Food as fuel for your Body and Soul

How come food is so important?

As we know, the Annamayakosha - or physical body - is nourished by food! If you don’t remember what Annamayakosha means, check this blog post first :)

But how does food turns into nourishment?

It all begins in the mouth where food is chewed and mixed with saliva, which contains enzymes that begin to break down carbohydrates.

From there, food travels down the esophagus and into the stomach, where it is mixed with stomach acid and digestive enzymes that break down proteins and fats.

Next, the partially digested food moves into the small intestine, where the majority of nutrient absorption takes place. Enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver help to break down the remaining carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into smaller molecules that can be absorbed through the intestinal lining and into the bloodstream.

The large intestine, also known as the colon, plays a crucial role in this process by absorbing water and electrolytes from the remaining food waste and forming feces. The feces are then eliminated from the body through the rectum and anus.

Once nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream, they are transported to the various tissues and organs of the body, where they are used for energy, growth, and repair.

Ultimately, the process of digestion and absorption is how food is transformed into nourishment for the Annamayakosha. By eating a balanced and varied diet that includes all of the essential nutrients, we can ensure that our bodies have the raw materials they need to function optimally and keep the Annamayakosha healthy.

How does ThaiYoga Massage correlates with the Annamayakosha?

I offer ThaiYoga Massage as a tool to help balancing Soul, Mind and Body.

During a session, the Body, or Annamayakosha, is the one being directly touched.

Through pressure and stretching, we are releasing tension and promoting relaxation on the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. That greatly supports clients carrying a lot of physical tension or for the ones who experience chronic pain.

- The pressure also helps with improving blood circulation and lymphatic flow in the body. With that, more oxygen and nutrients as well as removing waste products from the body;

- The stretches improve flexibility and range of motion in the muscles and joints. This can be particularly beneficial for athletes, dancers, or anyone looking to improve their mobility.

All of these are the physical effects you can experience when adding ThaiYoga Massage to your self-care routine.

We know that the effects don't stop there as whatever impact we cause in one of our 5 layers will also impact the other ones. But this we will explore in future posts!

Thank you,

Tarsi.