How to Support Agni

• Eat well and consciously

Eating a diet of light, simple, easily digested and sattvic foods ignites agni and supports natural hunger, as does eating at the same times each day.

• Avoid Agni Inhibitors

Cold drinks extinguish the heat of our digestive fire, so Ayurveda generally recommends avoiding them. Similarly, drinking too much liquid (especially with or immediately after a meal) dilutes agni and can inhibit digestion.

• Kindle Agni before Meals

There are many simple ways to kindle agni immediately before eating so that the digestive fire can effectively process our food and burn off any previously accumulated toxins. One option is to walk a little before eating, this practice can also help clarify whether your hunger is real or not.

• Support digestion after Meals

When you’ve finished eating, take a deep breath before getting up to continue with your next activity.

• Periodically do a Dietary Cleanse

Cleansing is a powerful way to ignite and restore agni.

• Physical Exercise

One of the most important ways to kindle and protect agni is to exercise. Ayurveda is one of the few sciences that guide us regarding the type, duration and intensity of exercise that most balances us.

• Fresh air & pranayama

Just as fresh air feeds the flames of a camp fire, agni ignites when we take a deep breath and relax our bodies.