How to include Ayurveda into your lifestyle for optimum wellbeing.
What I love about Ayurveda is its very practical connection with the natural world for wellbeing and vitality.
It starts with the understanding that the elements of air, fire, water, earth and ether form the basic material constituents for everything in the cosmos including the human being. By elements we refer to clusters of qualities that are present in all and inform chemical reactions and energy fields that make up the world we live in and how we operate and react to our environment. This also means that the whole influences the individual. The micro is linked to the macro. The seasons of the year and our lives intelligently indicate the best choices to make daily for diet and lifestyle. The rhythms of the day and life cycles shape our energy levels, and body responses to nutrition, exercise and so much more.
So what can you do this time of year to use Ayurvedic principles for optimum wellbeing:
1) Focus on warm meals, one pot dishes, soups and stews using the slow cooker. Eating from a big bowl of mostly plant based ingredients has a really satisfying effect on those darker autumn/winter days.
2) Use warming ingredients, heating spice and foods that are known in Ayurveda for their heating qualities on ingestion & digestion such as pepper, cumin, basil, salt, cinnamon, oats, a dash of cayenne, most oils (not coconut!), honey, yoghurt and meats (in moderation), quinoa.
3) Avoid raw foods and limit cooling foods. Meals are best eaten warm to support your digestive fire & metabolism overall this time of year. Also eat less of those ingredients that have cooling or drying qualities like mint, dill, raw fruits, ice cream (I’m having a battle at home with that one!), salads, cucumbers etc (refer to a good Ayurvedic food table).
4) Eat your biggest meal at lunch time. Start the day with a nourishing, substantial breakfast followed by your main meal at lunch time when your digestive power is at its highest and you need the energy. In the evening keep it light, again with a soup or light warm meal. Cereals can be called on again.
5) Add strengthening foods. It’s a good time to add a spoonful of Chywanaprash to your breakfast, which is full of vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients. Pure raw honey is a good support too. A spoon of elderberry syrup a day. Adding an adaptogen like Ashwaghanda in your diet will also support your nervous system at this much needed seasonal transition.
Ayurveda aims to balance and bring you back to your highest functioning healthy body and mind. It seeks harmony to do that so think like-attract-like and opposite balance each other when making any decisions that impact your wellness and happiness. It's easy and simple but we often forget driven as we are by dramatic displays of efforts.
If you are interested to find out what your Dosha is, your body-mind type in Ayurveda to make lifestyle decisions that are educated and specifically suited to your optimum wellbeing, get in touch here AnneSchouvey.com
Stay safe and well, selfcare is non-negotiable!
Thoughts by:
Anne Schouvey