselves and our world. 

A balanced breath leads to a balanced mind and leads to a balanced life. Yoga is a vehicle for wellness because of its ability to promote health and healing through integration at physical, energetic, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels simultaneously. Though popularized as an exercise and relaxation tool, the fullness of yoga extends further, to also include self-realization and how to embrace the whole human experience.  

The physical aspects of yoga have powerful healing effects. By maintaining a consistent yoga practice one can increase flexibility and muscle strength. Scientific studies have been researching the effects of yoga and finding promising results for a wide range of applications, including, people with back pain, migraines, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia, ADHD, and overall chronic pain. In addition, yoga can help increase your immunity attributed to a reduction of stress hormones produced, fewer toxins lodging in the body and mind, and the free flow of energy through the body and mind complex that boosts our immune capabilities. 

When the breath is balanced the parasympathetic nervous system known as “rest and digest” is dominant. When the mind is nervous and tense, the breath is strained and erratic and the autonomic nervous system known as “fight or flight” is dominant. The autonomic nervous system stimulates chemical changes creating toxins and inflammation, putrefying and dulling our senses so that they are unable to perceive directly or interact with life skillfully. In a chaotic overstimulated world it is easy to become overwhelmed and remain in “fight or flight”. As you may have experienced this way of life leads to stress, brain fog, and lack of energy. 

When we can balance the prāna in our system by improving our lung capacity, and attune to the breath as a tool for understanding our relationships and responses to life, learning how to regulate the breath to affect a clear mind and balanced nervous system, with parasympathetic dominance, we receive it's benefits of health and harmony to the physical, energetic, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of ourselves, as well as integrating all of these layers of ourselves so we can live in this experience of oneness and create a better world for ourselves and our communities.  

Yoga is a special teacher and opens the door for everyone at any mental or physical level. Yoga begins with the breath and can lead you down a life path of fulfillment. The clarity yoga brings infuses determination that is no longer something of the mind, but rather about being authentic and true to your nature, to yourself and those around you.  

Choose your yoga teacher wisely. Yoga has become popularized by those who do not teach its core roots to meet the perceptions of the general public and teach from their own limited or skewed experiences and pass that on. Yoga is a practice unique to each individual. Learn all the aspects of yoga in our next yoga teacher training, for an immersion with Chaya, diving into the depths and whole yoga spectrum to bring valuable clarity to your life and support you in your personal and professional endeavors to unlock your highest potential.   

Register during National Yoga Month and save an additional $50 off of the extra early tuition.

For more information about our Yoga Teacher Training

Sources: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-physical-benefits-of-yoga

 

 

 

 

Experience the Peace Of Stillness Within

 Meditation 

In the west, many people think meditation is something they need to do, this is a symptom of our culture and misappropriation of contemplative practices. Meditation changes the state of our mind. It brings awareness, harmony and natural order to human life and happens spontaneously under the right conditions.

We want to create those conditions on a regular basis and the science of yoga, specifically combining specific movement and breathing practices, help to still the mind and prepare you for deep concentration and ultimately spontaneous meditation. There are many methods of meditation. Choose one that feels appropriate and comfortable for you and try to practice it regularly.

 When we concentrate and are so still that we can focus our attention on one thing and hold it there for a period of time we become the masters of our mind and are liberated from the fluctuating thoughts, recognizing them as condition patterns to be released. This transformation improves concentration, mental and emotional stability, clarity, improved communications, relationships, and the mind’s ability to observe with equanimity. It helps us to be present in our body, use energy efficiently, increase self-esteem, self- knowledge, peace of mind, ease of well being and unlock our healing and creative potential.

 Meditation is a form of stress reduction that also dilates blood vessels, relaxes muscles and creates rhythmic blood flow. The brain requires less oxygen and a state of tranquility is created. Once you are relaxed you will remain relaxed until the next stressor. Other habitual things one might reach for to offer an immediate fix of relaxation could have a rebound effect of constriction and increased stress, creating a roller coaster ride for all of our functioning. True tranquility from meditation happens through the expansion of consciousness at the cellular level, tissue level and systemic level. There is a difference between the brain being made quiet versus being quiet. 20 minutes of meditation is as rejuvenating as 2 hours of sleep and provides vagal nerve stimulation that governs all the functions and rejuvenation of the body, mind and emotions to return to our natural state of integration.

Techniques 

Select a time, twice a day is optimal at dawn and dusk, or if only once a day is possible try for the early morning and following your Asana and Pranayama practice is best. 

