Satmya: The concept of suitability

Stay Inside Your Comfort Zone. Satmya: The concept of suitability

We are all unique beings and as such we all have individual requirements. Whilst seasonal cleansing is important, it is best to design a programme that suits your individual needs and is appropriate to you. Your family, work, activities, stamina, beliefs and ethical issues are all important factors which make you, your unique self.

This concept of appropriateness, or suitability – essentially what suits the self – is termed “Satmya”. The word “Satmya” literally refers to habit, suitability, wholesomeness, agree-ability to nature or natural constitution of individuals. Satmya is anything that offers a wholesome effect or comfort to a person. With this in mind, before embarking on any healing journey, it’s important to have a holistic view of everything (including your bad habits) that could impact a releasing detox regime.

Slow and steady wins the race

While the preference in Ayurveda is healthy, the system does recognise that occasionally unhealthy foods or behaviours are ok. This is particularly true as we try to wean ourselves off bad habits. It’s never easy to change ways that we have deeply embedded. If we have habituated our bodies and minds to certain unhealthy or toxic foods, or behaviours, sudden deprivation can make us feel unsafe or confused. Gradual change is always best so that we can reprogramme our bodies and minds slowly.

Integrate new habits slowly, avoid drastic change

Start your detox programme gently and prepare yourself, both physically and mentally. For example, integrate detox foods and routines into your daily life in small ways before your actual programme starts. By doing so, the changes are not as drastic, remember you are aiming for a deeply cleansing experience not a shock to the system.

The Context is within your Comfort Zone

We exist in a context that influences whether or not we feel comfortable. The comfort zone is where we achieve our best potential. It is the place where we heal and detoxify better. For happy-go-lucky people, the zone is everywhere. For sensitive people, the zone might be nowhere but home or surrounded by certain people or the comfort of a pet. Out of our comfort zone, we behave differently, and our bodies move from self-regulation to a stress response where survival needs take energy away from healing. Appropriate action, or satmya, is creating a context that brings us to our comfort zone.

Finding Satmya

Our diet and lifestyle choices reflect our ethical, spiritual and religious beliefs. It is not appropriate, for example, to eat bone broth as part of a detox programme if you are vegan; just as it is not satmya to go for a run every morning if you hate running. Taking on a new good habit must be heartfelt and not the result of pressure from another person, or even from social media.

Timing also influences appropriateness. It is best to detox when we can dedicate time for the body to let go. Timed meals, herb intake and treatments are important for creating synchronicity in our body clocks and for enhancing the times when our body naturally chooses to cleanse.

Think Local

Satmya is linked to locality. Ideally, Ayurveda is lifestyle medicine that is local, organic, seasonal and sustainable. It is based on our ability to adapt to the climatic conditions and harvesting rhythms. We can, however, source our food from areas further afield as long as those areas are experiencing the same season as we are. In this case the foods will still express the same kind of plant chemistry that we need to promote seasonal metabolic functions. For example, citrus fruits are winter produce, which makes them perfectly appropriate for northern Europeans to consume during winter even though these fruits don’t grow in northern latitudes. On the other hand, eating strawberries in winter is not appropriate – we need to enjoy cooling summer foods in summer.

Satmya – Balance Body and Mind

Taking a sensible and adaptable approach is key. A few glasses of wine, late nights and unseasonable foods, when needed, will not cause harm unless partaking in them becomes an entrenched bad habit. If we stick mainly to what is appropriate – a natural and satmya way of living – we will become strong and flexible and maintain the balance of body and mind.

Let’s create your unique experience of transformation together and create sustainable healthy habits, appropriate just for you. If you want a custom made program or have someone to walk you through the process send a message to: anu@jivitaayurveda.com.