RASA ~ Rejuvenation

Rasayana Finding the Juice: Why I’m Returning to Rasa

Coming back to the body after trauma isn’t just about stretching muscles; it’s about reclaiming my Rasa. In the Vedic tradition, Rasa is often translated as "essence" or "juice."

Think of the sweetness of a perfectly ripe mango or the way a wilting plant perks up the moment it’s watered. That "perking up"—that rush of vital life force—is Rasa. It is the fluid reality of being alive.

When we’ve been through a dark season, we often feel brittle. We lose our "juice." My practice right now is about Rasayana (rejuvenation)—the intentional process of nourishing the nervous system and the soul until the body is fluid once again.

The Spectrum of Human Emotion

In my recovery, I’m learning that Rasa isn’t just about "feeling good." The Tantric tradition teaches us that there are nine primary Rasas, or emotional flavors. They aren't just things we feel; they are pathways:

• Shringara (Love)

• Hasya (Joy)

• Adbhuta (Wonder)

• Shanta (Peace)

• Raudra (Anger)

• Veera (Courage)

• Karuna (Sadness)

• Bhayanaka (Fear)

• Vibhatsa (Disgust)

For a long time, I tried to avoid the "heavy" flavors like fear or sadness. But Rasa Sadhana (emotional practice) teaches us that even these are part of the divine spectrum. By sitting with them on the mat, they stop being monsters and start being teachers.

Practice as Alchemy

Yoga has transformed for me. It’s no longer a discipline of "suppressing" what I feel to get the pose right. Instead, it’s a field of exploration.

When I stand in Virabhadrasana (Warrior), I am not just holding a shape; I am summoning Vira Rasa—the essence of courage and dignity.

I am literally "tasting" strength in my cells. My heart is like a crystal; it takes on the color of whatever I place it near. By choosing my practice mindfully, I am choosing what color my life will be.

The Path of Rejuvenation

Rasa Therapy (Rasayana Chikitsa). In Ayurveda, this is the science of deep cellular healing. It’s about more than just medicine; it’s about having a "pure heart, free from greed and hatred," as the ancient alchemists said. It’s about creating a body and mind that are supple enough to hold the "juice of non-death" (a-mruta).

I’m stepping back onto the mat not to "fix" myself, but to remember how to flow. I’m looking for the sweetness again.

This is a powerful convergence of timing and energy. Moving from the Wood Snake to the Fire Horse is a profound shift in "Rasa"—moving from the slow, internal, and often painful process of shedding to the fast, spirited, and outward-facing energy of the Horse.

In Ayurveda, Rasa Dhatu is the foundational "juice" of life. It is the first tissue formed from the food we digest, acting as the primary vehicle for nourishment and the seat of our emotional state. When your Rasa Dhatu is healthy and flowing, you feel a sense of satisfaction, joy, and vitality—the "perking up" like a plant after watering.

The Essence of Rasa Dhatu

Rasa Dhatu is one of 7 layers of bodily tissues. considered the vital fluid that sustains both the physical and spiritual realms. It is described as a-mruta, the juice of life and non-death. In the body, it manifests as the plasma and lymph, circulating nutrients to every cell. Emotionally, it is the "flavor" of our internal world.

The tissues in our body are what allow us to feel pleasure and pain, take in the world through our senses, and respond to life as it moves through us. They’re the living fabric of our physical experience—how we’re built, how we function, and how we heal.

Dhatus and the Power of Touch

Our tissues are what we’re truly meeting when we look in the mirror—yet they’re also tied to the feelings we carry about our appearance and our worth. And when we are touched—by a hand, a word, a memory, a moment—something in us responds. Sensation happens.

Emotion moves. The body keeps the record. This is why this work is essential after trauma.

Touch shapes how we experience ourselves: how we feel in our own skin, how we relate to others, and even how we show up in the world. What we take in through our senses can be seen in us as radiance when we’re well, and as strain when life has been too sharp for too long. Even our tears rise through the nervous system, arriving when the nerves are soothed, stirred, or overwhelmed.

In Ayurveda, one of the most nourishing ways to care for the dhatus is through abhyanga, the practice of self-massage with warm oil. It’s a simple ritual of touch—applying oil to the body and listening closely to what you feel, where you feel it, and what may be asking for support.

Abhyanga invites embodiment. It keeps us connected to ourselves through steady, compassionate contact. Over time, it can cultivate self-love—and the courage to face what is ready to shift.

There is no perfect body, life, or person. But every body deserves to be honored, and cared for, every day.

Rasayana: Rejuvenation for the Rainbow Warrior

Working with Rasa Dhatu is part of Rasayana Chikitsa, the Ayurvedic therapy for rejuvenation. This is essential for recovery from trauma because it replenishes the "brittle" or dry state of the nervous system.

• Emotional Fasting (Rasa Sadhana): In your practice, you may consciously choose to engage with specific emotional rasas—like cultivating Veera (courage) through pungent or salty herbs—while abstaining from those that cause imbalance.

  
  

• The Alchemist's Heart: True healing in Rasa Shastra (the science of mineral and herbal processing) requires the practitioner to be pure-hearted and free from greed or hatred. Your apothecary becomes a sacred space where the five elements are combined with noble intentions.

Incorporating Aiyanas Apothecary

I blend my herbs creating a "Rainbow" for the soul. Much like the heart is a crystal that takes on the color of its surroundings, your herbal blends can "color" the disciple's heart with the desired spiritual mood.

• For the Wood Snake (Transmutation):  Use bitter and pungent herbs to help digest the "poison" of false accusations and false truths we tell ourselves and transform it into medicine.

  
  

• For the Fire Horse (No Hesitation): Use sweet and salty herbs to provide the fuel and grounding needed for a sustained, courageous gallop.

More to Follow ...

The Beginning is NoW ♥⁀˚⋆.‿☆