It is important to begin with a relaxed body so some preparatory Asana and Pranayama are helpful. Ujjayi and Nadi Shodhana are quite effective for meditation. 

The body will become accustomed to regular time and allow the meditation to deepen. 

Choose an amount of time to begin with, even if you can only devote 5 minutes, it is worth it, and increase to 15 minutes or more. 

The environment you meditate in should be clean, comfortable, well ventilated and quiet without stimulants like sound and bright light. 

Sit either in a straight back chair or in a comfortable position, with the spine extended. If on the floor, sit to the front edge of a cushion to tilt the pelvis slightly forward, or if in a chair place a small cushion behind your back, which helps to support the spine. 

Meditation on the Breath (physical)

To begin, sit quietly and observe the natural flow of your breath without trying to change or control it in any way. Observe subtle sensations and then focus on one place where you feel the breath. 

When your mind wanders away from the breath be compassionate with yourself and return your concentration to the breath again and again. Be reassured that this is the nature of the mind and a way to build the muscle of concentration and stillness. 

Once you’re still, you can direct your mind further with one of the following meditation practices: 

Metta Meditation

Also called loving-kindness meditation is the simple practice of directing well-wishes towards other people. Here's How to Do It. The general idea is to sit comfortably with your eyes closed, and imagine what you wish for your life. Formulate your desires into three or four phrases.

May (I) you be peaceful
May (I) you be happy
May (I) you be healthy
May (I) you be safe
May (I) you be free from fear
May (I) you take care of yourself joyfully
May (I) you have ease of well-being

The idea with Metta Practice is to connect with the true meaning/feeling behind the phrases. Feel free to modify the words in any way that will enhance your experience.

A Comparative Approach To Health and Healing and the Role of Ayurvedic Massage & Bodywork

 

Ayurveda, in Sanskrit terms, means the “science of life,” and is both, a first and second person approach to healing, that is personalized and a holistic. 

Ayurvedic Massage & Bodywork is a second person approach, which means health and healing arise from the activity or energy of a practitioner in synchrony with the receptivity, energy and activity of the client- “WE”, that creates the conditions for the client to also experience the powerful benefits of first person approaches, where the health and healing arise directly from a person’s inner experience, and tend to naturally cultivate and include the effects of second and third person approaches-“I”. 

In Western medicine, treatment is a third person approach, meaning health and healing arise from the knowledge, skills and technology of the practitioner. The passive patient only needs an open and receptive attitude. The assessments and treatments are typically fragmented and individuals are treated for parts of the body, managing their disease symptoms rather than getting to the root cause of the problem, keeping them in a cycle of disconnect- “You They”. 

Traditional western medicine may tend to overlook a person’s lifestyle, past experiences, conditioning and belief system as contributing factors to their symptoms. However, in Ayurveda, we focus on the person as a whole, in relationship to their environment and nature, balancing the “Five Great Elements” of nature to keep our mind and body healthy and in harmony, and through this, come to see ourselves and our relationship to life in a new and improved way to support our highest potential. 

Health and illness exist at physical, energetic, psycho-emotional, intuitive and spiritual levels. The human being is multifaceted, and unity and separation occur at many levels. Deep awareness and listening at all levels of being is a key to health. Lack of awareness and its subsequent disconnection and fragmentation are primary factors in illness.

 

Regular Massage	Ayurvedic Massage
Third person approach- You They	First and Second person approaches- I, WE
Fragmented, focusing on parts of the body	Wholeness, focusing on the whole person
Body Focused	Body/Mind Integration and the practitioner considers the mind, body, spirit connection
Practitioner centered, adaptations according to the practitioners training	Client centered, adaptations according to  constitution and needs of the client
Practitioner is trained in and focuses on the physical body and addresses physical symptoms	Practitioner is trained in and focuses on all levels of being and integration
Focus on relieving physical tension and injuries	Focus on integration, reducing emotional stress, balancing the mind and nervous system and either removing toxins or adding nourishment and rejuvenation, according to the client’s needs, resulting in alleviating physical tension, healing injuries and creating the space for the client to gain self-awareness into their own healing mechanism
Oil acts as a tool or aid	Oils, herbs or other substances are part of the therapy
Price range can vary from $ to $$$ and	Price range is usually higher due to the cost of equipment, products and specialized training of the practitioner $$-$$$
Duration of treatment may vary according to the client’s schedule and budget, usually from 30 to 90 minutes	Duration of the treatment may vary according to the actual needs of the client usually from 60 to 150 minutes

 

Physical health naturally corresponds to personal integration. Healing is not always synonymous with physical health or curing, but is always synonymous with the experience of unity. Therefore, the focus of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Massage and Yoga Therapy is to focus on creating the conditions for unity and integration and allowing physical health to be a natural reflection of integration and evolution. 

