Ayurveda’s primary objective is to foster harmony among the mind, body, and spirit. It promotes synchronization with nature’s circadian rhythms, empowering you to lead a well-balanced life, both mentally and physically. Achieving life balance commences with fine-tuning your diet and lifestyle.
UMA believes that striking a balance requires deftly juggling numerous responsibilities. These include family, work, and school. Without a carefully thought-out plan, there’s a big risk of dropping some of these metaphorical balls. Our lives are governed by natural rhythms. As creatures of habit, we thrive on patterns and routines. By incorporating UMA and Ayurvedic knowledge into your daily rituals, you can effortlessly assimilate information. This approach ensures steady progress in manageable portions.
“The material and the spiritual are but two parts of one universe and one truth. By overstressing one part or the other, man fails to achieve the balance necessary for harmonious development… Practice the art of living in this world without losing your inner peace of mind.”
Follow the path of balance to reach the inner wondrous garden of Self-Realization. — Paramahansa Yogananda
REGULAR MEALTIMES [1]
Have you ever gotten so busy you completely forgot to eat? Probably, everyone can relate to skipping a meal now and then or eating at times that are not optimal for digestion. UMA suggests keeping our minds and bodies optimally fueled and our digestion on point as it requires eating meals at consistent times each day, breakfast (7-9 am), lunch (11 am-1 pm), and dinner (6-8 pm).[2]
REGULAR SLEEP
In Ayurveda sleep is one of the three pillars of health. Throughout the day, our bodies and brains experience wear and tear. They need sleep – seven to eight hours daily – to rejuvenate. To stay in balance with our natural rhythms, Ayurveda suggests being in bed by 10 pm and rising with the sun.
SEASONAL SHIFTS [3]
“The ayurvedic rule in treatment is to treat Vata like a flower, Pitta like a friend, and Kapha like an enemy.”
David Frawley, Yoga for your Type: An Ayurvedic Approach to Your Asana Practice [5]
To comprehend our Dosha, it is crucial to grasp the intricacies of our body and its requirements:
- Summer can be a time of Pitta Dosha’s aggravation. Take time to cool down and relax more often. Avoid too much heat-inducing activity and embrace a little “do nothing” attitude.
- Fall and winter increase Vata Dosha. During this time it’s important to balance Vata with warm, moist food and seek lifestyle activities that are grounding in nature.
- Winter and spring are the Kapha Dosha season. This is a good time to lighten up the foods in your diet, amp up your exercise routine and possibly engage in an Ayurvedic cleanse.
CONNECT WITH YOUR DHARMA OR PURPOSE
The Sanskrit word “dharma” translates to your soul’s purpose. It’s the reason for your existence on this earth! Connecting with that purpose brings satisfaction and energizes you for great accomplishments. Embrace Ayurvedic study with UMA and acknowledge your draw to Ayurvedic wisdom; reflect on why you choose this path and what it means to you. Reconnect and recommit to your purpose. Allow it to shift and manifest in unexpected ways. Have confidence that it fits into your whole life. Don’t procrastinate; start and tackle tasks in manageable ways. UMA reminds you to celebrate your achievements!
Donna Goddard
“A balanced inner calmness radiates from a peaceful center. It neither craves others’ approval nor rejects others’ presence. It neither pulls towards nor pushes away. It has a reverent attitude towards life and all its inhabitants.”
SET & COMMUNICATE NEW EXPECTATIONS & BOUNDARIES WITH PEOPLE IN LIFE
“See yourself as the perfect creation that you are, but at the same time, recognize with sincere honesty, the areas of your life that are out of balance and get to work to improve and grow.”
Dashama Konah Gordon
Strong relationships are important. They will be impacted by changes in your life, but don’t fear. If you’re on a positive growth path, positivity can spread to them too. Open an upfront dialogue with people in your life. UMA promotes collaboration in overcoming challenges, establishing boundaries, and fulfilling expectations together.
“Who we are is the result of how we live and act daily. Our daily actions reflect our prime values and motivations.”
David Frawley, Yoga for your Type: An Ayurvedic Approach to Your Asana Practice[6]
REJUVENATION & SELF-CARE
When life gets busy, there’s one person that is often forgotten. You! Self-care is important to ensure you perform at your best and stay energized and focused.
“To understand oneself profoundly, one needs balance. That is, one cannot abandon the world, hoping to understand oneself or be so entangled in the world that there is no occasion to comprehend oneself. There must be balance, neither renunciation nor acquiescence. This demands alertness and deep awareness. We must learn to observe our actions, thoughts, ideals, and beliefs, silently and without judgment, without interpreting them, to be able to discern their true significance.”
Jiddu Krishnamurti
PRIORITIZE & MAKE SHIFTS
Take a look at your to-do list. Being busy doesn’t always equal being productive. Are you spending too much time on what feels urgent and not enough time on what is important? Realize it’s OK to say “no” sometimes. Let the important things be your priorities and forget about the rest, for now.
SLOW YOUR ROLL
SCHEDULE YOUR SELF-CARE
UMA strongly believes in scheduling mental self-care for a few minutes each day, whether it’s for breath work, gratitude journaling, or meditation. This will enhance your mental well-being, reduce stress and anxiety, boost positivity, build confidence, and prevent burnout. Additionally, prioritize rest, exercise, and nourishing meals to take care of your body. Make sure to schedule these activities if you tend to overlook them.
Avoid multitasking and take a quality-over-quantity approach. Give each aspect of your life its full, deserved attention. When you multitask you may feel like you’re getting more accomplished but in fact, it can impact your memory, result in mistakes, and eat up more of your time as your brain resets to follow each task.
In our quest for life balance, it is crucial to consider not only our own lives but also those around us. By making necessary adjustments, we can foster personal growth and find happiness while staying true to our purpose. UMA’s expertise in Ayurvedic knowledge empowers us to fulfill our potential and embark on a fulfilling journey. Let UMA guide you towards a harmonious and purposeful life.
