Turmeric, or haridra or haldi, has been used in food for its beneficial properties on the digestion. It kindles the digestive fire, agni, and helps clearing any toxins or ama. It is recommended for the reproductive system too as well as for purifying breastmilk.

In yoga and ayurveda we take it a bit further. It is not just about the body. It is also abstaining or ridding the mind, emotions and energetics of unhealthy and toxic emotions and thoughts.

Juiciness is part of our wellbeing and health. All of the above help us to stay juicy in every way. In Ayurveda we can also connect this juice to ojas and our immunity.

The body is constituted of food. Hence one should take wholesome food only after careful examination and should not indulge in unwholesome ones out of greed or ignorance.

Space is an interesting concept. We can’t see it, touch it or feel it. But we sense it. There is energy in space, it contains and sustains everything and holds all.

Air creates movement and change. This is the concept of Vayu or wind in ayurveda.

The concept of fire, or Agni, in ayurveda is key to health and happiness.

Fluidity is also related to our joints and the synovial fluid which keeps the joints lubricated. If the joints are healthy we move through life with flow and ease. Physically and energetically.

The beauty and abundance of Mother Earth and the qualities of love and trust is associated with a balanced Earth element.

According to yoga and ayurveda everything is made up by a unique combination of five elements (the pancha mahabhutas). Us (our bodies and mind), the food we eat, the oil we use for massage, everything in nature…

It was probably not included in your training programme at the gym, nor discussed in your HIIT class or circuit training. Possibly just alluded to in a yoga class as the mulabandha (which the teacher never explained).

Ayurvedic mung soup for digetive health

Autumn is Vata season in Ayurvedic philosophy.

Vata and Autumn shares the qualities of movement, change, dryness, cold, light, changeable, quick and irregular.

Making lassie for digestion and cooling down