In this issue we explore the concept of “harmony.” Harmony can include balance, yet it is more than balance. Likewise, harmony implies compatibility, rather than simple equality of components. So, too, with the Six Pillars of Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga. Ayurveda’s Six Pillars contain elements best explored in their proper proportions, that, when well designed, help us to experience harmony in health and wellbeing. Below, I outline Ayurveda’s Six Pillars and briefly discuss proportions to experiment with as you foster harmony in your life.
**The Six Pillars of Ayurveda**
1. **Food**
The most recognizable pillar may be food- a sattvic (serene, balanced) diet consists of nourishing food in harmony with nature and your individual constitution. Many consider fresh seasonal food cooked according to the season and your needs, eaten in a regular and relaxed manner, a key component of finding harmony in your health. In the Midwest, where agriculture thrives and we celebrate farm-to-table practices, embracing a sattvic diet can become a seamless integration with the local ethos as you bring this concept into your life.
2. **Sleep**
What you do and think during your day sets up what happens during your sleep times, and how your sleep times go greatly impacts how your days feel. Focus on routines: think regular bedtime and wake time, pre-bed rituals, keeping electronics out of your bedroom, and proper amount of sleep. As we think about the proportion concept I mentioned above, we can find an almost humorous example of the wisdom of “harmony” rather than “equality.” Imagine sleeping for eight hours during each 24-hour cycle. For most people that is about right. But do most people need to eat for eight hours each day? Probably not. This is a great way to start understanding the concept of harmony in your wellbeing.
3. **Nourishing and Cleansing**
This pillar encourages you to drink water to support your body’s natural detox systems, plus use a tongue scraper and neti pot (nasal rinse) to cleanse pathogens and allergens from your sinuses. You may bring self-massage into your hygiene routine to cleanse your body and soothe your nervous system. Also, incorporate enough quiet time each day for your mind to digest the stimuli and activity it experiences. While fitting this pillar into the day can sound a bit overwhelming (at least it did to me at first), please know you won’t be spending anything close to your eating time or sleeping time on this pillar. For many people, a little bit of these practices spread throughout the day and/or week can truly make a difference without being a burden.
4. **Movement**
Find movement and a healthy amount of exercise to support your body’s ability to sleep and to naturally cleanse itself. If you think about the proportion of your day devoted to movement, consider your daylight/waking hours. A small portion of your awake time will be on-purpose “exercise,” for building muscle and cardiovascular health. The rest of your awake 16 hours, though, probably shouldn’t be totally still. Can you find opportunities for a sweet walk, a few sun breaths, and some ankle rotations throughout your day, all of which might increase your energy?
5. **Breathing and Stress Management**
Learn what a healthy amount of eustress (good stress) is for you. Slow down your breathing and decision making, paying attention to the things in life increasing and relieving distress for you. In contrast to a full night’s sleep, just a few minutes of quiet breathing and mindfulness practice can vastly increase your sense of resilience and choice.
6. **Self-Awareness and Self-Reflection**
This pillar kind of brings us back to the earlier ones – self-awareness about things like how we eat and how we move. A helpful way to bring this pillar into your life could be to practice this pillar throughout your daily decision making around food, sleep, movement, and so on. What’s more, you may decide to use your connections with nature and other people as a fertile playground for self-study. One of my favorite ways to explore this pillar combines awareness of myself in connection with others with movement of some sort. For example, if you ever noticed how going for a walk with someone can open avenues of sharing and insight, you may have already experienced the power of this pillar when combined with one or more of the others.
I hope you find some insights as you experiment with Ayurveda’s Six Pillars. With self-compassion and maybe a little bit of humor, we can gently build harmony in our lives using this time-tested wisdom.
Kami helps people heal from trauma as a certified well-being coach and Level I yoga therapist. Specializing in SomaYoga, motivational interviewing, and positive psychology, Kami offers private sessions, workshops, and group classes through Tula Yoga in St. Paul. She wrote several books about nature and well-being, including Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners and Sleep Better Tonight. Kami created the program Body Peace Yoga® through which she helps other yoga teachers work effectively with people healing from eating disorders and body image challenges. Stanford Medical Center featured her work with wildfire survivors in research.
