I began incorporating the principles of Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old holistic system of lifestyle and medicine originating from India, into my life over 20 years ago. I love Ayurveda for its practical, down-to-earth wisdom, nourishment for the entire being, and its natural approach to wellness. It incorporates herbs, oils, diet, and lifestyle choices to promote inner balance, harmony, and well-being. The knowledge of Ayurveda is empowering. When you learn how to manage the influence of the five elements that make up your mind and body, you can bring yourself into a state of greater balance where higher levels of consciousness become more attainable. You are no longer at the mercy of the elements, caught in identification with the impermanent aspects of yourself—the fluctuations of the mind, emotions, and bodily sensations. Ayurveda is one of the ancient sacred texts, called the Vedas. It is extensive, deep, and complete.
I furthered my knowledge and application through self-study and direct learning from Ayurvedic doctors, including a week-long Ayurvedic Nutrition training session at an ashram in Quebec. I learned that milk is more hydrating than water and that honey creates toxins in the body when heated. More importantly, I learned how to eat in a way that would support my unique body/mind type.
At the Core: The 5 Elements
At the core of Ayurveda are the five elements found in all creation: earth, water, fire, air, and space. These five elements make up our bodies and directly influence our mental and emotional states as well as our styles of expression. Some of these elements are more predominant in our constitutional makeup, becoming the unique foundation of our biology.
Keeping the Balance: The 3 Doshas
Ayurveda provides a tangible, down-to-earth, holistic understanding of what you are made of and what you need to sustain optimal wellness of the body and mind. From the five elements come the three doshas (Ayurvedic constitutions): vata, pitta, and kapha. Each dosha has specific requirements to maintain a state of wellness and equilibrium. For example, if you are more of a vata (an air-type person with a light body frame who has difficulty gaining weight, dry skin, dislikes cold, and is sensitive to it; can be ungrounded, highly creative, disorganized, and struggles to commit; and experiences fear, anxiety, and worry when out of balance), you will benefit from foods that are warming, grounding, and moist, with the tastes of sweet, sour, and salty. You will likely fare best in warm, humid environments that are calming and soothing to your sensitive nervous system. Warm oil massages are also a must for vata!
Balanced Cooking with the 6 Tastes
When I first began exploring Ayurvedic cooking, I didn’t know much about combining spices or herbal energetics. There are six tastes described in Ayurveda: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, astringent, and pungent. A balanced meal will include all six tastes, with different proportions according to dosha. There are also ways to prepare spices to bring out their flavors. I like grinding my dried spices with a mortar and pestle and roasting them in a bit of ghee before adding the veggies to the pan. The aroma is sensational, and the sense of smell can work wonders to inspire a good appetite and positive feelings.
Plant-based Choice
Twenty-five years ago, I chose a vegetarian lifestyle. As a spiritual seeker, it was the right alignment for me with my daily yoga and meditation practices. My body adapted well to this diet, and I felt adequately nourished. Ayurvedic practitioners generally recommend fresh, plant-based food rich in nutrients, such as grains, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, and legumes. Those who are not vegan can include milk-based foods like yogurt and soft cheeses, such as paneer. Meat is often consumed in Ayurvedic medicine as part of a healing regimen to build strength after an illness or to ground a severe vata disturbance. Some people also eat meat as part of their regular Ayurvedic diet because their body feels better this way. There are no strict rules; it is a matter of personal choice. What is important is to choose good quality, organic meats that have been ethically sourced and to eat small portions—no bigger than the size of your palm. Unless you are recovering from an illness, eating meat three times per week should be enough.
Food and Vibrational Frequency
Everything we eat has a vibrational frequency. Meat has a lower vibrational frequency and contains the energy of fear the animal experienced at the time of slaughter. Vegetables have the highest vibrational frequency. There are three fundamental energies that make up the universe and determine our state of consciousness: sattva, rajas, and tamas. Sattva is the highest state of consciousness, creating inner calm, harmony, and clear perception. Rajas is an active state that creates agitation, passion, and movement. Rajasic foods like onions, garlic, and hot peppers increase internal heat and agitation. Tamas is the lowest state and lends itself to dullness, inertia, unawareness, and darkness. Foods rich in prana (life force energy), like most fresh fruits and vegetables, are sattvic and support a sattvic state of consciousness. That is why they are promoted for spiritual seekers, yogis, and meditators.
The Cook is in the Soup
There is the energy we receive from food and the energy we give to our food. You’ve likely had the experience of eating a meal that felt so good because it was prepared with joy and love. You just feel it! My Nana used to make a pineapple cheesecake, and she knew I loved it. I felt her graceful hands working with love and care as her heart delighted in preparing that dessert for me. The mental state and frequency of the cook influence how we feel when we eat their food. That is why it is important to enter the kitchen consciously. Alternate nostril breathing can steady and calm an active mind before putting on your apron. You can also say a prayer, offering up your obsessive thoughts and worries, and asking that only the energy of divine light come through you and into the food.
That Special Ingredient
Another ingredient that can increase the enjoyment of a nourishing meal is good company. My single friends often mention that they do not always feel inspired to cook a dazzling meal just for themselves. Research has shown that the areas in the world where people tend to live the longest (the Blue Zones) are thriving in community. People in these communities understand the value of multi-aged socializing and eat a mostly plant-based diet, focusing on fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. They live by the rule of 80%, filling their stomachs only this much to prevent the harmful effects of overeating. Winter in Canada can be isolating for single people, and creating community kitchen opportunities can truly lift our spirits as our bodies and hearts are nourished.
I had a recent community kitchen experience. A single mom friend asked me to cook for her when she was ill. She shared how deeply nourishing the food was for her and asked me for a private cooking class. We both experienced a lot of joy as I shared some snippets of Ayurvedic cooking wisdom with her, and she told me about her food experience living in a spiritual community in India for several months. She requested a more extensive series of group classes: community cooking!
Sacred Cooking is Born
I had not taught Ayurvedic cooking classes for almost 15 years. I felt an inner excitement to return to this subject with the freshness of all I had cultivated in the last 15 years. I had completed intensive training in “Breathontology” (breath work) and decided to incorporate it at the start of each class. I’m all about learning viscerally through hands-on experience. So, the classes will begin with a short breath-work session, followed by the weekly knowledge, and then some hands-on kitchen time. There will also be time to share tea and reflect on our histories, traditions, and current food habits.
Love joins, food joins…join me in January and February of 2025 for Sacred Cooking, a community cooking class that unites people in a conscious presence through inspiring Ayurvedic knowledge, healthy, enlivening whole foods, practice time creating in the kitchen, and a joyful celebration of life!
More details are available here: (You’ll land on my website’s home page. Scroll down for “Sacred Cooking.”)
Satyam Holistic Wellness 
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