Heal your mind, body and spirit with Ayurveda

Thought by historians to be one of the oldest healing science, Ayurveda dates back 5000 years ago from Ancient India’s Vedic culture.

Ayurvedic medicine stems from the belief that health is dependent on the balance of the mind, body and spirit. Its practices help the prevention of illness and the maintenance of good health rather than the treating of diseases. According to Ayurvedic medicine every person is made up of the 5 elements: space, air, fire, water and earth. These elements form the three life forces, Vata dosha (space and air), Pita dosha (fire and water) and Kapha dosha (water and earth). It is believed that everyone has a unique combination of these energies, with each dosha controlling different body functions. Emotional and physical stresses such as your diet, emotions, the seasons, the weather, injuries and age can disturb this balance and cause health issues.

It is thought that to maintain health and wellness we need to first understand the different doshas so that we can balance these life forces.

Vata Dosha (space and air)

Believed to be the most powerful energy, Vata controls the basic body functions and is associated with movement like breathing, blinking, muscle movement, blood flow and heart function. Vata can be disrupted by overeating and lack of sleep and causes anxiety, asthma, heart disease, skin problems and rheumatoid arthritis.

Pitta Dosha (fire and water)

Pitta controls digestion, metabolism, hormones linked to appetite and body temperature. Pitta is thrown off balance by spicy and sour food and sun overexposure. When off balance it can result in Chron’s disease, heart disease, high blood pressure and infections.

Kapha Dosha (water and earth)

Kapha governs the body’s structure such as bones, muscles, tendons and the balance of body fluids in the body. It can be disturbed by oversleeping, consuming food and drinks with too much salt and lack of exercise. When out of balance it may cause cancer, diabetes, asthma, nausea after eating, depression and obesity.

 

There are various simple and beneficial Ayurvedic rituals that can be incorporated into your  routine ranging from diet to self-care to hygienic practices. Here are some we recommend you give a try.

Wake up earlier
Sleeping in late is said to be related to feeling dull, blue and lethargic throughout the day.

We recommend trying our Energy Tea, a sweet woody and softly spiced oriental herbal blend, with wonderfully uplifting effects, which will help wake you up and energise your mornings.

Drink more water
Drinking warm water in the morning is recommended to stimulate the digestive system for good organ function.

Start the day with yoga, pranayama and meditation
In Ayureda, yoga is done first to stretch the body and is followed by breathing exercises or pranayama, which stimulates the metabolism and energises the body. Lastly meditation calms and prepares the mind for the day.

Try our Meditation Tea, a combination of basil, gotu kola and yerba mate. It’s a meditative tea tonic that promotes calm wakefulness and clarity to higher consciousness.

 

Oil pulling
Oil pulling is done by swishing oil such as coconut oil to remove bacteria, prevent tooth decay and stop bad breath.

 

Tongue Scraping
In conjunction with oil pulling, tongue scraping or Jihwa Prakshalana is also practiced. Tongue scraping removes toxins and dead cells from the surface of the tongue for good digestion and for a healthy immune system. After tongue scraping, we recommend brushing and then flossing.

 

Eat well
According to Ayureda, 3 well balanced meals a day should be eaten, with the largest meal being at lunch as it is thought digestion is at its peak when the sun is at its highest. This helps to maintain a good digestive system and prevent digestive issues in the future.

 

Take a relaxing bath
A great way to practice self-care is to take a relaxing bath filled with essential oils or bath salts to soothe the mind, body and senses. Taking a bath can reduce stress and lower blood pressure promoting good overall health.

 

Give yourself a massage
Giving yourself a warm oil massage is another wonderful self-care ritual which is not only relaxing but can help tone muscles, reduce muscle stiffness, promote lymphatic drainage, and hydrate the skin.

 

Sleep early
Good night time rituals such as taking a relaxing bath and enjoying a warm oil massage help to relax and get the mind and body ready for bed. Ayurveda states that we should be asleep by 10 pm as the body detoxifies itself between the hours of 10 pm and 2 am.

For a relaxed state of mind and a restful sleep we recommend trying our Restful Tea, with chamomile, lavender and lemon balm for a calm nervous system.