Ojas, Baby
Nourish your soul with an energy boost in three simple steps
The last few weeks have been as stressful as they have been sweet, and as many times as I’ve wanted to flop on the floor and have a tantrum, I’ve been reminded of how grateful I am to be human, on this planet, doing this, stretching my body, breathing in and breathing out.
But still: there are times when I wish there were a magic potion I could take that would instantly improve my sense of well-being, boost my energy and mental state.
Well guess what? That magic potion is Ayurveda.
While not a potion exactly, there are three Ayurvedic tricks, it turns out, that can revitalize and rebuild our vital energy reserves (aka Ojas in Sanskrit.) With some simple preparation, these three tricks can add a lot of comfort and sustenance without a lot of time or effort.
Food
The easiest way to increase Ojas is to add certain foods to our everyday diet.
When feeling depleted:
Bust out the ghee (clarified butter)
Increase dates, raisins, and seeds
Add soaked, peeled almonds to your dishes
These ingredients can top your toast and cereal, be plopped into or onto your stews and soups, or be eaten out of hand (well, maybe not the ghee. That would be messy without a spoon 😲).
One of the principles I appreciate about Ayurveda is its emphasis on quality — not just on the quality of the ingredients purchased and savored, but also on the quality of the environment that surrounds us when we enjoy them. How we eat our meals is just as important as what we eat. The way we shop for groceries, the way we prepare our meal, the way we sit down to eat it, the way we clean up — ALL of this fills your Ojas tank.
By the way, I don’t know if a pastel de nata is Ayurvedically kosher, or if it builds Ojas, but the Portuguese tartelettes from Pastelaria Belem in the 17e arrondissement are deeply restorative. With cinnamon sprinkled on top, these seem somewhat ayurvedically appropriate…
Meditation
Meditation is another ingredient for healthy levels of Ojas. Again, this is easy to accomplish if you focus on quality, not quantity. Just try three to five minutes. If you can only do one minute, do one minute! SOME meditation is always better than NO meditation. Just focus on your breath moving in and out. When your mind wanders, simply bring it back to your breath.
Yoga practice
An Ojas-building yoga practice is also nourishing, inside and out. Rather than running through strenuous sequences, relax into supported poses and forward bends.
Yoga Nidra is probably the least demanding yoga technique on the planet as the only thing it requires of you is time.
A tremendous practice for building up your Ojas is Yoga Nidra which will guide you toward physical and mental replenishment without your having to “do” anything. No time to attend an in-person class? Search for one online and do it at home. I like Marc Holzman’s sessions on YogaGlo or on his own platform or Anne Vandewalle’s on Tigre Yoga (in French.) Additionally, there are many FREE options on YouTube, Vimeo and social media platforms, as well as on apps like InsightTimer.
What’s not to love about Yoga Nidra?
It is probably the least demanding yoga technique on the planet as the only thing it requires of you is time. You lay down, close your eyes and let the teacher talk you through a relaxing meditation for 20-30 minutes. You’re wrapped in a blanket, you shut out the light with an eye pillow or scarf, you let yourself be directed by a gentle voice which leads you, step by step, into a state of physical, mental and emotional tranquility.
Honestly the hardest part of doing Yoga Nidra is finding a teacher whose voice you trust. Because your eyes will be closed and you will be guided solely by words and images, a teacher’s voice and language are vitally important. You have to be able to surrender 💯 to the relaxation so make sure you enjoy the guiding voice and that the words and images make you feel safe and held in a state of trust.