A Little Ayurveda Can Do You Wonders

Ayurveda is like a silent creeper which has entrenched itself in our daily routines unobtrusively without much fuss. Are you a fan of Meditation and Yoga as stress-busters in the hectic and chaotic lives we lead? Ayurveda lists these as part of a daily routine! Why add adaptogens to smoothies and coffees? Since centuries, Ayurvedic specialists have been using substances (namely plant extracts) that help the body adapt to stress. While less-famous Ayurvedic practices like dry brushing and colonics are now gaining ground, the complexities of Ayurveda must be factored in. In Sanskrit, ayur means life, and veda, means knowledge

Without a single well-defined trend, Ayurveda comprises myriads of inter-twined health-related practices tested over centuries.  There are 3 main diets each tailored to your dominant dosha; if you’re tri-doshic or have 2 dominant doshas, your diets change.  Thoroughly confused? We are yet to define the doshas as the 3 kinds of energy vata, pitta & kapha which determine the unique mind-body constitution guiding your energy levels, nutrition, and physical activity.

Everybody yearns for a simple life but Ayurveda actually is a complex, multifaceted science of life defining the mind-body connection to find the optimal individual balance. While practitioners spend entire lives to master Ayurveda, you could strive for absolute harmony and balance in daily life with a few practical tips:

Inculcate Healing Herbs into Your Diet

Down with a splitting headache, menstrual cramp or hangover? You could pop some over-the-counter tablets but Ayurveda depends solely on Mother Earth as turmeric paste reduces headaches, flaxseeds ease cramps, and ginger is great for hangovers. Foods and herbs provide relief, no matter what the symptoms are and science is definitely on our side when we say this. While tonics and energy drinks may be ineffective, foods and herbs are powerful healers without paying hefty fees to doctors.

Learn to Avoid Triggers

To find out your ruling dosha, you can take this simple test. Those who have pitta as their dominant dosha are advised to avoid actual heat, as on a hot sunny day, and even heat-inducing food, like hot sauces and chillies. Heat aggravates pitta while excessive heat causes impatience, irritability, jealousy, and other undesirable traits.

Irrespective of your dosha, certain foods render you as unbalanced. Raw foods leave you bloated? Coffee triggers anxiety? Freezing rooms fog your brain? As a test, maintain a weekly journal of your surroundings and food intake to analyse recognisable patterns. It’s incredible to learn the degree of actual control we exercise over our life.

Conserve your Energy

Ayurveda says that doshas rule everything, which includes every little detail about your day. Have you ever slept in but still feel sluggish when you wake up? According to Ayurveda, waking up post 6 a.m. will make you lethargic due to kapha or the energy of water and earth, which dominates from 6 to 10 a.m. Vata rules from 2 to 6 p.m., and is composed of air and space, thus making it transitional and light as the best time for some creativity. The heat dosha or Pitta, from 10 a.m to 2 p.m., is said to be the optimal time for getting your productivity soaring.

As per Ayurveda norms, following dosha hours is not a realistic option besides being confusing. But how about hitting the bed before 10 ‘o’ clock in the night for at least a week and even waking up at or before 6 a.m.? If the night owls are unable to stick to this schedule, how about trying to stick to a routine that gradually and consistently helps you feel good, i. e. vibrant and energised. The dreaded afternoon slump isn’t an invention of a fertile mind. And as per Ayurveda, it can be mindfully avoided.

Develop Daily Rituals

A traditional morning following Ayurveda consists of waking up early, oil pulling, scraping the tongue, a self-massage, periods of meditation, some yoga, and many other tasks that could threaten to delay reaching work on time. The fact remains that those following Ayurvedic practices do follow their daily routines religiously. So, it is not unheard of.

Arguments about the one “true” way persist among experts and practitioners who adapt rituals to suit their demands and needs. A greasy oil massage may not be ideal but how about sticking to the 7 ‘o’ clock workout and a smoothie for post-workout energization for 10 days? What about meditation and a cup of tea before leaving the house? Rituals work despite how boring or monotonous they are. So, why not try it?

Ayurveda practices could possibly leave you totally confused, bewildered or perplexed but it has set down deep roots and has a huge following who are aware of the medicinal values garnered over centuries of practices and observations and the science behind it. Ayurveda is over 5,000 years old and is bound to continue to have followers for years on end.