Welcome to Winter in Ayurveda
We have now entered Winter Solstice! As you guys know by now, around here we honor the seasons through ritual, and we maintain health by aligning ourselves with Nature and it's rhythms! This is the foundation of Ayurvedic philosophy, healing and disease prevention! Living...in....rhythm....with....Nature!
Winter is when the Earth begins to quiet down, the Earth sleeps in stillness. If you are indeed aiming to live holistically and in tune with Nature, following Winter seasonal practices will require you to pay attention to how your environment shifts and how it influences you...your mental health...and your physical health! This is the beauty of Ayurvedic living! This season's rituals offers time and space for inward reflection, inner silence, and inner inquiry and dialogue. This is a crucial time to pay attention to how you are FEELING!
This season brings an opprotunity for a sacred pause in our own lives to invite stillness and inward reflection. While this sounds like exactly what you need, and probably is, it isn't easy to allow stillness OR reflection! As a matter of fact, if you live a modern lifestyle, you rarely ever do neither. Stillness is replaced with endless scrolling, anxiety when you aren't accomplishing enough and guilt when you do decide to take a break and rest! On one end we deisre and fantatsize stillness and mediation while internally struggling with the need to to feel productive. Let's put an end to that in 2022! I have the perfect offering to help you get started! But FIRST....some Winter Ayurvedic tips for mental health management!
Seasonal Ayurvedic Tips (Winter):
Food: Increase grounding foods to counterbalance the light air and ether elements of winter such as stews, soups, curries, root veggies, cooked greens, grains and legumes. Use warming spices to counterbalance the cold nature of winter such as cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and try to reduce caffeine (to the right is our Lotus water, my coffee alternative which is super grounding as it includes 6 mushrooms, root herbs, adaptogens, digestives, and warming spices. Decrease your consumption of raw vegetables, bitter veggies, cold drinks and smoothies, snacking, grazing and dry fruits.
Yoga, Meditation & Breath: Nourishing yoga is recommended which consists of slow, grounding movements synched with focused slow and deep breathing. Do not overexert yourself, practice in a warm environment and favor twists, inversions and heart openers. Alternate Nostril breathing is good for all seasons, however you can also add humming bee's breath, and Kapalbhati. Candle gazing and Yoga Nidra are the best Winter meditation practices!
Eat or drink ginger before each meal to kindle your digestive fire and increase metabolism. You can eat a small piece about 1/4 tsp of grated ginger, with a pinch of Himalayan sea salt and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice OR simply make ginger root tea with fresh ginger, add a dash of Himalayan and a squeeze of lemon or lime!
Make lunch your main meal, keep breakfast and dinner light! Take short brisk walks after eating, try not to eat right before bed (at least 2 hours) and hold the sweets and ice cream (it slows digestion)! If you absolutely must have either, eat it in the afternoon with your largest meal!
Wear bright colors such as yellows, reds and oranges (or any warm shade in it's brighter versions) to keep the mood uplifted and warming!
Take baths in the morning to start your day vs showers! You may have to get up a little earlier, or create extra space in your morning....which is also the point!
Nourish your skin with DAILY full body oil rub downs. Favor warming and grounding oils such as sesame oil, really slap it on, rub it in, let it sit, and soak! Once out, pad dry and add more if needed. Your skin should be pretty moisturized without the need for commercial lotion. This ritual (called Abhyanga) nourishes the skin, tissues and even lubricates the bones and joints and is also known to protect your Aura! If you are pressed for time, at least massage the scalp and soles of feet with your oil, add essential oils like rose, clove, basil, sweet orange! Please refrain from using coconut oil during the winter for your skin. Sesame is your best bet! Contact me if you are interested in Ayurvedic medicated winter body oils designed specifically for this kind of use.
Meditate DAILY! Even if it's just for 5 minutes. Sorry, no exceptions! Need help with that? Let me know!!! I got you times two!
Ok that about sums it up for GENERAL Winter health and wellness tips! For something more personalized to you and your current health status, just reach out and I'll guide you!
Let's continue shall we!
For those who want to dive deep into this new (but not at all new, actually super old) way of living and preceiving, who are ready NOW to start this Winter season (and new year) on a path to improved mental and physical health...(that's you right?)
...I have designed a unique, customized seasonal self care package with everything you need to get started on this path and with EASE!
Free the mind from the constant internal chatter to invite clarity and reflection, experience your personal silent retreat during a lunar inspired fast, awaken to the experience of just being, nourish yourself with rest, and start the new year on your health and wellness journey! No exceptions this time! This is your sign that IT IS TIME!
This program is 4 weeks long, customized, 1:1 personally guided by me and includes everything you will need + various of our most effective and highly valued services! This can be done both locally and remotely, so don't let distance deter you! Click here for more info on what this package includes and set up your free consultation!
That's not all!!!
If you missed our last podcast episode on From Within, you are missing out BIG TIME!
Check out the soundbite to the right and listen to the full episode here where you can really listen in AND enjoy a complimentary Yoga Nidra meditation devoted to shifting the mind from the season of letting go (Fall) to the season of rest & refleIf you are interested in entering the upcoming giveaway, make sure you are tuning in to the podcast as that is where it will be announced!