5 Senses & Ayurveda
The 5 senses have been something that have been calling to me for a few years. I’ve had so many 5 senses activities presented to me. I use them quite often with my son and in my own life. I use them as a chance to slow down and tune in with myself. Often we are rushing to the next activity and don’t get the chance to just slow it down and breathe.
I want to share how Ayurveda views the senses in relation to dosha as when I have something going on for example with my eyes- I know pitta is most likely involved.
If I have an ear thing it’s probably too much vata especially since I’ve been outside in the cold wind as of late which increases the vata dosha.
A quick lesson on how to lessen the vata dosha in the wind is simply to have your ears covered by a hat or scarf.
The 5 senses will be the first thing we are exploring in January’s Seasonal Living Collective as it really helps not only adults but kids stay curious and mindful. My son loves to do 5 senses activities and you don’t need anything to do them. If slowing down and living more present is something you’ve been feeling the pull towards I would highly recommend this group coaching program. It is the roadmap I wish I would have had to start piecing together living seasonally with ancient wisdom we know in our bones but have slowly forgotten through the years.
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5 Senses and Ayurveda
Sight
Your sight is associated with the pitta dosha. When you stare at a screen all day long what tends to happen? We might start to get sharp, intense and feel the surge of do, do, do which are pitta energies.
A few ways to combat that surge of intense energy can be found with candle gazing. You stare into a candle until your eyes are watering. This helps calm down that inner flame that might be intense after working all day, or staring at a screen.
Smell
Smell is associated with the kapha dosha. To tap into your kapha energy, pause and smell your food. When going for a walk, pause and notice the smell in the air if any, pause right now and notice if you smell anything. Learning how to give pause and slow down is vital in Ayurveda so we do not just rush through our lives and forget to press pause and be present.
Taste
Taste is again associated with the kapha dosha. Much like scent you can do this at your meal times. How often do we pause to truly taste our food? I know I'm prone to just shoving food in my mouth to get to my next meeting. Make sure you give yourself space and time to notice what flavors are coming through to you.
This can connect you on a deeper level to your 6 tastes in Ayurveda as well.
Touch
Touch is associated with the vata dosha. One way to get in touch with your feeling sense is to feel the fabric of your shirt on your skin. Notice how the chair you are sitting in feels on your skin. If outside in nature can you pause and touch a tree.
Hearing
Hearing is associated with the vata dosha. Often the vata dosha likes to have noise going on around it. Notice if you are someone who needs to have the background noise going at all times. Are you someone who can't sit in silence and just be? If so challenge yourself to notice why? Are you feeling a bit ungrounded in your vata dosha? How can you come back in balance with it? Everyone's answer will be different but do give pause and notice.
Finally as the Fall & Winter seasons are approaching notice if you feel a bit more out of balance when you don't wear a hat. The vata dosha is associated with the ears and is associated with the Fall & Winter seasons. Often when we don't cover our ears and it's windy we can feel quite ungrounded. Make sure you cover not only your ears, but your kiddos as well, so everyone stays in balance.
Craving more Ayurveda?
Check out my Seasonal Living Collective where you can dive even deeper with Ayurveda according to the season we are in.
You can also join my free 5 day program
Ayurveda for the Modern Mama
Day 1: Finding Time for YOU
Day 2: Ayurvedic Food Practices Made Simple
Day 3: Mindful Practices for the modern mama
Day 4: Moving your body daily
Day 5: Seasonal self-care
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