Starting this month, we will explore a series of articles about helpful Ayurveda tips for millennials.
Now more than ever before, the younger generation is questioning a lot of the fundamental ideas and notions that have become a staple in an established society. As a millennial myself, with a family background and professional education in Ayurveda, I’ve come to understand this. We are beginning to realize that the way of life that we, as a society, have become accustomed to needs to change.
I have questioned so many things growing up simply because, at home, it was a very conservative, traditional Indian upbringing. Whereas in school, among friends and family friends, it was a much more liberal conversation. But there was always a common denominator: emotion! The underlying emotions that are present between the different generations are the exact same. We have simply lost touch with these emotions and are divisive because of our inability to communicate effectively and completely.
Ayurveda is an age-old science of life. Ayu means “life” and Veda means the “study of,” whereby it literally translates to the “study of life.” As an Ayurvedic doctor, I strongly believe in a holistic approach to medicine. Healing does not have to be limited to physical ailments but rather should be a multi-modality approach that revolves around diet, yoga, meditation, effective stress management, and being mindful. Mindful of what you eat. “Diet” is defined in Ayurveda as nourishment, not just the foods you eat, but also what someone says to you, what you read, and consume on tv.
When I talk to my peers and colleagues today, it becomes apparent that a lot of them are facing emotional turmoil. Millennials are a generation that has been raised on technology. Our devices are an inseparable part of us! We also happen to be one of the few generations in our prime to be caught in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic that is bound to have a lasting impact on our perspective toward life. That’s why it is essential to discuss the unique challenges that are facing our generation.
In this particular series, Ayurveda for Millennials, I will shed light on some of the common goals that our generation is trying to achieve, share some Vedic tools on how to unlock happiness and health, strike a balance between your mind and body, and discuss ways to become better at dealing with the uncertainty of the current turbulent time. Here are some topics that will be covered:
My passion for achieving holistic health in alignment with your mind and body is so great because I believe that the Vedas are the perfect template to help answer some of the life-altering questions that are being posed today. The Vedas are an ancient group of texts that were conceived through deep, intense meditations by Rishis or sages. These were passed down through the lineages by word of mouth in a very personal teacher-to-student format. Where the teacher, or your guru, personalized your education depending upon what you were meant to do. For the scholars, there was a lot of critical thinking; for the priests, there were a lot of recitations, and so on.
But the Vedas were always regarded as “Swatah Pramana” or self-study. The hymns, tales, philosophy, and wisdom of these texts were always made apparent to the student at the exact opportune time. Similar to the rest of us who have read the same book twice, because our perception changes with time, we are able to pick up certain things and subtleties easier the second time around.
With so many factors and so many choices at your fingertips, it is almost impossible to make the “right” decision. The basis of this, however, boils down to three things:
Sva means “self” and Stha is “anchored or grounded.” Therefore, when you are Svastha, you are anchored and connected to your true self. You are tuned into the most absolute nature of who you are as a fundamental person—stripped of ego and devoid of fear.
Dharma can simply be defined as doing what you were meant to do, or your purpose here on earth. While this seems like a daunting task, once you figure out the “Hedgehog” concept, life becomes seemingly effortless!
Moksha, which is most commonly known as liberation in the yogic circles, but I like the definition of “dispassionate attachment.” This is where you become disconnected from your sense, and they are no longer responsible for taking you for a wild ride.
These three concepts are the pillars of the Ayurvedic way of life that will be discussed in this series. These concepts will be helpful in understanding how you can tap into the Vedic principles to create a better and healthier life. Once you truly understand these three points as they pertain to your personal day-to-day life, you will see major changes in your life—from the way you manifest to healing emotional trauma and improving your physical health.
Some of the concepts might seem vague, different, or even brand new to you; however, over the course of the next few months, you will be uncovering some of the most important Vedic tips and tools to really help you understand how to best navigate times of uncertainty and transformation. Many times, it is all about aligning your mind and body with something that gives you peace and meaning. It is time to take these concepts and apply them to your daily routine or Dinacharya.
Get ready to see a transformation in the way you look at your own life. You are bound to develop a toolkit that will help you considerably enhance your physical and emotional health—and become the best version of yourself!
Find balance anywhere, anytime with the new Chopra App. Download it now for hundreds of personalized guided meditations at your fingertips.
Now more than ever before, the younger generation is questioning a lot of the fundamental ideas and notions that have become a staple in an established society. As a millennial myself, with a family background and professional education in Ayurveda, I’ve come to understand this. We are beginning to realize that the way of life that we, as a society, have become accustomed to needs to change.
I have questioned so many things growing up simply because, at home, it was a very conservative, traditional Indian upbringing. Whereas in school, among friends and family friends, it was a much more liberal conversation. But there was always a common denominator: emotion! The underlying emotions that are present between the different generations are the exact same. We have simply lost touch with these emotions and are divisive because of our inability to communicate effectively and completely.
