It has been so great to share Ayurveda with all of you, specially during this time, where sudden change and adjusting to a new way of living (and being) can throw us off balance. Let’s discover the ways this ancient wisdom can guide us back to our natural state of equilibrium.
The corona virus has turned the world upside down, impacting all of us. Are there measures you can use from Ayurveda that positively strengthen yourself and your community? In the face of COVID-19 Ayurveda responses weigh in on the side of health.
Ayurveda and it's strengths are in the creation of vital health, the prevention of disease, the ability to tailor methods to suit individual circumstances, and its improvement of chronic conditions. I am practicing Ayurveda since 34 years.
Following are the elements that also help us maintain a strong immune system with Ayurveda in COVID 19 pandemic times. This immune strength serves both ourselves and others.
With Ayurveda we assess three doshas, our unique combination of biological energies inside, and then work with opposites to bring them back into balance on an individual level. At the same time we work together as best we can to resolve challenges. We practically focus to prevent the spread of the virus while strengthening immunity at the community as well as individual levels.
Current COVID 19 pandemic has to deal with the Vata Dosha. Vata is light, cool, dry, flexible, curious – and panicky when out of balance. If you’re finding yourself working with fear or worry, from an Ayurvedic perspective it’s Vata you have to calm. Creating conditions of safety, security, and warmth as much as you can, help settle Vata. Over stimulation aggravates Vata. You easily might need more time in nature and less on the Web. Ayurveda in COVID 19 world conditions is about wisdom.
Vata try to interacts with our vital immunity, which is known as ojas in Ayurveda. Ojas is more than physical immunity. It is that deep core sense of unflappability that is not easily swayed by upsets, changes, what have you. As Vata increases, ojas shrinks. The more anxious we become, our defenses – physical, emotional, mental, social – go down. Nurturing ojas also helps bring Vata back into balance. A hot cup of soothing almond milk is win-win. It builds ojas and calms Vata. A good night’s sleep is the same. Energetically, Vatas faithfully follow the qualities of its element Space and Air. As space expands air flows slower, as space constricts, air flows faster. This is key to remedy the Vata dosha tendencies as we can be excessively prone to churning thoughts, variable digestion, constipation and heightened circulation.....If you don’t know your body type, schedule your consultation....9773170560/9825463394
Avoid Eating Junk Foods Which Depletes Your Ojas:
If amas are the toxins of the body, ojas can be thought of as almost the inverse. Ojas are the reserves of energy in your body, and connected with strength of the immune system. As a general rule, we want to avoid putting things into the body that produce toxins (such as junky foods in our diet) and consume that which will first pacify the imbalances we have, and ultimately will produce more ojas. A person who eats nothing but fast food will have high ama and low ojas.....So more ojas = healthy
Stress Management.
Reduce and manage stress.Immune function and breathing are closely linked to stress. Focusing on stress reduction techniques are always beneficial...book our SHIRODHARA treatment for stress management.
SLEEP IS IMPORTANT FOR IMMUNITY
Sleep has a major impact on ojas and immunity. We all need a good amount of exercise to be able to get a decent night’s sleep. Trading in a half hour or more in front of the computer, smart phone, or TV in exchange for a vigorous walk in nature can make a difference in how deeply you sleep. Try this for a full week if you can. Ensure adequate sleep. When you have symptoms of a cold or flu it is common to require more sleep. When you sleep, your body produces essential immuno-proteins called cytokines, which act as infection-fighting antibodies necessary to keep the body healthy. Get plenty of rest. 7- 9 hours, friends. Sleep is medicine.
AYURVEDIC DIET
Proper nutrition lays out the foundation for healthy bodily functions and strong immunity. Vital energy and immunity are in the Ayurveda tradition related to the sanskrit word “ojas” which indicates “essence” or what Ayurveda likes to call “the juiciness and sweetness of life”. We can receive nourishment from rest and rejuvenating (rasayana), whole foods, nature, wholesome practices or sadhanas - meditation, yoga, movement, mindful eating, breath-work, reflection...., and the list goes on, maybe now it’s a good time to hit pause, and ask: what does nourishment mean to you? and how do you nourish your being?
