Ayurveda considers digestion to be one of the most important aspects of health. We can eat all the healthy food we like, but if we can’t digest it, it does more harm than good. The ability to digest food well is said to be an indication that our agni or ‘digestive’ fire is working optimally. When we experience digestive issues however, this can lead to a build up of ama or toxins within the body. Different Ayurvedic doshas (mind-body types) may experience digestive issues in different ways:
- Vata digestive issues may present as bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhoea, stomach pain, restlessness or sleep issues
- Pitta digestive issues are characterised as having the qualities of heat, such as acid reflux, heartburn, headaches, skin rashes, and emotional irritability.
- Kapha digestive issues may result in bloating, lethargy, feeling ‘heavy’, white coating on the tongue, phlegm or mucus build up, loss of motivation and low mood levels
Do you recognise any of these symptoms within yourself? This is an indication that you have an excessive amount of this dosha type within your body or mind, which can send health and wellbeing out of balance.
Digest With the Senses
When it comes to digestion, whilst there is an abundance of information on the foods that can help increase digestive health, it’s important to consider that we don’t just digest things with our stomach; all the sensory organs take in and digest things:
- The eyes take in and digest what we see
- The ears take in and digest what we hear
- The nose takes in and digests what we smell
- Our skin takes in and digests what we feel
- Our mouth indeed takes in what we eat, but is also responsible for digesting the consequences of what we say.
- A more subtle yet ever-present part of us that digests experiences is the manas or ‘thinking’ part of the mind. Our thoughts may seem to come and go in an instant, yet their impressions still leave a lasting impact.
If we thought about our sense digestion as much as we think about the digestion of our food, its likely our mental health would be a little more balanced and stable. Just as food enters our body and has the potential to spike blood sugar levels, increase weight, trigger inflammation, or lower blood pressure, build muscle and detoxify the blood, the things we experience through the five senses have the potential to dramatically change us.
‘The environment is everything that isn’t me’ – Albert Einstein
Digesting All Impressions
Pause for a moment to consider the environment you’re in right now. Which colours are present? What are the scents and sounds? How much natural light are you exposed to? What is the temperature? Are you alone or with company, and how does that company make you feel? What textures can you detect? All of these things affect us, and they’re just the ones we can most easily notice. Other aspects such as bacteria in the air, sound frequencies beyond our hearing ability, electromagnetic frequencies and radiation, and the energetic imprint of the room or house we’re in all matter, and they all contribute to how we feel.
Becoming more aware of our environment and the things we’re constantly absorbing and digesting can reveal just how busy today’s world is, and how many things demand our attention. From television adverts to social media, beeping phones and email notifications, to pollution, processed food, politics and people we interact with, they all enter our awareness. Some of these things easily filter out without a second’s thought, but others – even if we’re not aware of it at the time – leave a lasting impression.
Perhaps one of the reasons we may feel constantly bombarded by the outside world, is because we almost never take a break from it. Even whilst sleeping, many of us are still exposed to artificial lighting or blue light waves, and nod off next to a smart phone or laptop. Before making changes to how our personal environment is set up, taking a detox from everyday demands and technology-overload can help us re-set our boundaries with what we allow into our awareness, and regain a sense of perspective.
Digital Detoxing & Shifting Perspective
Digital detoxing is a popular ideal in our current cultural climate. Not just because of the impact social media is having upon mental health levels, but because that familiar smartphone reflex has almost become an ingrained habit, and something that it seems could become part of human nature as we evolve towards a future set to be governed by artificial intelligence. When starting the practice of shifting focus away from the phone screen, there’s no need to do it cold-turkey style (unless that works for you). Instead, to cultivate a practice that will likely be more sustainable and easier to achieve, start with these mini digital detox techniques:
- Switch your phone to airplane mode when you go to bed
- Put your phone in a different room when you’re having dinner with family or friends
- When you wake up in the morning, start by focussing first your real life instead of your phone screen. Meditate for a few moments, make a gratitude list, or simply stretch mindfully before looking at your phone.
- Leave your phone in a different room or turn it off entirely for 20-30 minutes each day.
- Set boundaries regarding when you reply to emails and texts; if you receive a notification after 6pm, reply the next morning instead of reacting and replying straight away.
Yes, all of these practices can be difficult to do – which is exactly why they can make a profound and noticeable difference to health and wellbeing. Being constantly contactable and in a reactionary state is something the human mind and body has never experienced before, and something we aren’t able to easily adapt to. By living in a reactionary state; one in which we’re constantly checking for ‘likes’ and emails, grasping for external validation and an ego boost, we dramatically increase stress levels and propel ourselves further towards burnout and fatigue. Practicing a few of the five mini digital detox techniques is the first step towards reclaiming your health and wellbeing, reaching your personal potential, and reconnecting to nature. After practicing these methods, try switching your phone off for an entire day or ‘fasting’ from technology for a week, and get to know yourself and your environment again.