In Ayurveda, we talk about the gunas quite often.

So, what is a ‘guna?’

The word guna can be translated as quality, and another word that I like to use is ‘bio-characteristic,’ which really just means the ‘natural characteristic of something’

The gunas are describing words. That’s it. No ancient magic, no foreign philosophy. They are simply descriptions. Descriptions for what? you ask.

Well, in Ayurveda, we aim to harmonize our relationship with nature. So, it’s really quite broad. We could be describing the FIVE ELEMENTS. Or the environment, food, our mood, our thoughts, our digestion, our sleep, our health. You see? Really anything.

Why is that important?

The guna’s are often paired as opposites. (Like hot vs cold, or light vs heavy)

Ayurveda teaches us that like increases like and opposites balance.

So, I want to challenge you this week to go around and just observe your natural environment: What foods are you eating? What types of thoughts are you having? And what’s the quality of your sleep?

If you find a word being repeated over and over again (like MOBILE) the chances are that one word is accumulating. (Like increases Like)

And when accumulation happens, disease begins.

So, the gunas can be used as a lens to look through to inform us of our state of health. And so, ask yourself: “ Am I noticing this one certain quality in my life over and over again? Can I apply the opposite here to start to balance? What happens if I don't and I keep increasing this same quality in my life?”

How would you feel in a week from now? How would it feel in a month?

So, just observe. 

And this is how we can start using Ayurveda daily, to bring us closer to health. 

And to wrap it up; I’d like to share a list of the 20 gunas Ayurveda gives us.

Heavy – Light

Dry – Oily

Hot – Cold

Sharp - Dull

Liquid – Dense

Cloudy – Clear

Rough – Smooth

Hard – Soft

Mobile – Stable

Gross – Subtle

Good luck with your observations! Stay healthy and remember to work with nature, not against it.