It's February already, the silly season is over and now its time, maybe, to buckle down and get on with 2023. How are your plans and intentions looking for the year ahead? Have you made a wish or a resolution to find yourself somehow 'a better man'? (no pun intended - I mean, to 'become a better human' ;) What's on your radar or fuelling your strategy? I made a resolution to spend less time on twitter (geopolitics is my vice!) and more time meditating, and maybe having a better 'impact' on the little bit of world that's just around me. Much more doable than trying to fix the whole planet.
The world of 'wellness' can seem like a jungle, but its one I've been wandering in for a while now and as I've got to know the treasures and pitfalls within, and fine-tuned my focus, largely through the lens of the holistic framework and ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, that world has transformed into something more like a banquet - a smorgasbord of variety and opportunity. Like with any feast, there's no need to try to go in and eat all of it at once, and some options may not suit your tastes and needs. A little adventure and discernment goes a long way in navigating the wellness world, and the benefits can't be underestimated - to be clear headed and focused, yet relaxed, light-footed, steady and free from unnecessary burden.
These five tips for feeling better are inspired by Ayurveda (or 'mostly common sense natural wisdom'). I've briefly included the how and the why in brief. I could write a whole essay on each one but I tried to keep it simple. Feel free to choose your banquet approach - to 'fill your plate', or just to take a bite from here or there and see what you think and feel. I'd love to hear from you if you have questions or feedback on your experience with these.
These may be things you've heard or, or already do. You might gobble all these up immediately or just stop at the first one - breathing well - and do that for a week or a month and then revisit the rest.
1. BREATHE DEEP
Start your day with a few moments of awareness and before you reach for your phone or jump out of bed, take time to develop a deeper breath. This creates a more relaxed and alert state of being.
Exhale mindfully first. Then breathe in all the way down to your lower lungs. Let your belly expand with the in-breath and gently contract (navel towards the spine) on the out-breath. Then expand the breath 360 degrees into the ribcage for diaphragmatic breathing. Take 5 -20 deep breaths like this anytime, whenever you can, at least once a day.
The lower lungs connect to the parasympathetic nervous system, so deep, expansive breathing is calming, and stress-reducing. Stress is a major contributor to disease, and you're less likely to overindulge if you're more relaxed.
2. DAILY DETOX
Scrape your tongue first thing! Best to use a dedicated tongue scraper, but the edge of a teaspoon works too, Gently scrape off the toxins from the back to the front of the tongue and then rinse it a out. Once you make a routine of scraping your tongue it will be come as essential as brushing your teeth!
Drink plenty of warm water after waking, before any coffee (if you must) and before breakfast. Just plain, fresh, filtered or spring water is perfect, or you can add a little salt and lemon or honey and lemon.
Try Neti - nasal irrigation - to flush out toxins form the nasal passages and cleanse the nadis, or energy lines that balance the nervous system.
Make a habit of detoxing every morning because you'll feel better immediately, and reduce the accumulation of toxins that lead to disease.
3. MOVE YOUR BODY
Go for a walk, run, do intermittent cardio, have a stretch, do yoga, dance, climb, whatever suits - 45 minutes is a nice 'ideal' time-block for reaching full potential, but starting with 15 minutes is great.
If you feel like you're in a rush in the morning, try to fit at least 7 minutes of yoga get your chi moving.
Get this mindful movement in before 10am! The somewhat sedate Ayurvedic dosha of Kapha (water & earth energy) is dominant from 6am to 10 and needs to be counteracted with movement. Midday when heat is highest (pitta) is not ideal for vigorous movement. Early evening is also conducive to movement.
'Move your body' may mean 'exercise' but we don't always have to think of it as 'exercise', which can seem like a chore, but 'moving the body mindfully' is natural and always feels great, not just we its done - limber up, challenge the heart, strengthen and 'flex' your muscles & joints!
4. EAT CLEAN
Eat fresh, local, organic & plant based as far as possible. Also go for warm, nourishing, and naturally colourful.
Eat sitting, not on the run, and without distractions like devices; don't work through lunch
Avoid grazing/consuming little isolated bites of things that confuse the digestion process and disrupt metabolism.
Have your biggest meal when heat (the sun and your digestive fire) is highest.
Replace refined sugars with maple syrup or honey, like in this raw blueberry cheesecake.
5. CULTIVATE MENTAL SUNSHINE
The yoga texts describe the 'heart' as potentially 'hard' like lightning, gold or shellac or potentially 'soft' like butter, honey or nectar. The condition of the 'mind' can be like sunshine to soften any hardness of heart and reveal the soft essence - an essence that is naturally blissful and loving.
So to cultivate a mind or mental state that's like sunshine. Start with being mindful and spending time in nature. Then, with a clearer perspective, practise gratitude, forgiveness and humbleness. Be grateful for life, for both the easy times and the challenges it brings, and for opportunities to grow and be kind. Forgive people who have upset or hurt you, for then they have no power over you, and we also like to be forgiven for things we did wrong. Also remember love is stronger than pride, and love is all we need.
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