Many define Ojas in different ways. Vaidya Mishra had a different additional take – as always! He explained that Ojas is the connective factor between the cosmic energy and the biological reality of your body! Is that just a poetic statement? Absolutely not! In the SVA tradition, hormones are considered to be ojas. The connection that Ojas establishes between our bodies and the universe goes through the route of hormones. Vaidya explained that hormones are the “messengers” communicating between the macro- and micro- cosms: the material universe we live in, as embodied souls. There is so much more that we can say on this topic, based on Vaidya Mishra’s teachings; however, today, we want to focus on what happens when things go wrong and our hormonal balance goes off. Because seriously bad stuff can and does happen when our hormonal balance is off… Hormonal balance going off means that relationship between our bodies and the environment is exacerbated.What throws off that balance? It can be a myriad of factors, such as: chronic stress; bad diet; overuse of our senses; mental traumas; physical injuries; etc. But amongst these, by far, chronic stress is the worst. Why? Because we tend to ignore it and keep going despite feeling extremely stressed…
But what happens when we are chronically stressed? When we are stressed, our body releases hormones: adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones trigger a series of physiological and psychological responses, known as the “fight or flight” response. The more stressed we are, the higher our cortisol levels become, creating a hormonal imbalance. Then what happens? High cortisol levels can cause a number of physical and emotional symptoms. Physical symptoms can be any of the following: weight gain, especially around the belly and face; fatty deposits between the shoulders; stretch marks on the belly; muscle weakness in the upper arms and thighs; high blood pressure; high blood sugar; thin, fragile skin that bruises easily; acne; female facial hair and irregular menstrual periods including educed fertility.
Emotional symptoms may include anxiety or depression; headaches; irritability; poor sleep; and difficulty concentrating. Other symptoms may also include: intestinal problems, such as: constipation, bloating, or diarrhea; difficulty recovering from exercise; muscle pain or tension in the head, neck, jaw, or back; insomnia; pre-diabetes.
In addition, Cortisol is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands. When it’s elevated when you’re stressed or anxious it can disrupt calcium absorption, which can lead to bone loss and fractures. Ok we get the picture!
So: how can Ayurveda help us address stress? You can manage cortisol by incorporating Ashwagandha, a famous adaptogenic ayurvedic herb. You can use either tablets or transdermal cream (see www.chandika.com) But if your stress goes unchecked, if you lead a stressed lifestyle, imbalanced levels of cortisol will result in imbalanced levels of estrogen and progesterone that in their turn have additional associated imbalances and ailments.
S0 n0w y0u know: Stress is a BIG disruptor of our hormonal health. Here are 5 factors in total that you can identify in your life, along with practical tips, to help you correct hormonal imbalance.
Number 1: Hormonal balance is supported by lunar energy and somehow not everybody knows this! We have forgotten our connection to Nature, specially in the case of women, the connection between hormones and the lunar cycles. Women’s menstrual cycles occur on or near the full moon or on the no-moon day. This is why they are also called lunar cycles. In SVA terms, the vibrational energy of the moon has much to do with the menstrual cycle. The moon’s soma energy is received and delivered in a woman’s physiology through her vibrational channels. For this to occur in a timely manner on a monthly basis, the vibrational channels need to be ready to receive and then clean and unblocked to be able to circulate and deliver the somagenic cosmic energy.
Practical Tips: in order to get the most out of a lunar cycle on a monthly basis, you need to maintain your vibrational channels in good health. For this, Vaidya Mishra recommends doing an abhyanga massage (self- massage with warm oil) with Vata Massage oil with Vitamin D and Magnesium (available at www.chandika.com). Do a self-massage at least once a week. In addition, keep your physical and vibrational channels open and healthy by using Prana-Flow Roll-on on hands and feet, as well as lower back.
Diet-wise: the balanced use of lunar energy to support hormonal balance will result in optimal health. Unless you have an imbalanced hormonal panel – too much or too little estrogen etc, in which case you need to consult with your physician – you can do the following: 5 days before and 5 days after the full moon, support the lunar cycle by consuming estrogen-predominant foods such as: asparagus, fennel, papaya, pineapple, yam.
Make and drink the Pineapple and Fennel smoothy recipe: fresh (preferably organic) peeled and cubed or sliced pineapple approximately 6-7 slices, add 1 tablespoon dry toasted and powdered fennel seeds. Blend the mixture by adding some water to taste. If the pineapple is not sweet enough, you can add 1 tsp raw cane sugar or some raw honey. You may filter out the fibers if you like, otherwise just enjoy!
