The body will always follow the mind so the first place to start is a person’s mindset and thought patterns. Are they optimistic or enthusiastic about life in general and is this just a moment of hardship or a long term pattern. If they are down on things and don’t see the point of trying- is this a long term habit or has this mindset come on recently. Do they believe in hope. Do they have discipline. How much correct information do they have about their health. Do they make excuses. How much willpower do they have. Once I have this information I will know if we have to start to change very old habits or more newer ones. The older the habit the longer term I will need to work with someone to help them back to health.
The quickest and healthiest way is to switch from refined sugars like white sugar or processed ones like corn syrup and start to use nature sugar. These are honey, brown sugar, jaggary, raw cane, molasses. Once a person starts to use nature sugars the urge to over use sugar becomes less and eventually becomes balanced. It is the unnatural artificial and refined sugars that are present in sweets, cakes and ice cream that give a person the ravenous cravings and eventually the habit to over indulge as these unnatural sugars are just like drugs and very addictive.
Nature sugars are an essential part of a healthy diet to provide the system with energy. So once a person switches from unnatural to nature sugar the choices of foods become less but of much higher quality so naturally it leads to weight loss and more energy.
Having a daily routine and following rituals are the backbone of a Yogic life. This is how we stay in balance even as the world around us is going up and down with different extremes. Early morning rituals like a shower, oiling the body, asana, pranayama, mantras, reading of spiritual material and meditation are all part of our daily routine. These practices give us the grounding we need for the body and mind so when we go out into the world and begin our day we are grounded even if people or the environment we are in isn’t.
Stress is just a response of our mind to excess. Our level of tolerance is very individual and changes from moment to moment. Having a spiritual practice and ritual which is done early in the morning gives us the tools we need to tackle our work and life in a more balanced manner so we never become overwhelmed.
 A good place to start if you’re new to Ayurveda, take this Dosha Guna Quiz
“I am living The One Plan over a lifetime but I put it as a one year plan so people can follow the teachings in a realistic time frame without getting disappointed that they are not progressing”
All books these days promise the reader a quick fix. The One Plan is ancient teachings offering solutions for a lifetime. As a Yogi I am not interested in quick things because nothing of worth is achieved quickly. No relationships, health or even money are gained or kept if we have a mindset of getting something quickly. For things of value we need to work on long term goals to gain the true benefits of anything worth having. I am living The One Plan over a lifetime but I put it as a one year plan so people can follow the teachings in a realistic time frame without getting disappointed that they are not progressing. Also doing these practices over a longer time builds up patients, discipline and awareness that won’t be lost or forgotten. Ancient and true teachings take time to absorb and apply. Once applied they turn into wisdom and experience. Most teachings today are part of a trend someone has come up with and usually last a few years.
The One Plan is based on the teachings of the sage Patanjali who brought these practices to us over 2000 years ago. They give guidance to live a health and spiritual life, leading to purpose and contentment. These teachings are for a true seeker and someone who values their time, health and life in general. For someone looking to know their purpose and the deeper meaning of their life.
“I use breathing techniques for when fear comes knocking.I use meditation when I need answers.I use asanas when I need flexibility.I use spiritual reading for when I need knowledge”
Contentment is taught as one of the lessons in The One Plan. Our lives today are full of excessive sensory stimulation. It is this imbalance of moving up and down in emotions that brings on a lot of our discomfort, ailments and suffering. Contentment is like a gentle wave that goes up and down in the ocean and allow you to move with it. Happiness and sadness are like unpredictable waves that one min are calm and the next become dangerous. When we are very happy for example we will not be able to meditate. This state of mind is too energizing and distracting to help the mind to be peaceful. It also doesn’t prepare us for the harder times as we can’t store up on happiness. The same goes for the opposite emotions of being depressed or sad. It will be distracting to our lives and not allow us to focus on the greater goals we have. So the middle ground of contentment helps us to not be too high or low and gives us that peace we are looking for.
I deal with everything in my life through my spiritual practice. I use breathing techniques for when fear comes knocking. I use meditation when I need answers. I use asanas when I need flexibility. I use spiritual reading for when I need knowledge. I use natural food to nourish my body. Herbal medicines to help combat ailments building up in the body. I use people to commune and communicate with as part of a community. Every aspect of life becomes a part of spiritual practice so life is purposeful.
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If you have a question for Yogi Cameron, you can get in touch via the website, or contact him for one-on-one counselling, and there are a lot of videos on his ASK YC page – from hormonal issues to stress remedies, from acne to getting more energy along with loads of advice on eating the Ayurvedic way: they’re all at ASK YOGI CAMERON
And if you don’t know which Dosha you are, find out with his Dosha Guna Quiz – a good place to start!Yogi’s DIY Guide to Herbs (and why coriander/cilantro, turmeric and ginger are the big three!) YOUTUBE.COM |
Spring is coming…just outside the kitchen window
