I’ve been blogging about Ayurveda since October last year, when I recently started studying this ancient science. I had no idea how much this decision would change my life. But it did – in a good way! And I think it can be the case for more people. Here’s 4 ways in which Ayurveda can change (and enrich) your life – or at least how it affected mine!

1. Understand yourself – and the world around you

When I started practicing yoga, I also started developing in a more spiritual way. I became more aware of my body, my emotions and my habits and wanted to examine them, using all kinds of ‘personality models’ and indications. Still, it wasn’t until I learned about my Ayurvedic Constitution that it all fell into place. Knowing now, that I am a Pitta Type*, explains how my physical and mental characteristics interact – and more importantly: why this is the case. Also, it helps me perceive the world, and other people in a way that makes me understand the relation and accept the way things are. Interested in determining your own Constitution? See below!

2.Pick food that’s right for YOU

Food is a major hype at the moment. Every day, new insights appear on what is ‘healthy’ and what isn’t. Superfoods, diets, do’s and don’ts… For me, it seemed impossible to keep up, it made my head spin – I lost track. Once I became aware of my Constitution and the qualities that go with it, I was able to see what food serves me and what food doesn’t. This differs for every person and YOU are the only person that can verify whether something is good for you. If you learn to eat according to your constitution, you will easily reach your ideal body weight and feel healthy and fit, without any effort. As for me – I learned to steer clear of tomatoes, chilies and citrus fruit, to name a few.

3. Find peace

Ayurveda states that living with the rhythm of life is one of the most important indicators for health – even more important than what you eat. WHAT?! It’s true! Once you are aware of the rhythm of the day, the seasons and phases in life, you can benefit from it. When to get up, when to sleep, when to (not) do what… For me, it meant that, after a long time, I finally had the feeling of not going ‘upstream’ anymore, but just follow the natural flow. I was able to develop a daily routine, in which yoga has a prominent place. This helped me find peace, sleep better and feel more energised.

4. Balance yourself

According to Ayurveda everything we see around us is made up from 5 elements: Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth: not only the world around us, but also our bodies. As soon as you understand this principle you can use it to bring more balance in your system – inside and out. This means choosing the right activities for you at that specific moment in time, but also using food and herbs to bring your body back in balance. I was amazed by how big the effect of changing (food) habits was on my entire life. Doing an Ayurvedic detox or making a soup with medicinal herbs for a sick friend – it feels good to be able to take care of yourself (and others) without being dependent on medication or other external parties. You can just go and DIY… And it works!

Ayurvedic workshops at YAGOY

Are you curious about what Ayurveda can do for you? Each Ayurvedic Season, I will host a workshop on Ayurveda & Yoga at YAGOY, together with YAGOY teacher Tianjin. In this 3-day workshop you will learn the basics of Ayurveda with specific emphasis on food and detoxing. You will learn about your constitution and how to approach it in order to feel healthy and fit. And of course there’s a LOT of yoga involved. Wanna join? Apply here!

Because this is already quite a lot of information, here’s a simple recipe that totally fits the season:

* There are 3 types/constitutions: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. To get an idea about your constitution, you can take this test: http://ayurvedadosha.org/doshas/ayurveda-dosha-test#/axzz3Z4PF4iVf

*Asparagus with grilled salmon and a sauce of mustard and tarragon*

The sauce goes well with both white asparagus as with green ones, so pick your favorite. I always serve this dish with quinoa, as it is light and has a nice nutty flavor. Of course you can also leave out the salmon and go for the vegetarian option. In that case it can be nice to put some crushed almonds on top.

• 500 grams asparagus (white or green)
• 2 salmon fillets
• 1 (large) tablespoon ghee
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons tarragon
• juice of ½ lemon
• salt and black pepper to taste
• fresh parsley

Asparagus

Prepare the asparagus according to your taste: you can steam them, cook them, sauté them or roast them in the oven. If you choose white asparagus, make sure you properly peel them – all the shiny skin should be taken of. After cleaning them, soak them in water for half an hour before cooking them (they absorb the water, which makes them crispier). Green asparagus don’t need to be cleaned; only the ‘woody’ bottom should be cut off. I love to make a mix of both green and whit asparagus and put them in the oven; make thin slices (best if you make an angle of 45 degrees with your knife, so the slices are a little oval – and bigger), drizzle with a little olive oil, add salt & pepper and put in the 15 minutes on 200 degrees.

Salmon

Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Preheat the grill and put in the salmon without oil or butter. Cook for 6 minutes on each side, until the skin is brown and crispy.

Sauce

Warm the ghee in a small saucepan until it is melted. Take the pan from the fire and add the lemon juice, mustard and tarragon. Stir well and drizzle over the asparagus. Serve with some fresh parsley and a wedge of lemon.

Bon appétit! <3