Ayurveda is a great way of life and healing regimen of rinker uf that has been used for thousands of years by people all over the world. This ancient Indian healing system has since been brought to mainstream popularity and is now practiced in countries including America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Kenya, Australia and India. But if you’ve ever tried this ancient lifestyle or health approach before, you know it can be quite a challenging one to get through.
1. Detox Your Life
Dieting is often thought of as the hardest part when it comes to Ayurveda. The truth of the matter is that we need to detox our lives everyday just like we do when we eat cleansing foods or take cleansing supplements. You see, it’s natural for your body to cleanse itself through internal and external means as long as you are drinking lots of fluids and moving your body with regular activity. It’s also worth noting that most people who practice
Ayurveda have diets that resemble what would be considered “clean” living by today’s standards.
2. Eat To Live, Not Live To Eat
When you live life with a more spiritual motivation, you might find eating to be easier. The point is to not eat out of stress, boredom or as a means of dealing with emotions. In Ayurveda, we try not to eat heavy foods in the evening and avoid sweets completely if possible. Instead, it’s recommended that you have lighter foods like salads and soups during the evenings. If you need something sweet in the evening because it’s your “happy hour” or whatever reason, then go ahead and have a little bit of raw honey on its own or perhaps some fruit juice that isn’t packed with added sugars.
3. Move Your Body
Another keystone of the Ayurveda lifestyle is movement. But it’s not just any type of movement. It’s highly recommended that you do some sort of meditation, yoga or stretching throughout the day. If you have time, try to do more vigorous exercise in the mornings or evenings instead. Taking a walk outside and breathing deeply is a great way to clear your mind and reset yourself for the day ahead. Even if you don’t have time, it’s important that you at least get up from your chair every hour or so and stretch to get the blood circulating through your body in order to refresh yourself throughout the day rather than becoming stagnant in one location.
4. Antioxidants Defrag Your Body
The fact of the matter is that we all have toxins that are stored in our bodies and we must detoxify them. Ayurveda suggests drinking green tea or taking a herbal supplement from time to time in order to promote healthy detoxification and rejuvenation. So, keep yourself well hydrated throughout the day and drink lots of healthy water with no added sweeteners or flavors. If you can’t get enough water, then go ahead and add some fresh vegetables for a change in texture!
5. Sharpen Your Digestion
Ayurveda recommends that you eat small portions of food throughout the day rather than large amounts of solid food at one time. This is in order to help with digestive issues and makes the process of eating more pleasant for the body. If you take a few minutes to meditate before eating meals, this will also help your digestive tract process food better.
6. Use Spices, Not Salt
Some spices in your food can make a big difference when it comes to digestion and proper assimilation. Ayurvedic cooking uses lots of fresh herbs, quality spices and oftentimes fermented cod liver oil for healthy fats as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables. Try adding these antioxidant rich foods into your daily diet for better digestion and overall health benefits.
7. Get Enough Rest
According to some Ayurvedic texts, you need to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. This not only helps your body repair and replenish itself, but it also helps with promoting restful sleep which is the main key when dealing with ailments. If you’re having trouble sleeping and can’t seem to catch up on your sleep debt, then consider taking quality B vitamins or melatonin supplements. These can help to promote natural production of sleep inducing hormones that might otherwise be suppressed by stressful or anxious thoughts and feelings.
8. Be Happy
Ayurveda teaches that happiness is a natural byproduct of living a healthy life through sound eating habits and positive thinking. Happiness is not something that we can force ourselves to feel at the expense of our health. So take some time out of each day to just relax and be happy with whatever is happening in your life. Perhaps you’re spending time with your family, working on a hobby or doing work that is meaningful to you… These are things that make us happy even if they don’t necessarily involve spending money or going anywhere outside of our own homes.
