Improving Life Through Your Breath and Food

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EATING WITH AWARENESS

Every time we sit down to a meal we have the opportunity to enhance or undermine our health. What is our life worth if we are without good health? Our health is so essential to our sense of well-being and happiness, and yet still there are so many of us who know so little about our bodies and who continue to put food into our systems without consciously attending to what is and isnt of benefit to out system. And yet, as with anything, it often takes losing your health to fully appreciate it. With so many contradictory theories about diet and health and so many different paths and approaches to physical well-being, many of us throw up our arms and say, Why not just eat what I enjoy! Life is too short! Consequently, when the confusion arises, many people sacrifice their health for the sake of ignorance. But food is not just something, which fuels the body so that we can stay alive. Food affects not only our physical well-being but also the state of our thoughts and emotions. There is a saying The best medicine is proper food! Many of us eat without awareness, eating primarily to satisfy the palate, the taste buds. However, we each have different constitutions and within those constitutions, we have different digestive systems. What someone digests easily, another digestive system will take time to digest. Even good food, if not easily digested can create illness. Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, is more than 5000 years old and is very sophisticated, providing the oldest and most experientially proven set of body types with a well thought out food therapy relative to the different body types. According to Ayurveda, there are three basic body types Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Each has a different digestive ability. For example, whilst Vatas need help balancing protein metabolism; Pittas need help balancing fat metabolism and Kaphas need help balancing carbohydrate metabolism. Vatas digestion is impaired when compared to Pitta or Kapha. Pitta has the best and hottest digestive capacity, whilst Kapha has the slowest and possibly the most efficient. Ayurveda functions on the principle understanding that if we know our own body type, we can know and experience optimal physical, mental and emotional health. In addition, Ayurvedas dietary approach does not stand-alone. It is integrated with exercise, herbal and meditation therapies and offers a complete approach to life and can easily be applied to modern cultures and societies.

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WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL CONSTITUTION?

Procedure: 1. Circle the numbers: 1 = not so much 2 = normally medium 3 = yes, very much 2. Add the numbers circled. 3. The Dosha with the highest number is your predominant constitution.

VATA TEST
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 I am lively and enthusiastic I am talkative I am easily excited I am easily afraid or worried I am mentally restless and curious My nature is wavering, changeable I have difficulties in making decisions I am physically very active I walk quickly I can grasp new things quickly I have difficulties in learning by heart, memorizing My body is rather thin, I dont put on weight easily My weight is less My skin is dry, cool and rough, especially in winter I get cold hands and feet often I dont like cold weather My hair is dry, kinky My teeth are crooked My eyes are small and active My appetite and thirst are variable I have a tendency for gas or constipation My eliminations are hard, dry or constipated I do not easily fall asleep I often wake up in the night My dreams are often about flying, jumping, running 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

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or fearful. TOTAL 1 26 33

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Procedure: 1. Circle the numbers: 1 = not so much 2 = normally medium 3 = yes, very much 2. Add the numbers circled. 3. The Dosha with the highest number is your predominant constitution.

PITTA TEST
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 56 I have a sharp intellect I have a tendency to perfectionism I like to work precisely and methodically I like to follow my own ideas, can also be stubborn I get impatient easily I get easily irritated or upset I can flare up quickly, but also calm down quickly I am mentally quick, aggressive, intelligent My nature is determined, fanatic sometimes My memory is sharp My body and weight are moderate My activity is moderate My skin is oily, warm, soft My hair has at least one of the following qualities: Thin, silky, blond reddish, early gray or hair loss My teeth are moderate in size My eyes are sharp or penetrating My appetite and thirst are strong, excessive My digestion is good, whatever I eat I feel unwell, if I have to skip a meal My eliminations are soft, oily, loose I dont like hot weather; prefer too cold than too hot I sweat easily I love cold drinks and ice-creams My sleep is little, but sound My dreams are often fiery, angry, passionate about fighting or violence, or colourful TOTAL 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 18 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 33 5

APEX The Art of Living Corporate Workshop

APEX The Art of Living Corporate Workshop

Procedure: 1. Circle the numbers: 1 = not so much 2 = normally medium 3 = yes, very much 2. Add the numbers circled. 3. The Dosha with the highest number is your predominant constitution.