The rest of the month (5 days after the full moon and up to 5 days before the next full moon), use Femi Ojas drops and Femi Ojas cream – these are progesterone predominant.
These creams enhance the absorption of lunar energy and transforming into specific hormones as and when what hormones are needed for the body.
Number 2: yes, so we know that there is confirmed relationship between women’s monthly hormonal flow and the lunar cycle, but, in order to transform the cool soma of the moon into hormones, or components of the menstrual cycle, the power of transformation, in other words, agni, is needed. Our main source of agni is the sun, or solar energy. Agni is most prominent in our physiology through digestion, and overall metabolism. So in order to balance your hormones, it is imperative that you take care of your digestion and overall metabolism. The body should be fed somagenic intelligent foods – not acidic foods – in a timely manner; otherwise, here are some additional practical tips:
Practical Tips: make sure that you tend to your digestion during the whole month. This translates into:
Don’t overeat. Eat more frequent but smaller meals;
Eat easy to digest foods – favor fresh over processed and left-overs.
Eat on time – this will further align you with the universal clock, making sure all your physiological functions are running optimally on-time.
Do NOT fast in the mornings: if you must fast (!), do it in the evenings. Have a light but nourishing breakfast, a proper full balanced lunch, a fruit/nuts snack around 3 pm, and a light soupy/boiled veggies and protein early dinner (no later than 6pm) and fast for the rest of the evening.
Eating heavy processed meals in a delayed manner is the sure recipe for creating toxins or ama – as the body is not able to fully digest and metabolize when the sun goes down. You need to process the soma of the food to convert it into hormones. If semi-digested material results from your meals, then it clogs your physical channels. When this happens, regardless of how young or old you are, whether you are pre-menopausal, or actually in menopause, or not at all close to menopause, your cycle will be disturbed, may be delayed, and/or accompanied by excessive symptoms of imbalance – headaches, heavy mood swings, cramping, sweating and chills, etc. You can also enhance your overall metabolism by using Mom’s Masala in your cooking. Use Soma Salt to enhance digestion and absorption without imbalancing any of the doshas.
Number 3: Follow an alkaline diet, and ideally, follow the SVA somagenic diet, that recommends staying away from any food items that have or can lower your body’s overall alkalinity or pH. Eating fresh intelligentpranic food will ensure that the body’s innate system of balance, which keeps a check on how much soma needs to be transformed by how much agni, and how much lubrication is needed for the channels, this system does not get disrupted. Vaidya categorizes food into a) intelligent – fresh, devoid of preservatives or artificial agents, freshly prepared; b) dumb: food that has some amount of freshness but also contains some additives and is heavy on the digestion; c) dead: food that comes in pre-packed format and has years of shelf life and is filled with additives and preservatives. You can guess what your body and brain will feel like after consuming foods with either of the above characteristics.
Practical Tips: Make sure to carry healthy snacks with you wherever you go, to curb your temptation for unhealthy food choices; consume sweet juicy seasonal fruits whenever possible. Incorporate a balanced amount of preferably raw A2 milk into your diet. Definitely have yoghurt on a daily basis – specifically with lunch, as a medicinal food item. Incorporate some fresh coconut into your meals whenever possible – favor coconut flakes or chunks instead of just the oil – the fibre is part of the medicinal properties of coconut.
Number 4: to get the most benefit out of solar and lunar energies, following a routine is necessary. This will make sure your entire mind-body-heart complex is aligned with the circadian rhythm, and this is the key to total health. What does this translate into? During the daytime, be active with the sun. Eat on time, around noon, when solar energy and agni is highest in the environment. Sleep at night. And sleep on time – before 10pm or latest by 9:45pm – so that you can get most benefit from lunar energy. These are the laws of nature that will help keep our entire physiology functioning optimally.
Practical Tips: both solar and lunar energy govern our body’s hormonal system, so we need to develop and maintain a routine based on the circulation of solar and lunar energies. In the daytime solar energy flows, so we have to be more active during the day, not sleeping, eating heavier foods on time at midday so that we use the solar energy during the daytime. Night-time we need to rest in order to recover with the help of lunar energy. Routine plays a major role in the health of your hormones.
