Our Sustainable Energy

Vitarka = applied thought, deliberation, attention to an object.

By Raquel Issenberg

If you lean towards yogic self-care, you’d probably like to know more about ojas.

The Sanskrit term ojas refers to our power of endurance, vitality, and radiance; both physically and mentally. 

Yoga Science postgraduate Veenu Sharma, who serves the Savannah wellness community, generously shared her Ayurvedic experience with this vital essence in this month's local expert interview.

“It is a well-known fact that people who have strong immune systems are healthier as they stay away from diseases. According to Ayurveda, ojas is expressed by the immune system and our body’s ability to resist illness and recover from it when it manifests”, Sharma explained.

Ojas is the vital essence that comes from the element of water, nourishment in the form of digested food, and our mental impressions. Through this vision, we are formed by layers of tissues that reflect our state of being.

In Veenu’s words: “At the physical level, ojas is the essence of all tissues which sustain the body. These tissues are called dhatus in Ayurveda. These dhatus are the bi-product of the food we eat. After digestion, the food gets converted into dhatus. According to Ayurveda, there are seven dhatus which are plasma, blood, muscles, fat, bones, nerve, and reproductive tissues. The vital fluid which is the essence of these dhatus is called ojas.”

The light within

“At a mental level, ojas is responsible for making the mind strong, which helps to overcome even chronic diseases. At the spiritual level, ojas is that energy which can help us understand the absolute truth by having right-mindedness”.— Yoga Science postgraduate and yoga teacher Veenu Sharma

Our patience, stillness, and peace rely on fostering this vital reserve since it aids with the formation of the myelin sheet that covers the nerves and allows electrical impulses to transmit adequately. We must have daily quality rest.

“At a mental level, ojas is responsible for making the mind strong, which helps to overcome even chronic diseases. At the spiritual level, ojas is that energy which can help us understand the absolute truth by having right-mindedness”, the Ayurveda teacher expounded.

Therefore, a person who increases ojas with yogic practices and deep relaxation, tends to have more stamina, which strengthens the nervous system and the mind. It becomes clear that we have low ojas when we are constantly affected by acute anxiety and a sense of lacking emotional coping tools.

Veenu added that “the feeling of having good ojas is easily relatable. When our ojas is good, we feel mentally and physically strong, our digestion works well, and our sleep is good. Food, herbs, APMB (Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha), and lifestyle, all contribute to building healthy ojas”. 

INCREASING OJAS AT YOUR OWN PACE

Born and raised in India, where she began her dedication to the practice and instruction of yogic principles, Veenu Sharma has embodied Ayurveda since childhood. Growing up surrounded by a nutritious discipline, she maintains ojas almost effortlessly but agreed that is convenient to weave Ayurvedic rituals into your life one step at a time.

Nourishment is the basic layer to rebuild this natural and auspicious “sap” within, which can naturally find its source from an Ayurvedic food plan rich in whole grains, nuts, oils, fresh fruits and vegetables, and natural sugars.

“Food is a great way to promote ojas. The selection of right food has been very helpful to me in building ojas. My diet primarily includes lentil soups, ghee, all kind of vegetables, turmeric, soaked almonds and walnuts in the morning, rice, grass-fed milk, coconut and olive oil, multi-grain Indian flat bread (yeast-free), and everything freshly cooked as it has a high level of pranic energy (life-force vitality).”

And Ayurvedic herbs such as “Triphala, Ashwagandha, Yashti Madhu, Ginger, Giloy and Turmeric” have helped Sharma in her journey as well.

The next layer we can address with respect to fostering radiance is APMB (Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha). Calming the nervous system is crucial to stop an energy leak in its tracks.

“Practicing APMB gives me positive results by keeping my body active and in mindfulness. It gives me stability and exuberance at the same time. I feel energetic with right-mindedness (sadbuddhi)”, Veenu elaborated.

Another aspect to tend to while promoting ojas is the physical body through gentle and restorative poses, or Yoga Nidra, the “yoga of sleep”. When we practice mindful asana, we can align our structure in service of gathering prana into our energy channels in service of the regulation of the nervous system. 

When we think about supporting or building ojas, we must consider avoiding energy depletion.