KAPHA TEST
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 44 Others find my nature agreeable I am affectionate and tolerant I dont get angry or irritated easily By nature I am steady and loyal Mentally I am calm, slow and receptive I am peaceful by nature and not easily perturbed I have an excellent past memory I like to work leisurely, not in a hurry My way of walking is slow and steady Physically I am lethargic My body is fairly large or athletic My body has a tendency to put on weight easily My skin is oily, thick, cool My skin is oily, thick, wavy My teeth are strong, white and well-formed My eyes are big, attractive or with thick eye-lashes My appetite is slow, but steady When I am busy, I can easily skip a meal My eliminations are thick, oily, heavy, slow I have a tendency to mucus, or fullness in the stomach I dont like cold and rainy weather I have a tendency to catch cold often My sleep is heavy, prolonged, excessive With less than 8 hours of sleep I dont feel fit during the day My dreams are often about water, ocean, swimming or romantic. TOTAL 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 14 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 18 7

APEX The Art of Living Corporate Workshop

APEX The Art of Living Corporate Workshop

VATA
TAKE MORE TAKE LESS Fresh milk and milk products, like Sour milk, old milk, coffee, tea, cocoa, cream, buttermilk, butter, yogurt and alcohol lassi Millet, corn, buckwheat, barley, oats, Rice, wheat rye, ray grains Baked vegetables with some ghee asparagus, beetroot, carrots, pumpkin, cucumber, white radish, sweet potatoes, peas, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, bean sprouts, zucchini, celery, beans. Leafy vegetables and salads, big amounts of potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, sprouts, ray vegetables onions.

Soya-products, tofu, lentils, red lentils, All other kinds of pulses mung-beans. All oils Ghee Bananas, mangoes, melon, papayas, pineapple, plums, peaches, berries, oranges, avocados, cherries, grapes, Tobacco, alcohol apricots, fresh figs, sweet apples, grapefruit, sweet pears, lemons. All kind of nuts Brown sugar, sugarcane juice, Sweets, chocolates, honey, ice-creams molasses, syrup All kinds of spices, especially ginger, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, Salt mustard seeds, curcuma Warm water, lemon juice with honey, Meat, fish and eggs. warm food.

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PITTA
TAKE MORE Fresh milk, milk products, lassi, butter, ghee, fresh cheese White rice, wheat, sprouted grains barley, oats, TAKE LESS Spicy, sour, salty and hot food, sour milk, sour milk products, sour cream, coffee, tea, cocoa Millet, rye, brown rice, corn, buckwheat (fruit), onions,

Most vegetables like asparagus, cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin, celery, Beetroot, carrots eggplant cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, tomatoes, capsicum, potatoes, sprouts, green salads, green corn, garlic beans, peas All pulses except lentils Olive oil, sunflower oil, soya oil, ghee, coconut oil All sweet fruits, bananas, mango, sweet melon, avocado, figs, pears, sweet grapes, raisins, sweet cherry, pineapple, plumps, oranges, sweet apples, pomegranates Coconut Refined sugar, sweet juices (not very cold) Lentils, red lentils

Sesame oil, almond oil, all oil-fried food All sour fruits, sour berries, sour apples, sour plums, sour oranges, grapefruit, lemon, peach, papaya, olives

Cashew nuts, sesame seeds Honey, molasses, sugarcane juice, brown sugar, syrup All hot spices, pepper, salt, cayenneLemon juice with honey, drink lots of pepper (Chilies), anis, cloves cumin, water mustard seeds Coriander, fennel, saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, curcuma (turmeric), ginger Meat, fish eggs fresh herbs Tobacco and alcohol Sweets, chocolates, ice-creams

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KAPHA
TAKE MORE Warm, light dry and less fatty food Skimmed milk, buttermilk, fresh cheese, panir, lassi, fatless yoghurt Basmati rice, corn, buckwheat, rye, oats, barley, spelt All kinds of leafy vegetables, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, fanner, fruit, asparagus, radish, salads lentils Mung beans and other pulses, except soya product, white beans Small quantities of sunflower oil, margarine, sesame oil and ghee Apples, pears, berries, cherries, apricots, mangoes, peaches, dried fruits, pomegranates, when the above fruits are sweet Sunflower seeds TAKE LESS Sweet, sour salty, fatty and cold food Sour milk, yoghurt, cream, cheese, quark and butter Brown rice, wheat Potatoes, cucumber, pumpkin, tomato, peas, white beans, onions and salads made from them Soya beans, soya products white beans Olive oils, vegetable oils & others Grapes, melon, plums, avocado, organe, banana, pineapples and other sour tasting fruits All kinds of nuts sweets, ghee,

Honey with lemon juice, warm fruit Sugar, syrup, molasses, juices chocolates, ice-creams, etc. All spices in small quantities Plenty of warm water with lemon juice to reduce toxins and reduce weight. Coffee, tea, tobacco and alcohol

Meat, fish, eggs, oil-fried food, salt

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