Ayurveda is a science of life that heals, nourishes and helps us to transform our body, mind and spirit. Nowadays, many of us lead a busy and fast-paced life, and could wind up ignoring some persistent health issues including insomnia, indigestion, acidity, anxiety, and fatigue that impacts our overall well-being, and deteriorates our mental and physical health. Adopting a few Ayurvedic recommendations in our daily lives can be quite helpful in coping with the hustle-bustle better. Here are some tips in which you can incorporate the power of Ayurveda.
RISE BEFORE SUNRISE
Wake up before sunrise to enjoy the Vata energy that is prevalent in the atmosphere during these pre-dawn hours. Since Vata is known for movement, this time is ideal to awaken your body and harness the qualities of Vata. Besides, getting that movement going in your body helps get rid of physical and mental wastes. The Vata time is the ideal time for meditation, and excretion of wastes. It will also uplift your mood, and leave you feeling refreshed. So, roll out of bed before sunrise and savor the stillness by indulging in a brief round of yoga, deep breaths, or meditation to awaken your mind, body, and spirit.
KEEP YOUR DIGESTIVE FIRE BURNING
According to Ayurveda, the first food or drink you ingest sets the mood for the remainder of the day. It also helps stimulate the gastrointestinal tract to keep things moving, improves metabolism, and helps expel amaor toxins from the body. However, one drink doesn’t fit all. Here are specific recommendations for what to consume first thing in the morning for different dosha types:
Vata Predominant – Try taking a teaspoon of cow’s ghee, followed by a glass of lukewarm ginger-infused water. This helps keep the Vata in balance.
Pitta Predominant – Try to begin your day by drinking a glass of cooling coconut water or 25 ml of pure cold-pressed aloe vera juice on an empty stomach. It helps keep the fiery Pitta in balance.
Kapha Predominant – Try drinking a cup of warm lemon, ginger, and honey tea to balance the earthy dosha. This tea also helps activate the metabolic system and rekindles the digestive fire.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH
Deep breathing helps stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the ‘rest and digest’ part of your body. Deep breathing helps stimulate both sides of the brain and balances the body’s energy. It also helps you center yourself and relieves stress and anxiety. ‘Pranayama’ and ‘Nadishodhan’ are some of the breathing techniques in Ayurveda that help in circulation of ‘Prana’, the life force throughout the body.
REMAIN HYDRATED THROUGH THE DAY
Drinking enough water throughout the day is vital to keep you mentally alert and hydrated. However, the ritual of brewing an infusion or tea brings comfort and numerous health benefits. For example, rose petal infusion does wonders to balance the tridoshas, boosts heart health, and uplifts the mood. Similarly, mint leaf infusion makes for a refreshing cuppa that aids digestion and promotes relaxation. Other summer coolers that help keep the Pitta in check and keep you hydrated are cooling Khus sherbet, refreshing Brahmi juice, spiced Chaach for digestion, and hydrating lemonade.
DON’T SKIP THE TADKA
Adding spices and herbs to your cooking is an easy way to bring a little Ayurvedic wisdom into your life. Be it adding black pepper/cumin to your veggies or adding turmeric and ginger to your daals, spices are a great way to boost digestion, ignite the digestive fire, improve metabolism, and add flavor to your meals. Other Ayurvedic spices include mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, coriander powder, etc. Adding ‘tadka’ made of ghee, hing and cumin to your lentils works wonders to reduce inflammation and relieve digestive troubles like constipation, gas, bloating, etc. These spices play a vital role in maintaining your colon health which subsequently improves your bone and skin health. While these spices and herbs are a godsend, excess of anything is bad. So, avoid going overboard or under-seasoning your food.
Healthy work-life balance
Happiness lies in striking a balance, be it balancing your doshas or balancing your professional and personal lives. However, more than ever, we often end up focusing on work and neglecting the social and personal aspects of our life. Poor work-life balance leads to poor mental and physical health. Therefore, Ayurveda encourages healthy social interactions to channelise your energy. Doing something you enjoy induces relaxation and allows creativity to flow. Try picking up a hobby or an old recreational activity to create a healthy work-life balance.
HAVE A BEDTIME RITUAL
Ayurveda believes that sleep is just as important as diet. Therefore, one should try to follow the body’s natural clock and go to bed at an early hour. The science of life suggests that a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep is a must to restore and rejuvenate. To facilitate an early sleep cycle, try meditating for a short while to help detox your mind. Creating a relaxing environment also helps to let your mind and body relax after a busy day. Simple things like dimming your lights, listening to calming music, or practicing some soothing asanas can make a huge difference. One can also consider brewing a bedtime tea such as Ratri Chai, a soothing blend of Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Shankhpushpi, and Lemongrass that acts as a natural sedative, soothes muscle cramps, and relieves stress. Another way to rejuvenate the body is to massage your marma points. This can relieve stiff muscles, boost blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, and help relax and rejuvenate. Incorporating these tips into your daily lifestyle can make a huge difference to transform you into your healthy self!
The writer is founder of Butterfly Ayurveda