In Ayurveda we meet the principle of 3 Gunas - qualities that categorize behavior and impact of food or activity upon one’s body and mind. By understanding these categories and their influence we are able to build the diet and activity we need to reach a particular state of mind and body. People living in Western countries are not used to such an abstract categorization, but from my experience I can confirm that it brings more clarity into my doings and food I chose.

- sattva (”being”, “entity”) - lucidity, purity, balance, light, consciousness. Dominance of this guna usually means that individual is optimistic, kind, compassionate and thoughtful. Think: do you know any people of this kind? How often do you experience this state of mind? What is it connected to?

- rajas (”air”, “atmosphere”) - force, activity. Rajas guna creates our desires, aspiration to own something. It also brings us fears for losing things we have and people we love. Individual with rajas dominance loses tranquility; if rajas force gets very strong, person becomes a hostage of own desires. Look around. Isn’t rajas the type of most people we meet nowadays?

- tamas (”darkness”, “obscurity”) - negative, lethargic, dull, sleepy. Tamas guna brings person into passive state of mind, when desires and aspirations become misty and distant. Person may gain a self-destructive mood following ruinous ideas and actions (smoking is a tamas action in long time perspective). Everyone has experienced tamas increase after a heavy meal, when the only thing you want is a short nap. Try to remember: do you know someone with a permanent tamas dominance?

Try to recollect, what food and activity brings you to the state of sattva? rajas? tamas? How did you feel yourself after the last meal, - can you pick one guna to describe the state or was it a combination of gunas?

The easiest way to balance gunas is by proper cooking and diet.

Read the rest of this entry »

I hope everyone is having a great summer, productive practice and a good mood

I’m back from 2 weeks Universal Yoga Certification Program run by Andrey Lappa in Ukraine. Intensive practice, wonderful people and tender Black Sea washed all the stress away and filled my soul with peace and enthusiasm. 3-4 hours of yoga, pranayama and energy work; 5 hours of theory and dynamic Shiva Dance practice made my days.

Now it’s time to think everything over and start implementing new principles and methods. We have only 2 months left till our long India/Nepal trip in October-December (more news on it soon).

I’m replacing several teachers in KievYogaStudio now and the schedule is a little bit tough, but it brings unbelievable easiness to my mind. What can be more delightful then seeing students’ bright eyes after the class?

As for blogging, my further topics will be:

* Food and healthy eating rules

* Ayurveda principles of healthy life and nutrition

* Yoga for teachers: what to pay attention to; how not to lose own practice and continue personal growth

* Reaching balance during the class

* Pranayama: types, methods, what to start with

* Kundalini Yoga: what’s the idea?

If my dear readers have some topics in mind, - please let me know, I want to be useful

May you all find real freedom..

Photo by mike9alive