Why become an ChayaVeda Ayurvedic Massage & Bodywork Specialist?

As a ChayaVeda Ayurvedic Massage & Bodywork Specialist, you will be equipped to offer your clients treatments in eleven modalities and learn how to adapt each modality to best support the individuality of each client. Each modality is different and will provide your client with a uniquely beneficial experience. 

For example, Pinda Swedana focuses on the balance of bodily doshas by the use of heat along with a specific substance suitable for the client’s condition. The heat causes vasodilation, which contributes to the overall movement of returning the excess doshas to their respective domains. Pinda Swedana is especially useful for clients who have asthma, arthritis, sinusitis, or Vata or Kapha disorders, though may be used for Pitta conditions in some instances. Specific procedures are dependent on the client and their current state and condition. 

After an ayurvedic massage or bodywork treatment, the client will experience a transformation of rejuvenated mind, body and spirit, with a reduction of stress, and improved overall well-being. This, in turn, will help support the re-balancing of all the systems of the body, including their immune system and reduce most medical problems. 

If you are interested in becoming a Certified Ayurvedic Massage and Bodywork Specialist, we offer six modules to teach you eleven ayurvedic modalities. We offer a promotion that allows you to take five modules and get one day free! We offer the flexibility to start any time and to complete any sequence of modules in 6 to 12 months! If you don’t want to take all the modules, you can register for as many or as little as you would like. All courses include handouts, certificate of completion and CEUs where applicable. We are CEU providers for NCBTMB #1192 for LMT and PACE for NAMA. 

Modalities include:

Garshana, Abhyanga, Vishesh, Shirodhara, Udhvartana, Nadi Swedana, Pinda Swedana-3 types, Dry, Leaves and Wet, Basti-3 types: Kati Basti, Uro/Hridaya Basti, Janu Basti, Full Body Steam, and Sinus/Sans including Pranayama.

For our schedule, to learn more about each modality, detailed information, pricing, and registration, click here.

We are offering our classes live online with excellent reviews and student feedback. 

“Solid 5! This was a full day of learning through handouts, visual guidance and hands on application. It was a well put together training that allowed all participants to interact, well-paced with plenty of time for questions and was presented in a way that made us leave wanting to learn and know more. I learned the types of Pinda to use for each dosha, how to make them, as well as massage techniques.” Kelsey Shuler, Ayurveda Practitioner Student, Lexington, KY 

I feel there is such a plethora of information it is so hard to narrow it down. Chaya is so knowledgeable I enjoy her sharing her knowledge with us and try to soak it all like a sponge . I enjoyed learning different aspects of Ayurveda and the benefits of Basti. 5 stars!! Feel very blessed to have this opportunity. Kristen Tyree. LMT, RYT-200, Fremont. OH 

“Lovely, educational and interesting. I am confident that I could successfully choose which basti for which client, run on time and use this during a massage. For acute joint issues or low back issues, I can add this to beginning of massage to nourish the tissue before I do my treatment. Chaya is wonderful, knowledgeable, encouraging.” Heather Welch, LMT, NMT, YT20, Sarasota FL 

The 6 Tastes of Ayurvedic Nutrition & Digestion

Taste transcends beyond the tongue's pallet to the flavor of our existence or our "zest for life". Rasa is the Sanskrit word for taste and many others like enthusiasm, experience and essence, and also is the name for lymph that contains our ojas, or vital fluid, the building block of our immunity and ability to love and be loved. The various translations of the word "rasa" express its importance beyond palatability of how our food tastes to include its relationship to what our food becomes as it transforms into our essence and "juice for life.

In Ayurveda there are six defined tastes that impact digestion in the physical body and clarity of your mental state. All six are included in each meal to balance the effects each one contributes. The taste of the same thing can vary greatly depending on where it was grown, when it was harvested, the methods of production used, and how long it’s been sitting on the shelf. I’m sure you can agree not all the strawberries you have eaten tasted the same. Just as you want the best education and nutrition for yourself and your family you want to ensure you are enjoying your food in the best way for your body, mind, and spirit. 

