Do you get winter blues symptoms, too, each year? If they star for you, in the fall (as they do for me), then you probably are experiencing them already. I am, too, but to a much lesser degree than usual. I'm using a plethora of tools and techniques - at least, that is how it sometimes seems to me - and one of them is Ayurveda. Are you familiar with it? I first became aware of it many years ago after a stomach virus that took more than two weeks to go away. It started with food poisoning I got from a restaurant, but then never seemed to go away. A friend of mine said she knew someone who could help and I met her in a parking lot one afternoon to see what she could tell me. She took my pulse, examined my tongue, asked me some questions, and then told me to eat lots of hot soups, warm food in general and warm-hot water, even though we were in the heat of summer. I did it and the first day, I began to feel better!! Within a few days, I was completely better. Why didn't I stick with her recommendations, or at least, try to learn more about it? It was one of those "I feel fine now" kinds of things. But years later, another friend mentioned ayurveda, I discovered that my primary dosha is Vata and began to make a few changes. But it wasn't until this year that I decided to try it fully as a solution for winter blues. The good news is that it's working!! I am so grateful for it. Let's take a look at how it might help you, too. Then, if you decide to try it, you can find your own dosha and talk with your healthcare practitioner (unless you're a rebel like me, who jumps on something without asking for medical advice first) about how to incorporate it into your winter blues plan. Before we get to the specific Ayurveda recommendations for winter blues, let's talk terms. What is Ayurveda and what are these doshas I mentioned? What is Ayurveda? Ayurveda is the 5000-year-old traditional science that was designed to bring the body back into balance in order to heal itself from ailment—that in itself is amazing—but underneath that, Ayurveda is so much more, When fully balanced, living a lifestyle in harmony with nature and one's type, stilling the mind with techniques like yoga, breathing and meditation along with proper diet, exercise, and herbal support, as needed, one can set the stage for optimal health and emotional growth. -lifespa.com For Ayurvedic medicine the initial focus is on digestion, because it is believed that 80% of the illnesses we experience begin as digestive imbalances. So finding out your type, or dosha is the first step toward finding out how to create a healthy lifestyle in accordance with it. The dosha is based on your body's physical, emotional and mental tendencies and the recommendations, from what to eat to what time to get up in the morning & go to bed at night, help you keep your dosha in balance. Each of us has all three of the doshas, but there usually will be one that is dominant, and possibly, a second one that has influence. What are the Doshas? Universal life force manifests as three different energies, or doshas, known as vata, pitta, and kapha. We're all made up of a unique combination of these three forces. Though everyone has some of each, most people tend to have an abundance of one or two of the doshas. This unique combination is determined at the moment of conception, and is your own personal blueprint, or prakriti (nature). As they move into and out of balance, the doshas can affect your health, energy level, and general mood. -YogaJournal.com |
Hi, I'm JeanineAuthor, hygge lifestyle blogger & connoisseur of delight writing about how to create a hygge lifestyle, with hearthcraft, comfy capsule wardrobe tips and cozy home decorating ideas. More here.
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