In Sanskrit Ayurveda means "the science of life" and was developed 5000 years ago in India and is considered the "mother of all healing". It's part of ancient vedic knowledge which includes meditation and yoga to live a healthy balanced life. During the pandemic I enrolled in a 12 hour course to understand the basics of Ayurveda and how we can use this knowledge to live in optimal health and wellness. To understand Ayurveda it's important to know which "dosha" your body type is. Your dosha is the type of energy that governs your body. The 3 main doshas are:
Vata (air): which is composed of air and controls movement, heartbeat, pulse, muscle/tissue movement.
Pitta (fire): controls the metabolic processes, digestion, nutrition, absorption
Kaphpa (earth) controls the structure of the body: bones, muscles/tendons and provided the "glue" that holds the body together
To find out what your dosha is, there are plenty of online tests to determine it. Just google "dosha quiz" and lots of quizzes will pop up. Determining your dosha will help you choose the appropriate diet to live in balance with nature and nutrition. Each dosha has specific nutrient needs which are too long to get into here but plenty online resources to choose a diet that complements your dosha.
Here are some basic Ayurvedic practices that can keep you healthy and balanced, especially during times of uncertainty.
Sleep: Go to bed by 10pm and wake up at 6am. Our bodies are governed by nature and a natural clock within all of us, these are the times that the body can be most at rest and benefit from a deep sleep.
Food: Eat your largest meal in the middle of the day, this is when the body's metabolic energy (pitta) is at it's highest and can digest easily, choose a smaller meal in the evening and don't eat 3 hours before bed time. Eat warm, cooked meals, they are easier to digest. I've included a dosha diet chart to help understand the concept.
Exercise: Best time to exercise is from 6am to 10am after and again from 6pm to 10pm, this when kapha energy is predominant.
Drink warm water throughout the day: boil spring water for 10 minutes then place it in a thermos and have sips of it all day long, it provides a detox for your body.
There are plenty of ayurvedic doctors out there, these are just tips I've learned and wanted to share I can also recommend a few specialists in the field. Namaste.
