Everyone knows about Ayurveda these days and no wonder – this ancient holistic healing system from India has been doing wonders for people for thousands of years. We are talking about all levels of health from diet and exercise to skincare and various types of massage. Ayurveda focuses on a balanced approach that involves all spheres of your life. It is based on the notion that each human being has three types of energies (called doshas), which are present in different proportions, defining a person’s build, constitution, and even character. If you don’t want to go deep into the whole thing just yet, here are a few easy Ayurvedic habits that will help you look and feel great 24/7.
Takecare of your digestion first
Ayurveda makes great emphasis on yourdigestive fire – the very force that keeps your digestion going. You might havenoticed that certain foods are easy in your stomach, while others make dull andsluggish because too much energy is spent on digesting them. Different foodsare good for different types of people, but there are general tips you canfollow to help your body cope with whatever you eat. First of all, use warmingspices like pepper, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon. Fresh juices also help,especially those of lime and lemon. A mix of honey, ginger, and lime juice is apowerful digestion booster you can take bore the meal
Drinklukewarm water
A refreshing drink of cold water may seem agood idea in a hot summer day, but it really does nothing good for your bodyand that digestive fire we were talking about earlier. This internal fire isalso responsible for your metabolism, absorption of nutrients, and your body’sability to flush out toxins. Cold water might feel refreshing, but it dims thedigestive fire, making you feel dull and sluggish if you consume it in the middleof the meal. There’s a general rule that it’s better to drink water twentyminutes before or after the meal, not to mess with your digestive juices. Bestto drink room temperature or lukewarm water as it is easy on your body and youcan drink more of it, which is really important for your health and good looks.
Changeskincare routine with the seasons
According to Ayurveda human beings aredeeply rooted in their environment and are influenced by the surroundings. Ourmetabolism and even the secretion of hormones is connected to the worldoutside. This means that our physiological processes change greatly as theseasons around us change from cold to warm, and back. All this reflects on yourskin, which means your skincare routine needs to be adjusted every few months.During summers you need to moisturize your skin with ingredients likesandalwood, rose water, and aloe. Autumns are all about protecting your skinfrom both heat and cold, while winters demand some extra exfoliation. The general rule is to drink as much water asyou can and avoid taking hot showers that dry your skin.
Createa dry brushing and oil massage routine
Dry brushing is something you might befamiliar with if you exfoliate your body’s skin on a regular basis. This is atruly magical procedure as it does two things: rejuvenates your skin anddetoxes your lymphatic system. You blood flow also improves greatly. It’simportant to use a dry brush made of organic material and follow the wholeprocedure with gentle oil self-massage. Both these practices are among the mostancient in Ayurveda and should be done at least once a week! Use citrus orcinnamon oil to boost blood circulation and patchouli to improve fluidretention. It will also help you relax both on physical and mental levels.
Practiceyoga regularly
Yoga is an incredible practice that willbalance your mind and body, bringing you to a quiet and peaceful place. Itcentres you within your own body, quiets your mind, and cleanses it from allthe daily noise. And you get more fit while doing all that! Yoga asanas (poses)bring your focus from sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for thefight-or-flight-response, to the parasympathetic nervous system, which allowsyour body to heal on the cellular level and your mind to get rid of stress andimpurities you’ve gathered during the day/week/year.
Eatwarming foods
Although each constitution type has its own diet there are some foods that are generally good for you as they are easily digested and give you an energy boost. Such is the case with warming foods that are really easy on your stomach. They also keep you satiated for a longer period of time, which results in you eating less food as a whole. Smooth, oily, warm foods balance out excess dryness and improve digestion along with foods like avocado, whole milk, berries, coconut.