Be intentional with what you are buying, how you prepare it, and where you sit down to enjoy it. I encourage you to practice one mindful meal a day, whether that be sitting in silence enjoying a cup of tea or eating lunch outside soaking up the sunshine. Now let’s learn how to be intentional on what foods you choose that work for you best!

Can you guess all six tastes? Take a moment to try!

In Ayurvedic teachings everything is composed of the five elements -- earth, fire, water, air, ether -- yet there are two elements that dominate and thus characterize the object or being, such as food or me and you! 

Six Tastes of Ayurveda

1. Sweet: water + earth elements, cooling effect, increases kapha, decreases pitta and vata

2. Sour: fire + earth, heating effect, increases pitta and kapha, decreases vata 

3. Salty: water + fire, heating effect, increases pitta and kapha, decreases vata

4. Pungent: air + fire, heating effect, increases vata and pitta, decreases kapha

5. Bitter: air + ether, cooling effect, increases vata, decreases pitta and kapha

6. Astringent: air + earth, cooling effect, increase vata, decreases pitta and kapha

Create An Ayurvedic Six-Taste Bowl

Choose from each category in quantities based on your dosha.Read about each taste below and complete ChayaVeda’s Doshic Questionnaire here:  https://chayaveda.com/resources 

to see which tastes balance or aggravate your dosha. 

• Sweet: Rice, beets, avocado, nuts, apple

• Sour: lemon, apple cider vinegar, tomatoes, yogurt

• Salty: sea vegetables, sea salt, celery, kelp noodles

• Pungent: cumin, turmeric, ginger, garlic, onion

• Bitter: kale, collards, spinach, broccoli, bell pepper, zucchini

• Astringent: legumes, tahini, cilantro, dill, microgreens

Sweet is a taste that I’m sure we all can recall, but there is a subtle sweetness in things you may overlook like rice. The sweet taste is soothing for the body in mind, but when consumed in excess it weakens your digestive fire, immunity, and is associated with greed. For kapha dominant people sweetness is suggested to be consumed in small quantities. 

Sour is associated with acidic flavors. Just the sight of a sour lemon can pucker my mouth and generate saliva! Common sour tastes are lemons, grapefruits, raisins, alcohol, cheese, yogurt, pickles, tomatoes and garlic. The sour taste enhances secretion of digestion enzymes, fuels appetite, increases metabolism and liver health. Biting into a grapefruit can really excite your insides and your mood! Kapha and pitta dominant people should be conscious of their sour taste intake because it can be aggravating and be related to skin rashes, heartburn, hyperactivity, and even anger or jealousy.

Salty taste comes dominantly from salt in our diets, although seaweed and celery are great salty additions too! Like sour things salty foods increase salivation and aid in digestion, absorption, and elimination. Salt is energizing and can help combat the feeling of dullness or lack of creativity. Salt is added to almost everything and can become addictive, it can disrupt all of the doshas so it’s best to consume salt in small quantities especially if you are pitta or kapha dominant. 

Pungent tastes are known to have a feeling of dry heat, which relates to many spicy foods and herbs. The heat can positively impact you to feel more enthusiastic, curious, and concentrated. Heat in the body is known to be cleansing for the senses, digestion, and most notably to clear out excess kapha. Excess heat can cause dryness, inflammation, irritability and anger. The dry heat commonly aggravates pitta and vata dominant people.

Bitter brings to mind leafy greens like kale. Biting into bitter foods like kale, eggplant, dark chocolate, and turmeric boosts digestive fire clearing out heat, congestion, toxins and allows space for more clarity and self-awareness. In excess, bitterness can weaken the lungs and kidneys due to its dry quality. If your vata is out of balance reduce your intake of bitter foods.

Astringent is also known to be a dry taste so it’s best to complement it with sweet or sour tastes. The drying quality helps to compress the body (removing moisture) therefore helping with diarrhea, decongestion, aid in blood clotting, and excess sweat. Emotions that are associated with balanced astringency are grounded and unified. While too much of this taste evokes anxiety, fear, and rigidity. Excess in the body may induce constipation, thirst, stiffness, or bloating. If you tend to be vata dominant reduce this taste. 

Resources

ChayaVeda's Resource Page includes Doshic Questionnaire, Recipe and more

Chaya’s Ayurvedic Guide Book (available with Chaya’s Ayurvedic Health Consultation), Chaya’s Kitchen, Ayurvedic Nutrition and Food Fundamentals with Recipes for Daily Living (available with Chaya’s Ayurvedic Nutrition & Digestion Program)