Now, more than ever, our focus is staying healthy in every respect. We all know about handwashing, staying out of crowds, etc., but there is another aspect to the health equation: building immunity.
In Ayurvedic science, the ancient system of lifestyle and health, ojas is said to be a substance in our bodies that governs immunity, aging, mood, sleep, strength, and digestion.
We want to boost ojas to support our immunity.
Ayurveda is all about balance and adapting—whether that is to one’s environment, your dosha (your mind-body constitution, as explained here), or the demands of the world. High levels of ojas can appear as the following:
- Resistance to colds and flu
- Energy and creativity
- Mental clarity
- Happiness and cheerfulness
- A glowing complexion and bright eyes
- Feeling rested in the morning upon waking
A lack of ojas can show up as anxiety or depressive symptoms, a lack of focus, a dull complexion and comprised immunity and fertility, chronic diseases, low energy, aches and pains, a lack of enjoyment in life, weakness of extremities, chills, drowsiness, and displacement of the doshas, one’s mind-body constitution.
Ayurvedic expert Dr. John Douillard compares ojas to honey: tens of thousands of bees per hive collect the nectar of flowers and concentrate it into honey, creating the “ojas of flowers.” When we eat fresh, healthy foods, with proper digestion, their microscopic essence accumulates in our systems. But there are many more ways to build ojas through our lifestyle choices.
More and more, the basic lifestyle wisdom of Ayurveda is now espoused in conventional medicine as science catches up with this ancient science. A great example is with cortisol levels and circadian rhythms. For millennia, Ayurvedic practitioners have recommended the early to bed, early to rise wisdom. Now, scientists and researchers are agreeing with these suggestions.
The simple wisdom of this ancient tradition can help promote health in many areas of our lives. There is much we can do in our daily lives to boost our immunity and improve our well-being.
Building Ojas and Immunity
What depletes ojas?
A variety of things can deplete ojas, including the following:
- Excessive activity
- Stress and worry
- Overwork and multi-tasking
- Draining emotions like fear, sadness, anxiety, anger, and irritability
- Lack of sleep and irregular sleep habits (some say the sleep you receive before midnight is twice as valuable as the sleep afterward)
- Lack of healthy foods, poor digestion
- Excessive travel or use of technology
- Negativity in speech or thoughts
- Poor digestion and absorption (weak Agni, or digestive fire)
Who can identify with some of those? I know I can.
Chances are that some of these are changing for us now (i.e., less travel now, but maybe more use of technology). Look at the times in your life when you have “depleted your ojas” and see if there are patterns for you.
What builds ojas?
- Laughter
- Love and affection
- Engaging in creative practices
- Not rushing, eating in a relaxed manner
- Gentle yoga, breathing and meditation practices
- Ample rest (typically, by far the best with early to bed and early to rise)
- Spending time in nature and visually calming/beautiful environments
- Engaging in activities that make you happy
- Engaging in activities you are passionate about
- Regular exercise (without excess)
- Ayurvedic self-massage with warm, herbal oil
- Supporting your digestion (eat slowly, not too late in the day)
- Surrendering or accepting “what is” (this can be a hard one, especially now, but it’s a practice to cultivate)
- Eating fresh, organic and seasonal foods (eat plenty of cooked foods during spring, which is Kapha season if you are in the Northern hemisphere)
- Eating foods, alive with “nature’s intelligence” that promote ojas:
- avocados
- dates, figs, and raisins
- bananas, and juicy, in-season fruit like grapes, mangos, and peaches
- coconut and honey
- cow’s milk and ghee
- cardamom and saffron
- nuts, especially almonds, cashews
- root vegetables, like sweet potatoes, yams, and turnips
- green vegetables, like leafy greens and zucchini
- protein sources, like mung beans and tofu
- whole grains, such as basmati rice
- oils, like sesame, olive oil, almond oil
- Ayurvedic tonics like chyawanprash and ojas milk
- certain spices and herbs, such as ginger and nutmeg
- sipping hot water or ginger tea through the day
- foods high in potassium (plant-based foods)
- Avoiding foods that deplete ojas:
- dry, raw, and uncooked or undercooked foods
- heavily processed foods, including canned foods and frozen foods
- old foods (e.g., reheated leftovers)
- refined sugar or flour
- alcohol or stimulants
- icy drinks and icy foods
- Our challenge is to provide ourselves with as many rejuvenating actions and attitudes as we can, to build a solid foundation for our health, so we are not depleted when stressors hit.
Staying Healthy & Grounded with Meditative Practices
Ancient sages taught that meditative activities and attitudes are key in building ojas. But great advice like getting good sleep is easier said than done when our nervous systems are frazzled to a thread. This is where the meditative practices can help.
The Light of Kriya website offers excellent resources on meditation and prayer. This website, created by the very respected Swami Pranananda, shares the vast wisdom and an array of practices from the Kriya Yoga lineage. These practices help to build a spiritual safety net that brings joy and strength, no matter what is happening in the world around us.
This article also gives many links to free meditations and meditation podcasts provided by leading organizations in the area of mindfulness
