Author: Meera Patel, Ayurveda Practitioner
Movement for Health
Whenever there is stagnation, that is when dis-ease arises. This is true for both the mind and the body.
Let’s begin with how this concept manifests in the mind. The mind is extremely powerful in directing one’s desires. When desires are rampant—or, conversely, when there is no aspiration at all—a power struggle arises that works against us. The key is to harness this power so that it works for you instead of against you.
In the mind, stagnation often translates into emotions such as grief or loneliness. When we resist releasing emotions that no longer serve us, the mind can get caught in repetitive thought loops that are difficult to stop. These often manifest as negative self-talks, such as believing we are incapable of achieving something. Simply bringing awareness through introspection can be enough to break this cycle of negative thinking.
The body can be equally powerful, especially through the five sense organs—mouth, skin, tongue, eyes, and nose. Whatever each of the senses comes into contact with must ultimately be digested and assimilated. When we consume more than our capacity through any of these senses, things become stuck, leading to physical stagnation. In the body, this can appear as constipation, dry eyes, a stuffy nose, and so on. It is only when we pause to understand why we are overloading our senses that we can break this cycle. If we don’t, the body continues to be overwhelmed, becoming a platform for dis-ease.
To avoid such stagnation in both mind and body, it’s important to keep the momentum flowing. For the mind, this means taking time to introspect and reflect on how we are spending our time and energy. For the body, it means maintaining a balance between being sedentary and being overactive.
In essence, cultivating awareness can go a long way in preventing dis-ease.
