Ayurvedic Holiday Care & Tune-up
Relax!!! The festival season is here, and it is a time of celebrating, enjoying, sharing, greeting and uniting! Unfortunately, before we allow ourselves to celebrate, we tend to get extremely stressed with all the shopping, planning, organizing and attending.
Ayurveda does not merely speak about health and disease, but also serves as a guide to well-being, and this is the Essence of Life.
So what is well-being? And how can we attain ours in a hectic yuletide season???
Well-being is a state of balance in which our body, mind, emotions and senses are functioning clearly and optimally.
Ayurveda recognizes four major factors that primarily affect our well-being. In this month’s featured article, we will look at the psycho-emotional factor. This includes psycho-emotions such as greed, falsehood, fear, guilt and sorrow. Unfortunately, this state of mind and emotional influence are increasingly common in today’s society, even during what is supposed to be a time of cheer.
So it is essential that we counteract these psycho-emotions that lead to ill-health, with positive and balancing thoughts and feelings of caring, compassion, enthusiasm, tenderness VITALITY and JOY!
According to Ayurveda, we interact through RELATIONSHIP, and by reflecting upon, and nurturing our relationships, we can begin to find the well-being in our own selves!
Relationship is defined by our connection to and integration with nature, the environment, food, people, and our own Self. In this festive season we are presented with many beautiful opportunities to cultivate these relationships in our lives, thus counteracting the unbalancing effects of a negative state of mind and emotions.
Ayurvedic Medicine addresses all aspects of life and living, it encourages us to develop a healthy relationship with our inner and outer SELF. Let’s look into a few tips and guidelines that will help us all stay healthy and happy through this holiday season.
STAY IN THE PRESENT MOMENT.
As the year comes to an end, it is common to fall into the trap of constantly worrying about the future and what the new year will bring. Fear can be counteracted with a regimen of daily care such as consuming timely balanced meals, maintaining a regular sleeping and waking time and most importantly, a practice of meditation.
If one is unable to practice meditation, you can hold positive thoughts and practice appreciating the wondrous moments of life.
Alternatively you may practice standing in the yoga posture, Tadasana (Mountain Pose) and gently closing your eyes, focusing on your feet and their connection with the earth, can help to ground you when anxiety of the future takes flight.
RECONNECT WITH NATURE
First and foremost connect to your inner nature. And that is being aware of who you are and your higher purpose. One of the best ways that Ayurveda recommends is calming and integrating your senses. Any overstimulation of your five senses; sounds-touch-sight-taste and smell can take you away from our own-self.
Outer nature (trees, plant, lake, sea, animals, rocks, soil/clay, sky sun, moon and the entire abundance of creation) helps us keep our senses integrated. Simple activities such as taking a walk by yourself or with a loved one in the fresh winter air or winding down your windows while driving even if it’s for a moment, to inhale the outside Prana. Observe the phases of moon, look at the sky and enjoy the warmth of sun. Whenever you can, in whatever little way find a way to be in nature, appreciate the season and the changes that it brings.
SPEND WITHIN YOUR MEANS
Acknowledge your state of being and bring awareness to your resources. We all are provided with wealth in different ways and are all equal, regardless of material wealth. And we ALL have something valuable to give!!! Maybe you can’t afford to buy a lot of expensive presents but you can show someone your appreciation by cooking a meal, having a potluck with dear ones, writing words of love on a card, offering prayers or giving advice. Whatever it is for you, fulfill it completely and with compassion and intelligence.
LEND AND RECEIVE A HELPING HAND
When we give we receive so much more. Generate good karma by taking a little time to reach out to the needy or those that are less fortunate. This does not even have to be in terms of sharing material wealth. You can brighten someone’s day with a smile, you can lend a helping hand to anyone that can use it, and this does not cost a cent! Gracefully learn the art of receiving. This gives so much joy to the giver. It’s karma of flow and wellness can be sought through the process of sharing, giving and receiving.
PRACTICE FORGIVING AND LETTING GO
We tend to hold on to memories, experiences and feelings and more so to the negatives. The similar festive setups and peoples can at times stir back memories, experiences and feelings causing us sadness, resentment and complaints. Gently remind yourself of your strengths, love and compassion. Bringing your awareness to your breath will help you relax and stay in balance. The art of forgiveness is the best gift you can give yourself.
Contributor: Ismat Nathani
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