Sharma highlighted that self-care and compassionate practices are crucial, like “taking a nap whenever it is needed, which protects my sanity and also helps to reduce stress. After taking a shower I use coconut on my body instead of using fancy body creams. I keep myself well-hydrated by practicing Usha-paan (drinking water in the morning technique), which helps me to control food cravings, and to maintain my overall health.”.

Pranic leaks happen via so many lifestyle decisions we might not even be aware of. For example, excessive use of electronics such as cell phones, TV, social media, or other streaming devices can take a toll on our focus and prime vigor.

When we deplete our energy on a regular basis, and we feel unengaged and emotionally low, many forms of “dis-ease” can begin to manifest in our bodies.

THE DOSHAS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH OJAS

As a gentle force, ojas is also called “subtle dosha” as it’s considered to be the essence of Kapha, one of the three main doshas.

The counterpart of Vata is prana; Pitta’s is tejas, and Kapha’s is ojas. These three subtle doshas are inherently positive, they do not cause imbalances or disease.

By taking care of your regular doshic imbalances (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) it becomes easier to tap into the subtle doshas (ojas, tejas, and prana). Ideally, we first build ojas, since tejas and prana are rooted in this primal vigor.

YOUR DIGESTION AND OJAS

Since ojas needs the force of transformation to sustain our lives, it is inherently related and dependent on agni (digestive fire). At the same time, agni needs ojas as a healthy container (our physical body) to hold this fire (balanced digestion of nutritional absorption and toxins elimination).

Veenu expanded on this aspect of “fire” and digestion: “Agni means fire, and in Ayurveda, we use this word to refer to the power of digestion. A very well-known expression ‘you are what you eat’, is literally true in a certain sense. The food we eat becomes the tissue that forms our body. But for this to happen, our agni needs to be functioning well. And for a well-functioning agni we need healthy ojas. Not only our ojas supports our agni (digestive power), but our agni also supports ojas. This relationship points that good ojas can be maintained by making sure that our digestive system works well. And certainly, to maintain the relationship between ojas and agni we need to have the right diet.”

SPIRITUALITY SUPPORTING OJAS

Besides teaching yoga in weekly classes and training, Veenu is devoted to the study of ancient Vedic texts such as the as Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, Upanishads, and the Yoga Sutras.

Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion, “is the best yogic path for developing ojas” by “redirecting our emotional energy inwardly through the love of God in whatever form or relationship is dearest to us”, according to David Frawley, in his book “Yoga & Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization”.

And from her spiritual journey, Sharma shared with us her Bhakti practice that have aided her to restore her vital essence: “Chanting the Gayatri Mantra is most beneficial in building ojas. Its amazing vibrations help in building the fire component inside us. This particular mantra is powerful in drawing ojas from the Sun (Savita Shakti). Gayatri Mantra provides vitality and ojas to the body & mind.”

“Om bhur, bhuvah, swaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat”

Building ojas

Food: It can include lentils, ghee, fresh vegetables, turmeric, soaked almonds and walnuts in the morning, rice, grass-fed milk, coconut, and olive oil.

Herbs: Triphala, Ashwagandha, Yashti Madhu, Ginger, Giloy, and Turmeric, to mention some. For Ayurvedic herbs is best to have a personal consultation with senior practitioners.

Yoga: gentle and restorative postures, soothing or balancing breathing exercises, mudras and bandhas (body locks), chanting, and mantra.

Lifestyle: Avoid energy depletion. Take naps when needed, Ayurvedic massage with oil, and hydration. 

EMBRACING PRACTICE IN MINDFULNESS

As we become aware of our nutritional needs in the body and the mind, we also become mindful in our future Ayurvedic attempts to procure vitality, resilience, and radiance by building it layer by layer.

We can take an honest look at our lifestyle and nourishment and make the proper adjustments.

Once we begin to restore our energy, we can focus easier on our practices on the mat.

The force of a healthy ojas can transform into tapas (heat), giving you the enthusiasm to engage in postural yoga and other physical exercises with ease. The result of your effort after your yoga practice can transform this subtle warmth of prana, the subtle energy that makes us feel joyful after class.

Now, take that joy and be your radiant self!

“Chanting the Gayatri Mantra is most beneficial in building ojas. Its amazing vibrations help in building the fire component inside us. This particular mantra is powerful in drawing ojas from the Sun (Savita Shakti).”
— Veenu Sharma