In my yoga classes and workshops, I often discuss the concept of Soma. In Ayurveda and yoga, Soma is the nectar of life which rejuvenates and restores your body and mind to create a feeling of fullness.
Soma gives you more vitality vigor and strength and nourishes your mind and body. It can be enhanced and built by the energy or prana you take in through the body and mind. In some ancient texts, Soma is a special plant that offers the elixir of life, health and longevity.
“Soma is said to be made in the body via the pineal gland and is related to the upper Chakras – the heart, throat, and third eye. Therefore, soma provides a youthful body, confidence in speech and a sharp mind.”
So, when it comes to building Soma you can easily do that through your yoga practice. How do you that? Simply follow these 3 practices for building Soma and nourishing your mind & body
1. Incorporate restorative or yin postures at the end of your practice – Sure, a strong, active and even aggressive yoga practice will build strength, muscle tissue and endurance. But if you only practice heating and active “Yang” types of postures and do not balance it with Soma-inducing postures, you can deplete your energy reserves.
The yin or restorative postures will strengthen your connective tissues while relaxing your body as well as calm and still your mind. They will rejuvenate and replenish your nervous system and reduce cortisol levels in the body thus reducing overall stress.
2. Consume an Ojas boosting shake – Ojas means vigor and you can increase your soma by ingesting ingredients that builds your tissues and nourish your cells. I like to drink an Ojas boosting shake with my lunch after my workout or yoga practice. You can try this recipe in the afternoon or evening and see if it helps you sustain vitality, vigor and strength:
1 cup of oat milk or nut milk
1-2 dates or a tsp of honey
a pinch of saffron
a pinch of cinnamon
1-2 tsp of coconut oil
3. Guided Relaxation on Specific Body Points or Yoga Nidra – I have been using this meditation in my yoga classes with a lot of success as students leave feeling relaxed, revitalized and rejuvenated. You can too by listening to or practicing a self-guided yoga nidra practice or focusing on specific body points.
The following practice is based on the marma points – Ayurvedic energy points in the body and was inspired by one of my teacher of Ayurveda, Dr. David Frawley.
1. Direct your attention to your toes. On inhalation, gather your energy at your toes. On exhalation, release. Feel your toes energized, healed, and relaxed.
2. Move your attention to your ankle joints. On inhalation, gather your energy at your ankle joints. On exhalation, release it. Feel your ankles energized, healed, and relaxed.
3. Move your attention to your calves. On inhalation, gather your energy there. On exhalation, release it. Feel your calves energized, healed, and relaxed.
4. Move your attention to your knee joints. On inhalation, gather your energy there. On exhalation, release it. Feel your knees energized, healed, and relaxed.
5. Move your energy to your thighs. On inhalation, gather your energy at your thighs. On exhalation, release it. Feel your thighs energized, healed, and relaxed.
6. Move your energy to your hip joints. On inhalation, gather your energy at your hip joints. On exhalation, release it. Feel your hips energized, healed, and relaxed.
7. Move your energy to the base of your spine. On inhalation, gather your energy at the base of your spine. On exhalation, release it. Feel this region of your body energized, healed, and relaxed.
8. Move your energy to your navel. On inhalation, gather your energy at your navel. On exhalation, release it. Feel this region of your body energized, healed, and relaxed.
9. Move your energy to your heart. On inhalation, gather your energy at your heart. On exhalation, release it. Feel your heart energized, healed, and relaxed.
10. Move your energy to your throat. On inhalation, gather your energy there. On exhalation, release it. Feel your throat energized, healed, and relaxed.
11. Move your attention to your tongue. On inhalation, gather your energy at your tongue. On exhalation, release it. Feel your tongue energized, healed, and relaxed.
12. Move your attention to your nose. On inhalation, gather your energy at your nose. On exhalation, release. Feel your nose energized, healed, and relaxed.
13. Move your attention to your eyes. On inhalation, gather your energy there. On exhalation, release. Feel your eyes energized, healed, and relaxed.
14. Move your attention to the point between your eye-brows. On inhalation, gather your energy at the point between your eye- brows. On exhalation, release it. Feel this region of your body energized, healed, and relaxed.
15. Move your attention to the middle of your forehead. The middle of your forehead. On inhalation, gather your energy there. On exhalation, release. Feel your forehead energized, healed, and relaxed.
16. Move your attention to the top of the head. On inhalation, gather your energy at the top of the head. On exhalation, release. Feel the top of your head energized, healed, and relaxed.
17. Spread your attention throughout your whole body. Your whole body. On inhalation, fill your whole body with energy. On exhalation, release and soften. Feel your whole body, energized, healed, and relaxed.
If you would like to learn more about these topics and practices to enhance your health and well-being then check out these links here…
ONLINE YOGA & AYURVEDA COURSE OPENING SOON – GET EARLY ACCESS HERE BY SUBSCRIBING TO MY GUIDE
200 HOUR AND 300 HOUR YOGA & AYURVEDA TRAINING AND PROGRAMS – YOGA ALLIANCE APPROVED
YOGA & AYURVEDA WORKSHOPS COURSES & EVENTS