Ayurveda is an age-old science of life. Ayu means “life” and Veda means the “study of,” whereby it literally translates to the “study of life.” As an Ayurvedic doctor, I strongly believe in a holistic approach to medicine. Healing does not have to be limited to physical ailments but rather should be a multi-modality approach that revolves around diet, yoga, meditation, effective stress management, and being mindful. Mindful of what you eat. “Diet” is defined in Ayurveda as nourishment, not just the foods you eat, but also what someone says to you, what you read, and consume on tv.
When I talk to my peers and colleagues today, it becomes apparent that a lot of them are facing emotional turmoil. Millennials are a generation that has been raised on technology. Our devices are an inseparable part of us! We also happen to be one of the few generations in our prime to be caught in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic that is bound to have a lasting impact on our perspective toward life. That’s why it is essential to discuss the unique challenges that are facing our generation.
Ayurveda for Millennials Series
In this particular series, Ayurveda for Millennials, I will shed light on some of the common goals that our generation is trying to achieve, share some Vedic tools on how to unlock happiness and health, strike a balance between your mind and body, and discuss ways to become better at dealing with the uncertainty of the current turbulent time. Here are some topics that will be covered:
- Work-Life Balance: Explore what makes you genuinely happy and how to create a lifestyle that is conducive to your well-being, while still enjoying your career and advancing. With the new political climate, a lot of millennials are questioning authoritative figures and insisting on fair and just treatment for all. We have a lot of the same wants and desires as previous generations but are stuck grappling with the means to achieve them. In this series, you will learn about work-life balance and receive a set of rules that you can learn to live by to achieve holistic health and happiness.
- Career vs. Education: As much as we want to stay in school and pursue higher education, we feel that the financial burden of student loans is not worth the risk-to-reward ratio. In this series, you will look at the relationship between your career and education as well as the economic climate and how to detach from the excess.
- Access vs. Ownership: A lot of millennials want to have the feeling of being grounded, settled, and established; however, with that comes the fear of impermanence. We want to have the freedom to choose, travel, and explore. This could be anything from being in a monogamous relationship to owning a home. In this series, I will break down some of the common goals that millennials have and how to achieve them without sacrificing your health and well-being.
Looking at the Vedas
My passion for achieving holistic health in alignment with your mind and body is so great because I believe that the Vedas are the perfect template to help answer some of the life-altering questions that are being posed today. The Vedas are an ancient group of texts that were conceived through deep, intense meditations by Rishis or sages. These were passed down through the lineages by word of mouth in a very personal teacher-to-student format. Where the teacher, or your guru, personalized your education depending upon what you were meant to do. For the scholars, there was a lot of critical thinking; for the priests, there were a lot of recitations, and so on.
But the Vedas were always regarded as “Swatah Pramana” or self-study. The hymns, tales, philosophy, and wisdom of these texts were always made apparent to the student at the exact opportune time. Similar to the rest of us who have read the same book twice, because our perception changes with time, we are able to pick up certain things and subtleties easier the second time around.
With so many factors and so many choices at your fingertips, it is almost impossible to make the “right” decision. The basis of this, however, boils down to three things:
- Svastha: A grounded or anchored self
Sva means “self” and Stha is “anchored or grounded.” Therefore, when you are Svastha, you are anchored and connected to your true self. You are tuned into the most absolute nature of who you are as a fundamental person—stripped of ego and devoid of fear.
- Dharma: Doing what you were meant to do
Dharma can simply be defined as doing what you were meant to do, or your purpose here on earth. While this seems like a daunting task, once you figure out the “Hedgehog” concept, life becomes seemingly effortless!
- Moksha: Dispassionate attachment
Moksha, which is most commonly known as liberation in the yogic circles, but I like the definition of “dispassionate attachment.” This is where you become disconnected from your sense, and they are no longer responsible for taking you for a wild ride.
These three concepts are the pillars of the Ayurvedic way of life that will be discussed in this series. These concepts will be helpful in understanding how you can tap into the Vedic principles to create a better and healthier life. Once you truly understand these three points as they pertain to your personal day-to-day life, you will see major changes in your life—from the way you manifest to healing emotional trauma and improving your physical health.
Some of the concepts might seem vague, different, or even brand new to you; however, over the course of the next few months, you will be uncovering some of the most important Vedic tips and tools to really help you understand how to best navigate times of uncertainty and transformation. Many times, it is all about aligning your mind and body with something that gives you peace and meaning. It is time to take these concepts and apply them to your daily routine or Dinacharya.
Get ready to see a transformation in the way you look at your own life. You are bound to develop a toolkit that will help you considerably enhance your physical and emotional health—and become the best version of yourself!
Find balance anywhere, anytime with the new Chopra App. Download it now for hundreds of personalized guided meditations at your fingertips.