Ayurvedic Principles to Help You on Your Healing Journey

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.