I first heard of the term Ojas in 2014 while studying with the uber-pragmatic Ayurveda teacher & author, Cate Stillman. Ojas is the essence of vitality and immunity and it’s often compared to honey in its qualities. Ojas is considered to be generated in your heart from the original essence of “primordial vitality” (or para ojas), which then circulates via the heart and throughout the body for support.
Ojas is built when we are spending time rejuvenating and it’s depleted when we’re pushing ourselves and going, going, going. Ojas is the super-fine essence of kapha dosha associated with the qualities within you of earth and water; it’s therefore linked to regeneration. The qualities of ojas and kapha dosha are similar: liquid, sweet, and unctuous. Together they provide great support for the immune system and the reserves of life force.
Learning how to cultivate ojas in daily rituals will help you to stay healthy, and joyous on your wellness path. Ayurveda is the yoga of life—and so it’s important for me to share this wisdom with you.
As you can imagine, there’re habits and foods that increase Ojas and there are life “imbalances” that decrease Ojas in the body, so right before we get all go, go, go and deplete your "Ojas-account and feel depleted and vulnerable to diseases and stress here are some guidelines to increase your Ojas:
Honoring solar and lunar rhythms in your daily life (i.e., sleep at night; work and eat during the day! You are not a night owl, stop it)
Yoga and daily meditation (I’m a yoga teacher, what do expect to hear from me?)
Nourishing the heart with love, sukha (intrinsic happiness), and santosha (contentment) in your life
Cultivating beauty, aesthetics, the arts, peaceful music, and enjoyment of living
Following nourishing rhythms of dinacharya (daily health habits) - My cleanse course covers these
Getting nutrition from organic, cooked, vegetarian food, not overly spiced
Fresh nuts, honey, dates
Whole grains and rice
Fresh, sweet fruits and vegetables
Find an herbal supplement or adaptogen that works for you. Consult your doctor, shaman, Ayurvedic counselor or astrologer to find herbs such as ashwagandha, ginseng, tulsi, licorice, etc, etc, etc which build your immune system
A daily cultivation of Ojas will help you to stay healthy, giving you that radiant glow of youthful vitality and keeping your immune system thriving.
