Change Your Inner Energetic State
Earlier this week, around Day 11 of Lockdown, I noticed I was feeling stuck.
My body felt heavy, and my mind felt dull. Spending more time than usual sitting at my desk working online had done nothing to improve my state of mind, or the inertia I felt in my physical body. Sound familiar?
Fortunately, I knew what to do to change my energetic state.
Both yoga and its sister science, Ayurveda, are based on Samkhya philosophy. According to this ancient wisdom, human beings are composed of the same essential elements and therefore subject to the same influences which create the weather.
The three aspects which influence matter are Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.
These forces which affect all matter, the gunas, are constantly acting on us both externally and internally, either to create balance or lead us further towards imbalance.
Sattva has the qualities of stillness, balance, purity and light.
Tamas has the qualities of inertia, heaviness, and darkness.
Rajas has the qualities of movement, activity, & aggression.
Yoga and Ayurveda utilise knowledge of how these 3 gunas together influence our physiological and psychological states, to support us to consciously create our own ideal inner energetic state, at any given moment.
Generally, cultivating the opposite is useful. For example, if I am feeling heavy & dull (Tamasic), it is beneficial to do some dynamic movement to feel more energised (Rajas). The ideal amount of movement and stillness creates a state of balance (Sattva), both in the body and the mind.
These same principles apply to our dietary and lifestyle habits. For example, the types of of exercise, work or social activities I engage in, as well as which foods I consume and how I consume them, will have an effect, depending on which qualities those activities inherently have.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, 'like attracts like' , which means that I am likely to continue in the same state I am experiencing already, unless I have the awareness & tools to cultivate an alternative energetic state, at any given moment.
For example, if I am feeling heavy & dull, I am likely to feel less like moving, and also more likely to be attracted to eating 'comfort foods' that are starchy and heavy, further increasing my heavy state.
Instead, if I consciously choose to do some energetic movement, and either fast for a short time, or eat foods which have a light & pure quality such as soups or salads, fresh foods that are easy to digest, this will decrease Tamas and increase Sattva.
The same is true for yoga practice. If you are feeling agitated and restless, unable to settle or feel a sense of inner stillness, doing some stay postures in a kneeling, seated or lying position may increase a felt sense of stability. A Guided Yoga Nidra practice in a Savasana posture may even invite you to a state of sleep. These practices all increase Tamas.
On the other hand, if you are feeling a sense of inertia, heavy and dull, a dynamic vinyasa asana sequence of standing postures, including forward bends, backbends and twists is more energising. Followed by a seated Pranayama practice with a focus on extending the Inhalation and pause after Inhalation, will increase Rajas. (A long energetic walk outdoors is likely to create a similar effect!)
Pranayama can also help to either soothe an overactive nervous system, or energise your sympathetic nervous system, depending on which breathing technique you utilise: Nadi Shodana or Alternate Nostril breathing can calm you down, or Bhastrilka can energise you, depending on your individual needs.
Pranayama and meditation practices will generally increase Sattva.
