The mind-body connection isn’t just a yoga buzzterm; it’s wellness’ bottom line. That means emotional wellness is a major factor in feeling our best – physically, mentally and spiritually. In Ayurveda, the concept of agni, or ‘digestive fire’, applies to our emo side too; it taps into that critical connection of mind and body based on the belief that unprocessed emotional experiences can have a toxic effect on our health. Ayurvedic master, Deepak Chopra explains:
“When your emotional agni is strong, you are able to
extract whatever is nourishing and eliminate the rest. The inability to metabolize emotions, however, produces just as much toxic residue as undigested food. In fact, pent-up anger, long-held sadness, and lingering guilt are more debilitating for most people than problems with physical digestion.”
To experience optimal health, it’s essential to eliminate toxins from the body so our inner fire has room to strengthen and grow. We love the Chopra so clearly identifies these undealt with emotions as part of the equation.
Chopra recommends finding a daily balancing routine to help ‘digest’ emotions well. That could be creating art, journaling, meditation, breathwork, yoga or whatever personal ritual makes you feel grounded, calm and connected.
Emotional wellness is largely about letting ourselves feel the feels, but learning to optimize, or at least be aware of, the way we process those feelings is how real healing begins to occur.
How is your emotional digestion? What personal practices do you use
to detox and balance daily?
