Gunas

Guna is a sanskrit word meaning characteristic, attribute, quality or tendency. The three gunas will interact, and create energy, and determine life paths. Everything will have elements of the three gunas but human beings have the ability to regulate and balance out the gunas. We can do this through yoga, and avoid build up of certain elements that can cause things like anxiety or depression. We are wanting to rise above the Gunas, that can build up through stimuli in the environment such as certain foods, sounds, overthinking, or attachment to material possessions for example.

The three Gunas are described below:

Tamas Guna

Tamas state is associated with inactivity and darkness. Qualities would include laziness, depression, boredom, addiction, guilt, shame, boredom, grief.

To reduce tamas we would want to avoid inactivity, oversleeping and overeating. Specific foods such as heavy meals, heavy meats and foods that are processed, refined or have additives are tamas foods that should be avoided.

Rajas Guna

This state is related to energy and action so characteristics would include anger, anxiety, fear, worry, determination.

To reduce Rajas we would avoid overworking, overthinking, excess materialistic goods, loud music, over-exercising. Rajasic foods include stimulants, and fried and spicy food.

Sattva Guna

This state is a state of balance, joy and harmony. Related qualities would be happiness, peace, wellness, calm, freedom and feeling content.

By reducing tamas and rajas we can achieve more sattva. Being in positive environments will help, as well as practicing yoga. Sattvic foods that help include fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as whole grains and legumes.

Those suffering from mental disturbances will likely be suffering from excessive tamas or rajas energy so an understanding that it is possible to balance this out, will provide hope and it is also helpful to understand that these negative feelings do not define you and it is possible to get out of negative patterns.