Each of us has all three of the three biological energies or doshas within us, Vata, Pitta, Kapha. Vata is cold and dry, Pitta’s hot and oily, Kapha is cold and damp. Ayurveda balances with opposites. Yet how can any diet work well with all these different qualities? By being tasty yet prudent. Ayurvedic cooking relies on generous amounts of veggies, fruits, grains, legumes, with a well-chosen blend of spices and modest amounts of nuts, seeds, and dairy . Very spicy, rich or deep-fried foods are minimized when balancing all three doshas and building immunity.
Establish a pranayama or breath-work practice:
As an Ayurvedic/Yoga practitioner, I know the power of breath. Breath is nourishment available to the mind and body at any time. Take a moment to tune into your breath. Place a hand over your heart and allow the slow, calming rhythm of your inhale and exhale to bring you into loving presence. Make sure you add this resource to your mindfulness practice and keep breathing!
If you’re feeling angry or stuck in the midst of this pandemic, your Pitta (anger) or Kapha (stuck quality) may need some re-balancing. Two common healers for both Pitta and Kapha are movement and bitter taste. Fresh air is also cool and light this time of year, perfect for Pitta and Kapha, as is a cooling mist. Another kind of calming influence is pranayama. One very simple pranayama is just breathing out a longer exhale than our inhale. It enhances our relaxation responses.
Excellent nutrition is a big step toward having excellent immunity. In COVID-19 Ayurveda nutrition works to prevent, minimize, and heal infection. In COVID-19 Ayurveda nutrition may mean something different for you than it has before. How can nourishment be a support for healing both for yourself? Call for consultation..9773170560/9825463394
In Ayurveda, healthy nourishing foods and fluids are key to building ojas, our vital protective immunity. Ojas includes both physical immunity yet also mental and emotional resilience. When our ojas is strong, we are better able to maintain courage and calm in the face of difficult conditions.
I have emphasized that correcting and preventing nutritional deficiencies is essential to improve our overall immune status and protect ourselves well. Emotional and mental support are part of nourishment.
To support optimal health with fresh air, nature, healthy food, enjoyable movement, and a clear mind & heart, that also help us maintain a strong immune system with Ayurveda in COVID 19 pandemic times.
Antioxidant-rich foods provide general immune support. The anti-oxidant nutrients include vitamin A and beta carotene, vitamin C, selenium, and zinc. Golden vegetables and fruits that you enjoy, like carrots, beets and apricots are great sources of mucus-membrane supportive beta-carotenes. Dark leafy greens are excellent as well. The macro-mineral magnesium, when deficient, causes us to feel tired yet wired. Nuts, seeds, seaweeds, and dark leafy greens are all friendly sources. A magnesium supplement before bedtime is a method employed by many to enhance sleep.
Sunflower seeds, brown rice, spinach, mushrooms, and eggs are other tasty sources of selenium.
Omega 3 fatty acids is a wise one as well, both for moistening inner organs and calming the inflammation that is part of the coronavirus illness. In COVID-19 recovery Ayurveda uses moist Omega 3 fatty acids would counter the dryness and inflammation, as a lubricating anti-inflammatory substance. Omega-3 rich foods nourish both mood and immunity. They create a healthy foundation for ojas, our vital immunity.
From the perspective of COVID-19 recovery Ayurveda, one needs to support not only the respiratory system, yet also the digestive system, nerves, and the heart and circulation (Rasa and Rakta dhatus in Ayurvedic terms).
Steady self-care is a way to root and ground in our health. Ayurveda has countless methods for self-care, no way we’re going to do all of them! Some top ones I think of as COVID-19 Ayurveda responses include: gargle first thing in the morning with turmeric-salt water (1/2 teaspoon of each in a half cup warm to hot water). This is antibiotic and a great way to hold off a potential sore throat. Other favorite self care methods I’d recommend: oil pulling, as well as abhyanga, oil body treatment as I would target the neck, upper shoulders, spine and lower back areas, to enhance immunity and support healthy calm.
