Ojas and Ama
Ayurveda focuses on health to achieve transcendence. By cleaning up your diet, you clean up your life. You create space for positivity and detach yourself from the things that have been holding you back. You build ojas, which is the Ayurvedic term for “vigor” and “the physiological expression of consciousness.” Ojas results from clear digestion. When you can break down your food, assimilate nutrients, and evacuate them from your body effectively, you feel radiant, refreshed, and rejuvenated.
However, when food sits in your gastrointestinal tract for too long, toxins accumulate, which are called ama. Ama is the underlying cause of nearly every health issue. A healthy, pure body does not suddenly become ill. It becomes ill as the result of built-up toxicity, year after year, that isn’t eliminated from the body.
Ojas is the life force; ama is toxicity. You have both in your body, and with a balanced diet and lifestyle, you can eliminate ama and radiate with ojas.
Let’s take a moment to assess where you stand. Don’t worry about not quite being a pinnacle of perfect health yet; you’ve just started your journey and now is the perfect time to start. The following table outlines symptoms of ojas and ama so you can determine which is more prevalent in you today.
Ayurveda and yoga go hand in hand because we cannot become our highest selves if we are not our healthiest selves. Our bodies are temporary vessels holding our eternal souls. They were given to us to experience this amazing gift called life. It’s up to us to treat them with profound love and care.
| Signs of Ojas | Signs of Ama |
|---|---|
| You wake up feeling rested. | You wake up exhausted. |
| Your tongue is clear and pink. | Your tongue has a white coating. |
| You have a clear, glowing complexion. | You suffer from acne, blemishes, or other skin problems. |
| You feel steadily energized throughout the day. | You have an energy crash midday and often need sugar, caffeine, or a nap. |
| You enjoy eating abundant vegetables and don’t have food cravings. | You don’t like the taste of vegetables and often crave foods. |
| You can digest food easily without feeling bloated, gassy, or tired. | You often feel bloated, gassy, or tired after meals. |
| Your body has a pleasant smell. | Your sweat tends to have a sharp, foul odor. |
| Your mind is clear and peaceful. | You constantly get anxious, angry, or depressed. |
| You rarely become ill. | You are susceptible to infections. |
| You can fall asleep soundly. | You have difficulty falling sleep. |
Where do you stand? You can be honest with yourself; no one is judging. If you’re more on the ama side, have no fear. That will change by the time you’re through reading—and implementing—the suggestions in these Articles on Ayurveda in this website.