Your Body, Your Rules: 5 Simple Ways to Get to Know Yourself Through Ayurveda
When it comes to taking care of our health and wellbeing, there is no one-size-fits-all. Yep, it’s slightly annoying that some magic smoothie, exercise regime, supplement concoction or lifestyle change that worked fabulously for Janice in accounts at work may have zero, or even a negative impact on you.
Can we really be that different from one another? Well… yes!
We are all wonderfully different
According to Ayurveda, we are each born with our own unique constitution – a combination of the three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which creates our own individual balance.
What brings balance to Janice in accounts might be something completely different for you. Our constitution, alongside our experiences and individual responses to food, our environment and lifestyle, shapes the way we move through life.
Janice might feel fantastic eating just two meals a day, whereas that same routine could leave you irritable and unable to focus on anything except the countdown to dinnertime.
Neither of you is necessarily doing anything wrong. You may simply have different needs.
And in a way, this difference between us is kind of beautiful. It encourages us to get to know ourselves, understand how our bodies work, what throws us out of balance and what helps bring us back to equilibrium.
Learning to listen to ourselves
Over the generations, there has been a tendency to rely on professionals – doctors, dieticians, therapists and other experts – to tell us what our bodies need. And then there’s the media, for which no qualification is needed, telling us how we should look, what we should eat and which diets are trending right now.
These influences can be strong, and they can encourage us to look everywhere except inside.
There is nothing wrong with seeking advice or learning from others. In fact, good professional guidance can be incredibly valuable. But somewhere along the way, we can lose touch with our own ability to notice what is happening within us.
We all come with a kind of inner manual. You might call it intuition, body awareness or simply getting to know yourself. It’s that quiet sense of knowing when something feels right for you, or when a particular food, routine or relationship isn't quite working.
Yet we often disregard it in the face of what other powerful outside influences tell us is right.
And then, when we finally find a solution that works for us, there can be a familiar feeling of, “I’ve known this all along.”
Perhaps the art of noticing and knowing hasn't disappeared. Perhaps we just need to give it a little more attention.
5 simple ways to get to know yourself
You don't need to overhaul your entire lifestyle or embark on a new wellness regime. Start with a few moments of curiosity throughout your day. There is no right or wrong answer to these questions. They are simply an invitation to notice.
1. Begin your morning with yourself
When you wake up, instead of reaching for your phone or letting your mind run away with to-do lists for the day, put one hand on your chest and one on your belly.
Notice your breath. What is happening inside your body? Are there any sensations, aches or areas of tension? Do you feel rested, heavy, energised or somewhere in between?
You don't have to change anything. Just notice.
2. Before you eat or drink, pause
Before reaching for your morning coffee, a snack or a glass of water, take a moment to ask yourself: Am I actually hungry or thirsty?
Perhaps you are eating out of habit, stress, boredom or a desire for comfort. Maybe you are genuinely hungry and need some nourishment.
There is no judgement here. The aim is simply to notice the difference between what your body is asking for and what your mind might be reaching for.
3. Bring your attention to your food
As you are eating, notice how you are experiencing the meal.
How is my breathing?
Am I chewing my food properly?
Am I enjoying the taste?
Am I beginning to feel full, or am I still hungry?
Try putting down your fork for a moment between bites. Give yourself the chance to actually experience the food, rather than eating on autopilot while answering emails or scrolling through your phone.
4. Notice what happens after eating
Your body can tell you a lot about how it responds to different foods and routines.
After eating, notice how your digestion feels. Do you experience bloating, gas or acid reflux? Do you feel energised, comfortably satisfied or sleepy?
Over time, these observations can help you become more aware of patterns. You might discover that a certain meal works beautifully for you at lunchtime but feels too heavy in the evening. Or that you need a little more nourishment on days when you are particularly active.
This is not about labelling foods as good or bad. It's about getting to know your own responses.
5. Give yourself a moment before sleep
Before going to sleep, take a few minutes to check in with yourself emotionally.
What happened today that made you feel joyful, grateful or humbled? What made you feel anxious, sad or uncomfortable?
Notice what is present without needing to solve it all before bedtime. You might find that a few quiet moments of reflection help you recognise what you need more of, what you need less of, or what deserves a little more attention tomorrow.
Coming home to yourself
Getting to know yourself is not about finding the perfect diet, the ideal morning routine or a set of rules that you must follow for the rest of your life.
It's about developing a relationship with yourself that is built on curiosity, kindness and trust.
Ayurveda offers a framework for understanding our individual constitutions and the qualities that influence our wellbeing. But the practice of noticing is something we can all begin, wherever we are in life.
So the next time Janice in accounts tells you about the latest thing that's transformed her wellbeing, by all means, be curious. Ask questions. See what you can learn.
And then, before deciding whether it's right for you, take a moment to listen to your own inner manual.
You might be surprised by what it has to say.
