Lovemaking and Ojas: Ayurveda's Traditional Caution About Overdoing It

Too-frequent lovemaking reduces ojas, the body’s vital energy, and leaves the person weak and open to diseases. It also aggravates vata dosha. To restore strength and replenish ojas, after each time you make love a massage is helpful, as are nourishing drinks such as almond milk. (See recipe for almond milk on this page.) The best time for lovemaking is between 10 and 11 .

Sex in the morning or in the P.M daytime is not recommended. This entire daily routine is very important. I set more store by a good regimen that maintains my humors in balance and procures me a sound sleep. Drink hot when it freezes, drink cool in the dog days; in everything, neither too much nor too little; digest, sleep, have pleasure, and snap your fingers at the rest of it.

—Voltaire Seasonal Routines The seasons, like the times of day, are characterized by cycles of vata, pitta, and kapha. Maintaining good health during all four seasons requires living in harmony with these natural cycles, continually adjusting to the changes in the outer environment through the food we choose to eat, the type and amount of exercise we do, the clothes we wear, and so on. The suggestions in this section will help you be at your best all year round. Please remember that you cannot determine the seasons just by dates on the calendar.

Ayurveda is a system of natural medicine, which means that you have to see what is happening in nature! In different geographic areas the seasons come at different times and have varied characteristics. In addition, in just one day there may be four seasons: sunshine and singing birds creating a springlike air in the morning; warm summery breezes at midday; gusts of cool, dry autumnal wind in the afternoon; cold, cloudy, wintry weather after dark. So look at nature as it is, and apply the appropriate principles and practices.

GUIDELINES FOR SUMMER Summer is hot, bright, and sharp, the season of pitta. Thus the main recommendation for everyone, especially for individuals whose prakruti is primarily pitta, is to keep cool and not allow pitta dosha to become aggravated. • In the morning, as part of your daily routine, rub 5 to 6 ounces of coconut oil or sunflower oil on your body before bathing. Coconut oil is calming, cooling, and soothing to the skin.