Finding a balance between caring for one’s child and practicing self-care can be a challenge. But a less stressed and more relaxed parent is one of the greatest gifts you can aspire to give to your child.
It is inevitable and healthy that we all experience change throughout our lives. The change of seasons and stages of life (ours and our children’s) show how we are innately connected to nature and the quality of impermanence.
Times of change are often accompanied by an increased level of stress.
Ayurveda teaches us that being in tune with the natural rhythm of our life cycles (days, months, seasons and stages of our life) is both grounding during times of change and essential to our well-being, health and longevity. According to Ayurveda, stress management and disease prevention can be achieved and maintained through implementing daily and seasonal rituals that are health promoting, helping us to align with our true nature and the natural world.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that means “the science of life and longevity.” A remarkable holistic medical system, Ayurveda covers all aspects of health and well-being: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Ayurveda also addresses all methods of healing: diet, herbs, exercise and lifestyle routines, yogic practices and meditation.
With its unique understanding of individual constitution, or Dosha, Ayurveda provides the insight for each person to create a way of life in harmony with the world of nature and our higher Self.
Relaxing into Routine
A pillar to health in Ayurvedic science is that of a healthy daily routine. The small habits we perform consistently on a daily basis have an immense cumulative benefit in our life. Ayurvedic daily routines teach us to ride nature’s waves so we can more effortlessly be in the flow of life. Dinacharya (or daily routine) is considered the foundation of health, happiness and spiritual advancement.
The outline below suggests some daily Ayurveda practices. Start slowly, with just a few practices that you trust you can add to your daily routine. You can spend some time resting into this new rhythm until you feel inspired to add to your daily routine. The key is consistency and mastery.
Choose a reasonable practice that you can achieve and feel good about. As you take the time to implement daily practices that are nourishing, you will feel the effect and will be motivated to make more.
A steady routine gives your physiology a healthy rhythm. Regularity in sleeping, waking, eating, meditating and self-care all bring discipline to life and helps to maintain a strong constitution. Overall, the aim is to minimize stress and tend to your highest priorities.
Starting Your Day
• Wake at the same time every day – ideally before the sun or your children rise!
• Before getting out of bed, say a morning prayer or make a projection for your day.
• Go to the bathroom and practice any or all of these daily Ayurvedic cleansing practices: Scrape your tongue (you can get a stainless tongue scraper at most natural food stores or use a spoon). Gently scrape from the back or base of the tongue forward, until you have scraped the whole surface (7-14 strokes).
In addition to removing bacteria from the tongue, scraping sends an indirect message to all the internal organs and simulates digestive enzymes. Brush your teeth and oil your gums (unrefined sesame oil is a good choice).
Clean your nasal passages with a neti pot (also available at health food stores) and oil the inside of your nostrils with nasaya oil, or sesame oil. Clearing and lubricating the nasal passages reduces dryness and keeps tissues less receptive to foreign matter – germs!
• Dry brush and oil massage: Daily light exfoliation through dry brushing can stimulate the skin, eliminate toxins more efficiently and remove dead cells. Start with a dry brush and move it from your feet up the legs and arms brushing towards your heart, using circular motions on your belly and chest and ending with the back.
Then give yourself a warm oil massage. Oil massage improves circulation, calms the mind and reduces stress and anxiety. Use an organic unrefined oil, such as sesame or almond oil. Remember your skin is your largest organ, so what you put on your skin, will be taken directly into your body. Avoid fragrance and chemicals.
• Take a warm (not hot) shower or bath, followed by a cool rinse to stimulate the lymphatic system.
• Practice yoga. If you don’t have a daily practice this is a good place to start. Even 5-10 minutes of yoga a day will have a cumulative effect. If you need guidance on yoga postures or starting a daily practice, look for a local class or buy a DVD. (See Sidebar.)
• End with breath control (Pranyama) and meditation practices. After finishing yoga exercises, sit quietly and do long deep or alternate nostril breathing. End your Pranayama practice with meditation. (See Sidebar.)
• Take a walk in nature every day.
Eating
• Try to eat at the same time every day, eating your largest meal mid-day.
• Serve someone else before you eat –children, pets or the divine through a prayer.
• As much as practical, eat local, organic and in season – following a whole foods-based diet – avoiding refined sugar and processed foods and limiting caffeine.
Preparing for Sleep
• Eat your last meal 2-3 hours before bedtime.
• Enjoy a warm cup of spiced milk (or milk substitute) before bed. Nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom are all nice warming spices to try, adding some raw honey once the milk has cooled slightly.
• Stop the use of electronics in the hours before sleep
• Spend some time reflecting on your day, choosing what you would like to carry over into the next day and what you would like to let go.
• Take time for inspirational reading. This is not the ideal time for bills or news
• Say a prayer of thanksgiving for the day – both for the gifts you received and the challenges that are gifts to be discovered. Gratitude brings better health and well-being.
May you live an inspired life and may your daily practices nourish you and your family.
Jennie Gryczka (Guru Sahai Kaur) is an Ayurvedic Yoga specialist, teaches Kundalini Yoga and Meditation (as taught by Yogi Bhajan), prenatal and postnatal yoga and is a certified doula.
For more information on her practice and offerings, visit www.flourishinglifeyoga.com[1]
For more information on supporting your health through Ayurveda:
“Balance Your Hormones, Balance your Life” by Dr. Claudia Welch, www.drclaudiawelch.com[2]
“The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies” by Vasant Lad, www.ayurveda.com[3]
For more information on Kundalini Yoga and Meditation:
“The Kundalini Yoga Experience” by Dharam Singh Khalsa and Darryl O’Keefe
“Art & Yoga Kundalini Awakening in Everyday Life” by Hari Kirin Kaur Khals
References
- ^ www.flourishinglifeyoga.com (www.flourishinglifeyoga.com)
- ^ www.drclaudiawelch.com (www.drclaudiawelch.com)
- ^ www.ayurveda.com (www.ayurveda.com)
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