Looking back now, it’s no mystery I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.

There were many years I overrode the messages my body told me - years where I normalized symptoms, or contributed exhaustion, insomnia, anxiety and digestion issues to being a mother, a wife, or the stress of my 40+ hour work week.

Everything was happening to me, and I kept showing up to circumstances that felt out of my control.

I also minimized my physical symptoms and continually prioritized the care of everyone around me until there was nothing left of (or for) me.

I was not taught self-care, self-love, or self-compassion. I was taught to try harder, always smile, never complain, don’t fight and to BE GOOD. I was taught to equate love through servicing, and to have an eternal locus of control.

In fact, I had no sense of self and spent my adulthood trying to figure out who “me” was.

Thankfully, in my quest to better love and understand myself, and heal my unresolved trauma, I’ve had some incredible teachers. Through educating myself in areas that were unfamiliar to me, I began incorporating more effective ways of loving me - all of me.

Ayurveda (ayur=life; veda=science) teaches the following:

An Agreement with Your Body

Your agreement is to stop and listen to the signals your body is giving you.

Your agreement is to work with your body, not against it.

Your body is the most amazing piece of equipment you will every own.

Acknowledge all your body does for you everyday.

Be thankful for it.

-Susan Bass; The Art of Digestion

Let’s dissect these messages.

 One: You have an agreement with your body. Did you know that when you chose to reincarnate in this lifetime you also chose which body would carry you through your journey? At that pivotal moment you made a body and soul agreement. That is a huge deal when you think about it. And yes, some of those agreements included certain illnesses, addictions, traumas that you would acquire and overcome in order to remember and live out your soul mission.

Two: Your agreement is to work with your body, not against it. At a deep level we are aware of exactly what our bodies need. Our bodies are ALWAYS communicating with us, in subtle and sometimes not so subtle ways. We know how much rest is required through different phases of our lives, how much water we need to consume to feel efficiently hydrated, what foods to ingest, what environments to make us feel comfort or discomfort.  If we listen to the messages our bodies are giving to us, we will feel the following: vitality, peace, comfort, clarity and centeredness.

Three: Your body is the most amazing piece of equipment you will ever own.  I believe the important message here is this: we need to treat our bodies like they are the most valuable thing we could ever possess. Simply because they are. Think about what you would look like without a body.  You would not be here, in a living form without your body. Sometimes we treat our bodies like they are always going to be there for us, adapt and change to our ever changing life and choices. But at some point, if we ignore the messages, the body says enough. The equipment stops operating. This could be portrayed in many ways, including: adrenal burnout, fatigue, digestion issues, breakouts, low vitality and energy levels, depression, insomnia, circular thinking and many more. Our bodies are not superhero’s, they need us to treat them like the fragile and amazing gift that they are.

Four: Acknowledge all your body does for you everyday, be thankful for it. Okay, this one takes the cake and can be the most life changing practice you add to your day to day life. When was the last time you actually acknowledged everything your body does for you? Every breath, every step, every word spoken, every good night’s rest and every moment you’re awake. None of that is possible without your body. Your body is your vessel, it is your home. And just like you are thankful to have a roof over your head you should give your body that same gratitude every day. It can be as simple as waking up in the morning, giving yourself a hug and saying “Ii love you”, to affirming out loud an affirmation similar to the following: “I am thankful for this day, to live, breathe, move, learn and explore in this beautiful vessel that I reside in.” Give thanks to your body each day, and watch how your life starts to transform in ways you never thought were possible. The practice of gratitude is a powerful and impactful tool that can make our wildest dreams come true.

In Ayurveda, nature is our authority. One of the essential standards of Ayurveda is that our habits, routines and dietary choices should ebb and flow with the seasons. We can lead a more balanced life throughout the year by making a conscious effort to live in harmony with the cycles of nature and adjust our day to day habits and lifestyle choices to work with the arrival of each new season. The Universe is always providing us with the medicine that we need. Notice how certain plants, vegetables and fruits are available during certain seasons. This is because they are growing during a time where they can help balance what is happening in the body!

The body is always reflecting the season. In the summer, we tend to have more internal heat.  During the summer, blueberries are aplenty and ready to eat. Blueberries, and berries in general, have a cooling affect on the body, and are especially known to protect the liver. They bring a reprieve to an over-heated mind, calm your thoughts, move energy downward and inward and encourage a more passive demeanor.  Doesn’t that sound like a perfect pair for the dog days of Summer?

Another example of this is the ever under appreciated Dandelion “weed”. Dandelions are profoundly healing plants (and bees love them for this reason!). They are the perfect medicine for the transition from Winter into Spring, which is when you’ll find them growing in your yard.  Excess heavy, and cold qualities are accumulated during the winter months. As Spring beings to thaw, extra moisture is brought to the environment as well our bodies. This can lead to imbalances such as: respiratory discomfort, excess mucus, bloating and lethargy. We can use dandelion during this time as a nourishing tonic for the liver and lymph functioning. The whole of the plant has a cooling effect. It is bitter and drying and can assist in alleviating the extra moisture or mucus in the system.

Dandelion root and leaves also stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, necessary for digesting the fats and proteins that may have accumulated in excess over the Winter season. In Spring, I ask you to remember that everything growing around you is medicine for you. Be grateful for the Dandelion in your yard that not only offers you its medicine and sacrifice but also, the first marking of sunshine after a long Winter’s hibernation.

Dandelion

Dandy Lion, so dear to me,

Everywhere for all to see,

Roots and leaves and flowers and seeds

All fulfill our bodies’ needs,

There is so very much of you

‘Cause we need you, it is true,

You are a doctor with no fees.

Roots for liver, leaves, kidneys.

Flowers ease pain and help lymph flow

And perform a sunny show.

I’ve heard that seeds are useful too,

Adding bitters to the brew.

Dandy Lion, so dear to me.

Everywhere for all to see.

-          Robin Rose Bennet, The Gift of Healing Herbs

The universe is always providing just the right medicinal amount of what we need to stay in balance and harmony with nature (and therefore our bodies). Everything is growing in its preferred climate, season and duration because it is connected to the cycles and rhythms of nature. This is how we, as humans were meant to live as well.

My greatest wish is that as a collective we can remember the sacred medicine of Ayurveda, and integrate it back into our lives. By doing this, we give ourselves permission to reconnect to the place in our hearts that respects Nature. Gaia is our greater authority with the power to destroy or rebuild. We can either work with it or against it, but at some point, if we don’t listen, it will no longer be a choice. 

Use the medicine that is provided for you, wherever you live. Have gratitude for the offerings before you, as well as appreciate your body.

Listen, really listen to what your body is communicating to you. When you do this, you will find you are filled with the vitality of the Sun and the heart of the Moon in a beautifully balanced, and symbiotic relationship of ebb and flow. You will connect yourself to the ying and yang and everything intrinsically connected to Mother Earth herself.  By doing this, together, we can all feel better, live better, do better and be better.

Don’t you think it’s time?

What one of the above agreements could you start incorporating into your life today?