Number 5: “spiritual” practice – you have to have one! It does not have to be religious. Everything in this universe is sacred – we just need to adjust our perception lens… And remember: the entire energy of the universe is ready to flow into you, nourish, nurture, and rejuvenate you. You just need to invite and allow it! And the primary gateway for this cosmic power is the brahmarandhra or the thousand points’ filter that makes up the adipathi marma located on your fontanelle, the top front part of your head. Through this point, the energy enters and is delivered to all the organs and systems in your physiology. But stress acts as a barricade to this star-gate! It blocks the entrance. When you adopt and practice a daily spiritual practice that helps you be on top of stress, that helps you reconnect you with You, then your hormones will be healthy and flow better. You can google and find countless scientific studies that show how stress plays a major role in creating hormonal imbalance.
Practical Tips: Yoga, prayers, meditation, in other words: balance between rest and activity, is an essential component for hormonal balance and health. Adopt an anti-stress routine. Make sure you have some quiet time for yourself on a daily basis, to re-align yourself with the big picture of things. YOU DESERVE IT! Only when you are at your best, will you be able to not only accomplish your desires, but spread joy and beauty through who and where you are in this moment….
ONLINE COURSES
& WORKSHOPS
We offer many courses and workshops from the SV Ayurveda perspective. Find out more on www.svayurveda.com or scroll down to sign up for current offerings.
As new findings surface, scientists revisit their conclusions. Vaidya Mishra said it best, he used to chuckle and say: there have been no recalls in Ayurveda for the past several thousand years! Because the knowledge was not gathered through limited sensory exploration and limited devices – but that’s an altogether different topic. In SV Ayurveda, we know that EMF can cause a wide panoply of health imbalances – Vaidya Mishra explained and demonstrated how too much electricity and overexposure to electric devices can cause more harm than good, specially if we do not counterbalance with remedial ayurvedic protocols. With SV Ayurveda, you can understand what EMF actually is, from the ayurvedic perspective, and what you can do about it – in terms of shielding yourself through different options, but also increasing prana through diet, lifestyle, and additional balancing measures. Find out the full protocol.
NEED HELP MEASURING & NAVIGATING THE EFFECTS OF EMF?
WORK WITH THE EXPERT!
Here is what Henry has to say about the current EMF scene!
“We Are Electrical Beings!
Billions of electrical functions are running every second throughout our body. Our cells have an electrical potential (voltage) with measurable current flow within the fibers of our nerves.
* Electrocardiograms measure the electrical processes of the heart in the millivolt range.
* Electro-encephalograms measure the brain processes in the even more sensitive microvolt range.
* Cardiac pacemakers generate, with one millivolt, electricity which assists in the stimulation of the heart muscle.
* Medicine has defined the time of death by the end of electrical energy in the brain.
* There is no life without electric voltages. All our billions of cells are producing more than 100,000 biophysical and biochemical functions per second.
* It is now believed that low frequency electromagnetic exposure disrupts the subtle electrical communication systems within our cells, while higher frequencies disrupt cellular structural bonds.
* Individual levels of sensitivity to these fields vary, but human health problems fall into two equally concerning categories:
2) The production and proliferation of cells (embryos, healing, and cancer).
* Thousands of Scientific peer-reviewed studies show that even low level EMR exposures affect not only the health of our brains but also the integrity of our genomes and our ability to produce healthy offspring. –> https://bioinitiative.org
A course to help you bring a broadened understanding of yourself and all of life from a Vedic perspective as well as an experience deepening of inner expansion. It’s for anyone who is interested in personal growth and specially for those needing support in this age of uncertainty. It’s also for counselors, therapists, and holistic practitioners wanting to deepen their understanding of psychology and Sattvavijaya as way to support others.
When: Introductory Class Part 1: Saturday, March 22nd from 10:00am to 11:15 am Central Time USA
Course fee – Introductory Class is free . The 25 lesson class after is $595 (payment plans available)
Where: Zoom (email rosecarolayurveda@gmail.com to receive the link) – Recordings will be available upon request.
This course brings a broadened understanding of oneself and all of life from a Vedic point of view as well as an experience of deepening connection to Self. It’s for anyone who is interested in personal growth and those needing support in an age of uncertainty. It’s also for counselors, therapists, and holistic practitioners wanting to deepen their understanding of Vedic Psychology and Sattva Vijaya as a way to support others. Join long time SV Ayurveda Educator and Licensed Psychotherapist, Rose Carol on this experiential and knowledge filled course.