Lymphatic Care With Abhyanga: Remember the practice of abhyanga which I talked about in past status? Abhyanga is a great tool that focuses on stimulating the lymph and circulation, and in doing so, we move the waters of the body, nurturing each cell and internal organ. This practice, besides being very therapeutic and blissful, keeps the bodily tissues (dhatus), the place in the body that stores ojas, healthy.
Insomnia and diabetes, two conditions that put one more at risk for tougher response to the coronavirus.
To support mild manifestations of COVID-19 recovery Ayurveda would of necessity counter tissue inflammation. There are a variety of ways to do this, including Omega 3s and anti-oxidant nutrients. Another excellent natural response is the Ayurvedic herbs and medicines. It effectively counters a variety of types of tissue inflammation, works best in acute or chronic conditions of disease, rather than as a preventive.
Oxygen nourishes every cell. In COVID-19 recovery Ayurveda works with the breath. Gentle pranayama is essential here, nothing harsh or fast. While Kapalabhati, Breath of Fire, is excellent if you’re well and want to increase digestive fire and efficiency, it is not recommended during acute coronavirus infection. It can feel too dry in this situation. Instead, gentle alternate nostril breath can be tried, inhaling as deeply and slowly as is comfortable for the affected person.
Disconnect to Reconnect: This point emphasizes the idea of resting and rejuvenating, which in Ayurveda is known as “rasayana”, on a daily basis. Spend time away from the screen and the doing mode we constantly find ourselves engaging with, and give yourself permission to have a breather....a moment to recharge. To optimize healthy organ responses, unplug periodically from the Internet, both with your smart phone and also computer. Now this could be a particularly great time to come back into Ayurveda healing balance. Unplug overnight or try a weekly “fast” of a day without internet to reduce exposure, experiment with an hour off, say when you’re in nature. Fresh air is win-win. Steadily give yourself longer periods with more fresh air and less radiation. Right now more than ever we’re in our heads a lot and things feel overwhelming. Watch out for behaviors that you tend to over indulge on whether it’s alcohol, food, social media, video games whatever it may be - just know your triggers and be careful. Choose activities that are mindful and that you can be fully present for.
Ayurveda aims to align practitioners with nature and with its cycles and rhythms.The reason for that is because this ancient wisdom observes that natural elements (ether, air, fire, water, earth) are also present in the human body, giving physical and mental qualities. Each person has their own combination of these elements, which makes up their constitution or dosha. If we take into consideration that nature changes season to season and that within the human body, elements of nature manifest, then we too change, and for that particular reason what we eat and do shifts from season to season. Right now, we’re in a time of transition, and according to Ayurveda, this is the perfect time to prepare the body for what’s to come and for what we intend to grow and harvest later on (within the inner garden).
Keep a strong agni or metabolic fire: another important one, agni is also known as the seat of action, it lives in the solar plexus, and for it to perform assimilation and absorption of the food we eat and lived experiences we gotta keep its flame enkindled. When agni is low, energy level drops, affecting our ability to take action and handle stress; when agni is balanced it allows us to move forward with clarity of mind, courage, excitement, and good health. Mindful eating, solar plexus asanas and movement in general, as well as spicing up our foods with ginger, long pepper, cinnamon can help strengthen agni.
Stay well hydrated: the human body comprises up to 60% of water. We need this vital liquid for our bodily systems to run steadily, for our immunity to be strong, and to flush toxins out of the body. Hydration tip: add 2Tbsp of our Ayurvedic herbs/seeds to your water and drink throughout the day. They help absorb water into cells and support the growth of the flora in the gut, where our immune system lives.
Try our Daily Ayurvedic Routine/Rituals,Ayurvedic principles/Yogic teachings for healthy lifestyle which contributes to decreased susceptibility. Each day is an opportunity to recommit to your routine. Each moment of the day you can start over. You can choose to start fresh. At the end of the day take a moment to reflect on your day and come back to your gratitude practice and reflect once again on what you are grateful for.
ESSENTIAL RASA TEA FOR THESE TIMES
In Ayurveda, we build the rasa/plasma steadily, to nourish all the other tissues of the body. This classic tea is excellent for preventing dehydration and supporting recovery. We generally add on this tea at the time of consultation of COVID 19
Online consultation for COVID 19
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