The secret to health, vitality & vibrany...

Svastha

Do you know the feeling when you just hear a word or a quote and resonate so deeply with it? That kind of feeling where you strongly consider it getting tattooed on your body? Or is that just a me thing? 😅

When I took my first ever class in Ayurveda school, I was presented with the word Svastha.

‘Sva’ means self, and not just self as in ‘Paige’, or 26 year old woman, or small business owner; no. Sva means self beyond the labels, beyond the constraints of this modern society. It speaks of the 'capital s' SELF. The version of you that is most aligned with authenticity and truthfulness. The version of you that you would express if there was no fear of failing or no limitations.

‘Stha’ means to be established in, grounded in, made up of a certain state.

Svastha, simply put reflects our ability to be firmly grounded in our truest sense of self.

Similar to that of a great tree, one that is deeply rooted into the Earth. Stable and strong in its foundations. Unshakable in its expression of self. Continuously growing and evolving its own unique way, that no tree will ever be identical to the next, just like us as humans. Yet this great tree has the ability to sway with the wind, there is some fluidity and changeability within its expression but it all comes from a solid foundation.

This is Svastha.

Our ability to deeply understand who we are at our core, and to be so grounded in that state that every action we take, every thought we think, every word we speak comes from that place.

When we are established in this state of self, we attract people, experiences and opportunities that align and propel us into greatness.

Sounds EPIC right?

Svastha is also translated as a vibrant state of health, vitality and enthusiasm for life; implying that when we are truly grounded and established in our most authentic self, then we are propelled towards health.

It makes sense that this is something worth pursuing, but it’s something that is so overlooked in our modern society.

For the most part, health issues arise when we are stressed, not happy or have in some way strayed from our dharmic path in life. Of course genetics & karma play into this but that’s a story for another time.

Therefore, to ensure our physical, mental and emotional health stays optimal, we must become established in Svastha.

I bet you want to know how to find SVASTHA?

Well like everything in Ayurveda, it depends. I know that’s a bit of a cop out answer but it’s true. It depends on your current state of health, your unique constitution or state of balance, it depends on your lifestyle, your current commitments and so much more.

Luckily Ayurveda provides us four pillars of health that we can use as a guide on our own unique path towards Svastha.

Ahar ~ food choices and food habits. Ahar is all about what we consume as nourishment through the method of food and drink.

Creating a conscious relationship with food is one of the best ways to bring awareness to this aspect of your health. Food is something we work with every day, and is one of the easiest ways we can influence our state of health.

In Ayurveda, there is a saying, ‘You are not what you eat, you are what you digest’. This implies that there is great importance placed on HOW WE EAT, before we even consider WHAT WE EAT. There would be no point eating the most expensive, organic and nourishing foods, if your digestion is not functioning optimally in order to digest said food.

Some GENERAL guidelines for Ahar:

~ Eat at consistent times every day (eg. 7-8am, 12-1pm, 5-6pm)

~ Take 12 deep breaths before you begin eating

~ Chew your food to liquid consistency

~ Eat away from distractions (no T.V., no driving, no phone)

Vihar ~ lifestyle choices and rituals. Vihar is all about the actions we take every day that create our daily routine.

Bringing awareness to our daily habits and routines allows space for self-reflection. Shining a light on the habits or practices that you take part in that do not propel you towards a state of health and vibrancy (scrolling on social media or stressing about work). Becoming aware of these habits is a process that can be slow and gradual, but surely they will become harder and harder to engage in when you understand the cause and effect (how they make you feel). They can slowly be replaced by habits and actions that do support your own unique state of balance (daily routines, reading a book, practicing Yoga and Meditation etc.)

General Guidelines for Vihar:

~ Create a consistent, daily routine

~ Engage in daily practice of Yoga & Meditation, even if it’s only 5 minutes

~ Bookend your stressors (create little pockets of relaxation and peace throughout your day)

~ Take Pause -> set 3-5 alarms on your phone and when each alarm goes off you have to (no matter what) stop what your doing, take 12 deep breaths and smile to yourself

Nidra ~ sleep choices and rituals. This all about sleep hygiene, and the practices you put in place to ensure optimal sleep.

So many people these days are struggling with sleep. Whether it’s getting to sleep, staying asleep or even waking up tired. There is so much we can be doing from an Ayurvedic perspective to support sleep.

General Guidelines for Nidra:

~ Reduce / limit your caffeine intake. Yes I’m being serious. Trust me.

~ Wake up at 6am everyday (especially if you struggle with getting to sleep at night)

~ Evening routine (no screens, overhead lights or any stimulation once the sun has set)

~ Be in bed by 9/9:30pm so you can be asleep by 10pm LATEST

~ Rub warm sesame oil on the souls of your feet before bed

Brahmacharya ~ energy management practices. Brahmacharya speaks to the right use of our energy.

These days it it so common that we are expending so much of our energy on things that we don’t enjoy, whether that’s work, chores or even relationships. It is important to get clear on what we want to invest our energy into and what makes us feel like we have ‘filled our cup’.

General Guidelines for Brahmacharya:

~ Invest in practices and experiences that fill up your cup and make you feel nourished

~ Avoid experiences or actions that make you feel depleted or malnourished

~ Practice Santosha (contentment and acceptance) when completing tasks that seem mundane

~ Stay conscious of your energy levels and don’t over commit yourself

There is SO MUCH MORE to it but I hope this gives you some clarity and some actionable step that you can start to take everyday that will start to propel you towards your own unique state of HEALTH, VIBRANCY AND VITALITY.

Does this feel deeply resonant to you and feels like something you want to explore further?!

Join us in Bali, in May 2024 for our SVASTHA YOGA & AYURVEDA RETREAT.

This is an opportunity for YOU to find that unique state of balance and health.

We will explore the four pillars of health; Ahar (food choices and rituals), Vihar (lifestyle choices and rituals), Nidra (sleep choices and rituals) and Brahmacharaya (energy management practices); so that you can remember your Svastha.

With twice daily Yoga & Meditation practices, workshops, excursions and space to JUST BE in the beautiful nature that is Bali’s tropical rainforest; this is the perfect opportunity to disconnect, reset and re-connect to what really matters.

In order to come back to YOUR TRUE NATURE, you must connect with nature.

That is why we have chosen to offer this retreat at a natural, eco resort.

Connect with nature on a daily basis with beautiful rainforest views, sounds of wildlife and immersions in natural spring waterfalls.

The resort is nestled amongst rice paddies and permaculture gardens where 75% of the food that we will consume will come from. A true sustainable haven.

Each bungalow is a uniquely crafted open-air space that will connect you directly to nature. The bungalows, restaurant & yoga shala are built to allow natural air flow.

We are so excited to be offering this life changing immersion in the beauty that is Bali.

We hope you will join us!

Hari Om
Paige & Aaron