Module 1 Understand The Cause of Human Suffering and Overcoming Darkness into Light
Lesson 1Introduction to Vedic Psychology
Lesson 2: Self Referral Consciousness vs External Driven Consciousness.
Lesson 3: introduction to Nadi Vigyan – Ayurveda Pulse Taking
Lesson 4: Sattva Vijaya – Light of Consciousness is Victorious over darkness, instruction in SV Samadhi Set, practice together – connection with Self
Lesson 5: Vedic Understanding of Turiya State of Consciousness
Module 2: Ayurveda Approaches to Mental Health – Getting to the Root Cause
Lesson 6. Identifying 7 Red flags of mental health, Staying within Scope of Practice
Lesson 7. Ayurveda and Its Approach to Anxiety – rooting out the basis
Lesson 8: SV Ayurveda and Its Approach to Depression
Lesson 9: SV Ayurveda and It’s Approach to Sleep
Lesson 10: PTSD, Trauma and the Brain
Lesson 12: Addiction
Lesson 12: ADHD
Lesson 13: Memory and Cognitive Functioning
Lesson 14: Relationship Problems
Module 3 – Goal of Ayurveda – Full Blossoming of Human Development
Lesson 13: The Amazing Brain – Neural Pathways to greater mental health
Lesson 14: Ancient Vedic Knowledge – Introduction to Upanishads
Lesson 15: Enlightening the Intellect
Module 4 – Overview of Practical Applications of Ayurveda
Lesson 16: Connection with Self via pulse taking and SV Samadhi Marma
Lesson 17: Sound Therapy (mantras)
Lesson 18: The Role of Nutrition in Mood States and Thinking
Lesson 19: Herbal Medicine
Lesson 20: Body Therapies
Lesson 21: Yoga and Pranayama
Lesson 22: Relationship Health to Self, Others and World – We
Lesson 23: Role of Counseling
Lesson 24: Seeing yourself through the lens of the universe with Vedic Astrology - Who are you in the big picture of the Galaxies?
Module 5: Conclusion
Lesson 25: Overview of Course, group practice of SVA Samadhi Marma
FYI, No part of this course was created by a robot. All material in the course was inspired by a variety of teachers, in particular Vaidya Ramakant Mishra, and Rose’s personal and professional experience.
About Rose, Rose has been professionally practicing Ayurveda since 1989 and was a long time student of the late Vaidya Ramakant Mishra. She is also a licensed psychotherapist who integrates Vedic and Western Psychology methods for seekers and those wanting to expand out of limitations.www.ayurvedahealthcoach.com
Rose Carol – MA, LPC, Certified SVAyurveda Educator, had the great fortune of studying not only Ayurveda but also the fundamentals of Sattva Vijaya with Vaidya Mishra one-on-one. She sat down with him during patient consultations and also attended many of his courses. Her primordial interest was to help people heal from trauma. A licensed graduate in Psychology, she combines her modern studies with the ancient vedic teachings that Vaidya Mishra made available to her.
Stay in the Knowledge, Here, There, & Everywhere!
if you ever had the opportunity to meet Vaidya Mishra in person, or have encountered him via his many youtube videos or online courses, then you know what we mean! We all want to have him travel with us in this earthly journey, to help us in our decisions along the way, through the timeless wisdom and knowledge of SV Ayurved. And now we can! If you have not discovered our podcast channel yet, we invite you to look it up and explore the timeless teachings of SVAyurveda, as well as fabulous talks by other SVAyurveda doctors and educators. We update and add new episodes every month. Tune in and listen. And leave us a comment about how you like things!
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
The sole purpose of this blog is to provide information about the alternative healing modalities of Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda (SVA) as practiced in Vaidya Mishra's ancestral family tradition. The information contained herein is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention or cure of any disease. If you have any serious, acute or chronic health concern, please consult a licensed health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. Otherwise, for more information, you may call Vaidya Mishra's Prana Center toll free in the USA at 1.888.3CHANDI (888.324.2634). or 1.818.709.1005 globally, or email us at: info@prana-center.com. You may also visit: www.vaidyamishra.com, or www.chandika.com
Leave a Comment
About SVA
Vaidya Mishra the voice of Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda, an uninterrupted living tradition.
