glossary of Ayurvedic terms

KITCHARI: a traditional Ayurvedic meal based on a soothing recipe of pulses & grains with seasonal vegetables, spices and cooking methods (classically, split mung bean and white basmati rice). It can support the release of unwanted build up in the body & mind as well as strengthen overall vitality. Good for any life condition including digestive support, recovery, cleansing, energy flow and clarity. Beyond a nourishing meal, a kitchari mono diet is a gentle renewing practice, a way of being in relation to food, body, mind and the present moment. 

CREATIVE KITCHARI: creative kitchari is simply our term for nourishing meals with a range of local foods inspired by this classic Ayurvedic meal style. There is a huge variety of grains & pulses that can be paired together for balancing nourishment, offering similar properties as kitchari plus exciting flavor combos. *includes vegetables, herbs, spices, broths & healthy fats

AGNI: or “fire”  refers to the force of intelligence within every cell and system of our body. Fire is the generator of energy in the body, liberating energy from its source just as the sun to the earth. It governs all transformative processes and is responsible for extracting nutrition and intelligence as well as burning through accumulation or waste in the body & mind. Ayurvedic principles associate good agni with good immunity. Our central digestive fire feeds and nourishes all agnis throughout the body. When impaired, it is considered the root of all imbalances and disease. Your quality of digestion fuels your quality of health and transformation, so let’s kindle that fire!

PRANA:  is the life force of mother nature, the vital flow of energy in all living things. When it comes to our food, we consider natural and freshly picked produce to fuel our bodies with high quality prana. Practices with nature, breath work and paying attention to what comes in through our senses are great tools for cultivating healthy prana and an adaptive energetic state. Everything influences our vibration, our energy.

Universal law: prana flows where attention goes.

Our goal: high vibe (vibrant, positive) & free flowing prana

OJAS: is the body’s natural immunity, physical and psychological. Inner strength, stamina, longevity & radiant health. It has the powers of stillness, balance and collectedness that holds all the different aspects of our being, giving us a vibrant sense of self & the ability to withstand being thrown too far off balance. It lives in & nourishes our heart. If we are lacking a loving container (gross & subtle), we burn out & deplete. Likened to honey and the sap of a tree. Vigor & vitality. We have two forms. We are born with Para Ojas and it lives in our heart. Apara Ojas infuses our whole body. It is the essence of our food, the final distillation of nutrition after the 7 tissues of the body have successively taken what they need. Digestion at every level of our being impacts our power to withstand dis-ease & the juiciness of our lives.

SADHANA: like ritual, refers to daily practices that ground us in our bodies and foster a loving connection with the world around us. They serve as pillars of the day… moments to devote presence, establish our core values & find gratitude for something beyond the self.

“As you will discover, through your act of daily sadhana everything that appears to be external- herbs, foods, remedies, thoughts, actions- is melded into the fine weave of your personal Inner Medicine resource.”

Maya Tiwari

DINACHARYA- refers to a daily routine, flow. Providing a structure for choosing and moving with what matters to you & synced with circadian cycles that provide foundational support for overall health & well-being. 

RITUCHARYA- refers to a seasonal routine, activities that sync and balance us with the seasons. There are 3 seasons according to Ayurveda: Vata season, which covers fall & early winter, Kapha season, late winter & spring and Pitta season, summer.

Ayurveda teaches us that our bodies exist as a part of the natural world, not separate. Its philosophies and practices guide us to intuit harmony between what’s happening inside and what’s happening outside. Our diet and our lifestyle should reflect the changes in our environment from morning to night & fall to summer.