Ayurvedic Principles to Help You on Your Healing Journey
I love sharing Ayurveda and helping others deepen their understanding and practice of Ayurveda.
These Ayurvedic principles may be useful to you in your personal process of self-study and self-discovery.
If you would like to book a consultation for more direction about deepening your understanding of yourself and how Ayurveda can help you, you can do so here.
DAILY RITUALS FOR HEALING
Ayurveda encourages daily practices to support our journey. I have found these Ayurvedic principles have been more powerful than anything else at getting me on my mat every morning for my yoga practice. The daily rituals are designed to clean the senses every morning upon rising. They include daily self-massage with oil for the skin; netti wash and nasya for the nose; spraying rose water in the eyes; warm sesame oil in the ears; tongue scraping and oil pulling for the mouth. See how these Ayurvedic principles can help you.
SELF-MASSAGE WITH WARM OIL--ABHYANGA
Abhyanga, regular oil massage will remove excess fat from the skin, make the skin glossy and soft and strengthen the skin while protecting the skin from disease. This important Ayurvedic principle improves immunity and stimulates the lymph system to aid in waste removal. Oil massage can begin to release repressed emotions especially when massaged in the opposite direction of the lay of the hair. Crystals of unresolved emotions become de-crystalized and dissolve with regular self-massage.
RECIPES FOR HEALING
Ayurveda does not offer one cookie-cutter diet for everyone nor does it offer a diet of deprivation. It encourages us all to find the foods that best serve our bodies, depending on one's constitution (or doshas), the season, the time of day, and any current imbalances that one may be experiencing. An Ayurvedic principle tells us that the most important factor for digestion and nourishment isn’t what we eat, or when we eat, but how we eat. Always try to eat in a relaxed environment, enjoying every single bite. Eat only if you are hungry. Enjoy these recipes, a compilation of traditional Ayurvedic recipes, and some of my creations.
SLEEP ROUTINE
Sleep is one of the pillars of Ayurveda which promotes good overall health. Good sleep can make a huge difference in the stability of emotions and the health and strength of the nervous system. If you experience difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or light, interrupted sleep, try these Ayurvedic sleep routine suggestions. Good sleep is an important Ayurvedic principle.
EXPLANATION OF DOSHAS
Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are the three doshas that make up an individual's constitution making each person unique. These Ayurvedic principles of doshas also control the body's functions. They often go out of balance, creating problems for us. Check out this explanation of the doshas to learn more about these Ayurvedic principles.
FINDING BALANCE WITH THE 20 QUALITIES
Āyurveda utilizes a concept of the 20 Qualities (10 pairs of opposites) in order to find daily balance in one's life. One simple example is if one is feeling cold, apply warmth through foods, spices, environment and activities. Learning this Ayurvedic principle of 20 qualities is an easy way to access Ayurveda.
KITCHARI CLEANSE
Doing a simple 3-Day Kitchari Cleanse is an Ayurvedic principle that can help to clear toxins from the system creating health and well-being. Unplug from the world, eat simple food (kitchari), and rest. This practice is especially beneficial between seasons or whenever you need to reset your body and digestion.
BREATHWORK
Utilizing the Breath is a powerful way to shift both the body and the mind. Try these simple yogic breathwork practices on your own.
Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra or "Yogic Sleep" is a meditation technique that helps to transform the mind and body. Explore these Yoga Nidra recordings.
Consider booking a consultation to learn more about how these practices can help you.
Guest House
This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.