An Ayurvedic Path To Calm

The Ayurvedic Path to Calm is a simple but powerful one. It requires that the seeker be dedicated to their needs and in tune with their body. Our emotions can affect our bodies and become physical imbalances if we let them go untreated. Below are six practices that will help you attain the level of calm that you are seeking.

Sleep

A restful sleep is vital to the body and sleeping 7-8 hours each night is just as important. According to the National Sleep Foundation “Researchers have also shown that after people sleep, they tend to retain information and perform better on memory tasks. Our bodies all require long periods of sleep in order to restore and rejuvenate, to grow muscle, repair tissue, and synthesize hormones.” It is beneficial for the body to wake early, before the sun. During this time of the morning nature is becoming more lively which can awaken your senses and peace of mind. Together with a restful sleep you may wake feeling better already.

Walk Outdoors

Take a walk outside while the sun is rising. This exercise will help to awaken the body and the inside you. Awakening the becomes a cathartic experience as it helps to burn emotions that have been building inside. While walking, listen to the birds, the rustle of the leaves, the sound of the wind as it blows past your collar. Enjoy the moment that you’ve taken for yourself. Exercise releases endorphins in the body which trigger a positive feeling. Taking a walk outdoors is bound to leave you feeling calm and happy.

Daily Elimination

Eliminations are integral to the bodies daily functions. Constipation can leave you with headaches, low mood, fatigue and intestinal dysfunction. If your elimination is blocked, begin your day with a warm glass of water and two ripe yellow bananas. Before bed you can combine 2 teaspoons of ghee in a cup of milk. This recipe makes for a gentle laxative and is especially good for Vata and Pitta types.

Meditation

Meditation is a quieting of the mind. Our minds can be so busy that we don’t give them the chance to breathe. Your meditation practice doesn’t have to start at an intimidating half hour, a simple five minutes a day of gazing softly into the distance and allowing your mind to empty while you focus on the breath is enough. Set a timer to begin. You’d be surprised at how fast five minutes can go.

Yoga

Yoga stretching is recommended for all body types: Kapha, Vata and Pitta. Yoga helps the blood to circulate, encourages balance, allows the muscles to stretch to their fullest and connects the mind, to the body, to the breath. Yoga allows , the universal life force, to flow freely through the body.

Abhyanga (warm oil massage)

Give yourself a daily warm oil massage (abhyanga) using large amounts of oil. Abhyanga increases circulation, lubricates the joints, stimulates the internal organs of the body and calms the nerves. You should massage your body with love and generosity for at least 10 minutes a day. The following oils are best for abhyanga: Jojoba, Almond, Coconut, and Safflower.

Eat Balanced

Eat organic, eat unprocessed, eat natural. These types of foods are easy to digest, create balance in the body and bring you closer to nature. Proper nourishment plays a vital role in your health and healing while poor nourishment can significantly impact your body’s natural functions and in turn make you feel less calm. The Ayurvedic Tradition offers insight into what foods will create harmony with each individual Dosha. Some foods, for instance ketchup, may be okay for Vata Dosha to consume but are best avoided by Pitta Dosha.

Spring Clean Your Body With Ayurveda!

When the Spring season comes around, the liver can become congested with fat as the begins its own natural detoxification cycle. In order to assist the body we can aid in the purge of fat soluble toxins, flush bile and encourage weight loss in the process. The following list of foods is a great resource for you to complete your own detoxification regimen in the comfort of your own home. Try adding these foods to your diet for at least 5 days and take note of the difference in your body. Good luck and Happy Spring Cleaning!

To Drink

Drink plenty of Warm Water or CCF Tea through out the day. This will help to flush toxins out of the body through your urine.

Eat Ama-Reducing Foods

Ama are toxins that build up in the body due to an improper lifestyle or diet. Too much Ama provides a fertile breeding ground for disease. The foods listed below will help to reduce the Ama building in your body.

• Fruits – Grapefruit, Lemon

• Vegetables – Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Radish, Daikon Radish

• Beans – Green Beans, Chickpeas, Black Beans, Pinto Beans, Lentils, Navy Beans

• Bitter Greens – Kale, Chard, Collards, Sprouts, Asparagus, Arugula, Dandelion, Fresh Parsley, Fresh Tarragon

• Grains – Quinoa, Barley, Millet

• Protein – Pumpkin Seeds, Fish, Poultry

• Spices – Turmeric, Fresh Ginger, Raw Chopped Scallions

• Oils – Uncooked Olive Oil

Foods to Eliminate

• Refined sugar and flour products

• Canned, leftover, processed, and microwaved foods

• Fermented foods, including pickles and vinegar

• Fried foods

• Alcohol

• Caffeine

Body Defrost - A Spring Ayurveda Story

March can be a frustrating month. You're expecting your first trip out to the park or beach and your local weather man may unexpectedly inform you that you are in for the Nor'easter of the Century! March's weather is unpredictable. Here in the US, we can attribute this to the March Jet Stream which is powerful this time of year because of the temperature difference between the moist air in Gulf of Mexico and the arctic air coming from Canada.

But what does it all mean for your body?

Do you feel that drip in the back of your throat? That itch that won't go away? Are your sinuses beginning to ooze with phlegm? Are you feeling weak or tired? Is that dreaded sinus pressure back and you want to hide your head in under a pillow? You can thank March and her ever changing weather.

Don’t fret. The Ayurvedic tradition has been around for 5,000 years and while India may not have Nor’easters they do have a remedy for that itch in the back of your throat. The following items are meant to ease your body’s spring defrost.

• Eat freshly-prepared, easily digestible warm foods such as soups. These should contain mostly fruits and vegetables which are full of the nutrients necessary to bring the body back to balance.

• Continuously drink warm water throughout the day. Your warm water can be prepared with cinnamon or black pepper. Alternatively, you can drink water with fresh ginger, fresh lemon and Himalayan Sea Salt.

• Avoid foods that are high in sugar or fat: milk, sugar, coffee, white flower, refined fast food, carbonated soft drinks, and chocolate. These foods will only add to an excess of Kapha in the body, making you feel more sluggish.

• Gargle a mixture of: ½ tsp of Turmeric and ½ tsp of mineral salt in a cup of warm water. This will sooth the throat and encourage healing od the tissues.

• To reduce congestion: crush 4-5 garlic buds and inhale or inhale a balm of menthol.

• Boil 1 gallon of water and add 5 drops of clove oil, 12 crushed mint leaves, and 5 drops of eucalyptus oil. Inhale the steam for 10-15 minutes. Continue this twice a day until congestion clears and then once a day to clear the phlegm that is deposited in the sinuses.

• Nasya Oil therapy is a great way to assist the body of ridding excess fluids that accumulate in the sinus, throat, nose and head area. An herbal infused oil is administered into the nasal passage while the head is tilted back. This treatment can be conducted in home or by an Ayurvedic Practitioner.

Now go out and practice some Pranayama. Rid yourself of that ama that’s been building up all winter. Welcome Spring.