Green, Solar & Wind Power

Back to the Basics
Four recommendations from the time-tested healing science of ayurveda
to stay well in 2004

Taking control of your own well-being can be daunting at first. It
takes time, commitment and energy to stay well, especially when the
definition of `well' is not just `the state of being disease-free'
but `the state of being totally healthy in mind and body.' Too often,
we reserve the bulk of our time, commitment and energy for making
money, or having fun, or even just surviving, and the result is that
well-being is relegated to going for the annual physical or popping a
daily multivitamin. Ayurveda, the ancient healing tradition from
India, encourages you to make time everyday for your well-being, and
reap the rewards of total health for life. Many ayurvedic
recommendations appear basic, simple, just `common sense,' but after
reading this article, sit back and analyze how frequently these basic
wellness needs are bypassed on a daily basis in the crush of day-to-
day living, and you'll realize that it's truly time to go back to the
basics to stay well.

Eat fresh whole foods, and cook your own meals
Ayurvedic healers down the centuries would have nodded in approval if
they had heard Hippocrates' advice to "let food be thy medicine."
According to the ayurvedic texts, if your diet and eating habits are
unwholesome, all the medicines in the world won't be able to keep you
well; and if your diet and eating habits are wholesome, it's quite
likely you'll never need any medicine to keep you well. These texts
were written in another age, but there are choices that we can make
even in today's fast-paced world to eat well. Choosing fresh over
canned, whole over processed or refined, and organic or natural over
foods containing additives or chemical preservatives whenever you can
are good ways to get back to the basics of eating well.

Here are some suggestions to make it easier to eat well:
Time-saving kitchenware such as a pressure cooker to cook lentils or
a slow-cooker to cook wholesome one-dish meals from scratch can make
the process of cooking your own meals easier.
Involve the whole family in the task of preparing fresh meals: when
everyone contributes to the meal, your time and effort are reduced,
and mealtimes become the more companionable because of the joint
effort.
Browse magazines for healthy recipes utilizing fresh whole
ingredients that can be made in 30 minutes or less.
Keep a diary of the number of times you routinely eat out or eat
bought meals, and then slowly start whittling down that number until
you're mainly eating meals you've made with fresh ingredients that
are best for you.

Practice mindful eating
Your digestive system converts the food you eat into the nutritive
essence your body uses to build healthy blood, cells and tissues. A
wholesome, balanced diet suited to your unique nutritional needs is
the first step towards good health. But equally important is a
digestive system that works smoothly and efficiently. Only when the
nutrients you feed your physiology are fully digested, absorbed and
utilized is the process of nutrition complete.

Here are some ayurvedic tips to help your digestive system turn in a
stellar performance after every meal:
Eat your most substantial meal around mid-day. That's when your
digestive `fire' peaks. Eat smaller meals at breakfast and dinner.
Sit down to eat every meal, and try to maintain your attention on
your food while you eat.
Do not eat when you are angry, stressed or upset.
Offer thanks before you begin a meal.
Do not drink too much water with a meal, and avoid iced beverages
because they douse the digestive fire. Do not combine milk with salty
or sour tastes.
Add digestion-enhancing herbs and spices to dishes.
Try not to work or watch TV while you eat.
Exercise in moderation every morning.
Drink lots of water through the day.
Ayurvedic digestion toners such as Amalaki (Indian Gooseberry) and
Triphala can help kick-start a sluggish or irregular digestive system.

Get enough quality sleep
Sleep is when your physiology recharges for the next day. Both
quantity and quality of sleep are important. Rather than go by a one-
size-fits-all `eight hours a night' rule, tune in to your physiology
for a few days to figure out what you, as a unique individual, need
to wake up rested, refreshed and ready to dive into what the new day
offers. Ayurvedic healers recommend retiring early and rising early
to stay in tune with what Nature intended for human beings as
activity and rest timesùsleep obtained in the later part of the night
or during the day is often less productive in terms of replenishing
the mind and body.

Woo restful sleep with these tips:
Banish the TV, the computer and work-related material from the
bedroom. When you enter your bedroom, your mind should be getting
ready to wind down, not get stimulated.
An hour before you go to bed, diffuse a soothing aroma in your
bedroom. Lavender has been shown to be helpful in lulling the mind
and body into sleep.
Make sure your bedroom is neither too warm nor too cool.
Keep your bedroom quiet and dark. Choose cool soothing colors for
bedroom dÚcor.
Wear loose comfortable clothing.
Stay active during the day and avoid daytime naps.
Eat light at night, and make sure you're done with your last meal of
the day at least two hours before you retire. Warm milk makes a
soothing bedtime beverage.
When you get into bed, lie on your back with your legs stretched out
and your arms straight and loose, and practice deep breathing for a
few minutes.
Jatamansi and poppy seeds are traditional ayurvedic sleep aids that
are gentle and non-habit-forming.

Manage stress
Stress cannot be banished from our lives completely, and some stress
is actually good for us. But too much stress, or stress that stays
around for extended periods of time, eventually depletes the
physiology. Stress in excess creates free radicals in the body, and
leads to disease as well as early aging. And it's not just the big
traumas that create harmful levels of stress in the physiology,
little things that happen everyday, like that spat with a co-worker,
worrying about your credit card bill or piled-up chores that make you
feel overloaded, can create chronic stress. Managing stress is,
therefore, crucial to stay well.

Try these ayurvedic suggestions for managing stress:
A daily self-massage is replenishing and relaxing. Choose a massage
oil that is suited to your constitution. Although sesame oil is the
traditional recommendation, almond, coconut, olive or jojoba are
alternatives to consider. For best results, perform the massage in
the morning, before your shower or bath.
Meditate for about thirty minutes everyday. The ayurvedic herb Brahmi
helps enhance the results from meditation by supporting mind-body-
spirit coordination.
Set some time aside in each day for a relaxing activity, whether it's
listening to uplifting music or taking a stroll along the seashore.
Even fifteen minutes can help recharge a tired mind and body.
Cultivate the pleasant company of nurturing people to recharge your
mind and emotions.
Diffuse relaxing aromas in your work area or homeùrose, jasmine,
lavender, sweet orange or ylang ylang balance the mind, senses and
emotions.
Exercise everyday, in moderation. The best time to exercise according
to ayurveda is in the early morning.

Note: This material is educational, and is not intended to diagnose,
treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical concern,
please consult your physician.


Copyright AyurBalance, Inc. 2003

About the Author:
Shreelata Suresh is a yoga instructor and writer from the Bay Area.
She writes for various publications on yoga and ayurveda. For more
articles on ayurveda, to buy premier ayurvedic products or to
subscribe to free e-newsletters, please visit
http://www.ayurbalance.com.

Green Generators

Eco Friendly Power, wind up radio, wind up torch, solar powered torch, solar powered radio, powersafer, power safer

[ Comment, Edit or Article Submission ]