What's Your Dosha?

In reading "Misadventures of a Garden State Yogi", I've come to the chapter "Ayurveda Revisited".  According to the The University of Maryland Medical Center (http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ayurveda-000348.htm) Ayurveda is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science.  Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health that is designed to help people live long, healthy, and well balanced lives. The term Ayurveda is taken from the Sanskrit words ayus, meaning life or lifespan, and veda, meaning knowledge. It has been practiced in India for at least 5,000 years and has recently become popular in Western cultures. The basic principle of Ayurveda is to prevent and treat illness by maintaining balance in the body, mind, and consciousness through proper drinking, diet, and lifestyle, as well as herbal remedies. 

According to Ayurveda a person is a blend of three different proclivities, or doshas.  The three doshas are:  vata (ether/air), pitta (fire), and kapha (water/earth).  Each person is a blend of these elements.  So I took the short questionnaire to determine what my dosha is, and it seems that I am primarily vata (ether/air) - basically prone to be scatterbrained and wishy-washy.  To balance these proclivities in a vata dosha, Ayurveda recommends that I need to keep warm, eat warm and moist foods, take it easy on beans (difficult for a vegetarian!), avoid caffeine (oh no!!), white sugar (oh dear!), and processed foods, relax, spend lots of time in nature, and keep a regular routine (and actually LOOK at your calendar and to do list).  It seems that this 5,000-year-old practice may be right on the mark with my nature.  The biggest thing for me to reduce is caffeine, as I love teas and coffee.  Also, sugar - can't stand my coffee unsweetened.  

This morning I took a Yoga class from a local studio in Greenport, NY called Stirling Yoga (http://stirlingyoga.com/).  This studio teaches Ashtanga Yoga.  I have practiced primarily Hatha Yoga. Really there was very little difference between the two styles - just a slightly different Sun Salutation series.  I loved that there were blankets to sit on during the introductory breathing focus and for Savasana (final relaxation).  Toward the end of Savasana the teacher used what I think was a Harmonium to sing/chant a bit in Sanskrit (this was wonderful!).  Then he read a short reading and finally chanted something in Sanskrit and had the class repeat it.  I have no idea what it meant, but I felt great!  Although I thoroughly enjoyed this class, at $18 per drop-in, I'll probably stick to my unlimited plan at NOFO Wellness Center  for the month of April.  

Namaste', 
Carrie

Since this blog is about books as well as Yoga, I must share what I am reading right now.  Growing up, I don't know how I ever missed reading the "Anne of Green Gables" series by L.M. Montgomery.  A dear friend of mine, Lynette, told me how she had recently enjoyed reading the series and then watching the movie versions as well.  Soooo, I started by downloading the audio book from Library2Go through my local library.  This book is so cute!  It's quite wholesome, old-fashioned, and just sunny in how it reads.  It reminds me of "Little House on the Prairie" and "Little Orphan Annie" combined.  It is very easy reading, and I love Anne's saying "there's so much scope for imagination" in certain situations and locations she finds herself in.

The other book that I am currently reading is "Misadventures of a Garden State Yogi" by Brian Leaf.  Subtitled "My Humble Quest to Heal My Colitis, Calm My ADD and Find the Key to Happiness".  I am loving this book!  The author is quite humorous as he guides the reader through his journey to do exactly what he describes in his subtitle.  As someone who has an auto-immune arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and occasional IBS (I know - too much information!), I too, am hoping that Yoga will "cure" my afflictions.  This much I can say - Yoga does help - a lot!

My husband and I just arrived Monday on Long Island for a visit with our son, future daughter-in-law, and grandson.  We are staying on the North Fork of the Island where they are blessed with a multitude of wineries (so far we've visited 5 in 2 days).  The scenery is beautiful - vineyards, old homes, waterfronts, ocean,  - all good stuff!  Nothing at all like New York City - more like home - only different.  The very first day we arrived, even before getting the keys to our lodging - we signed up for unlimited classes and use of a local fitness center.  So far, we have attended two indoor cycling classes.  We got some new music ideas to take back to my husbands' spinning class.  Tomorrow, I am going to try out a Yoga Studio that teaches in the Ashtanga style.  I am mostly familiar with Hatha Yoga, so I'm looking forward to this adventure.

Everyone in this area of Long Island has been so nice and friendly.  We are hoping for a little warmer weather soon,  although I'm thankful that it has been sunny!   I am missing our cat, Lynxie, and I'm so thankful to our next door neighbor and my Dad who will be checking on her frequently.  Well, that's all for now.

Namaste',
Carrie