Ayurveda, the holistic science of life, is a practice of understanding your physiology and adjusting your lifestyle and diet to promote health. According to Ayurveda, this is a Vata season. There is cold and dry air in the atmosphere. This season also brings mild depression among most of us if we don’t take proper measures to keep ourselves

balanced with good diet and lifestyle.

 

During holidays, it is very obvious that every one will like to eat, drink and relax more. We do not realize the effects of these wrong practices – having wrong food combinations, left-overs, over eating. After a week from this every one starts noticing one or the other kind of imbalance, which mainly affects our metabolism [agni].

 

Let us have some awareness to enjoy our holidays in a good and mindful manner -

try to wake up a bit early ~ pamper yourself with warm baths and oils moisturizing the skin from head to toe ~ engaging in  yoga, meditation, and pranayaama [breathing exercise].

 

Don’t forget it is winter. Do stay indoors, keep yourself warm, use bright lights at home and expose to sun whenever you get a chance. Drink one cup of luke warm water with 6 drops of lemon juice early in the morning at an empty stomach. Avoid ice cold beverages and frozen eatables, use more grounded, cooked food with some herbs like cumin, basil, coriander and pepper. Eat warm foods like hot soups, stews, steamed vegetables with some pastas, brown rice, whole grains  and always use little olive oil or clarified butter.

Foods that nourish and balance the body in the cold, dry and winter season are the ones that are predominant in sweet, sour and salty tastes. Avoid eating at irregular times. Practice herbal teas of your choice - with ginger, fennel or mint. Drink a cup of hot skimmed milk or almond milk with a pinch of nutmeg powder in it, 30 minutes before going to bed.

Author: Thara Kodandaramachandra, B.A.M.S, M.D. (Ayurveda)

 

As Harish Johari says, nothing helps the body to do as much as massage. In Ayurvedic tradition, massage is considered just as essential to health and beauty as good diet and other lifestyle habits. It is particularly beneficial in cold climates and for those people who work more with their brain than their body. One important benefit of Abhyanga is the stimulation of the lymphatic system. The role of the system is to carry nutrients to and remove toxins from the cells. Abhyanga is also a stress management tool that reopens blocked energy channels and balances the psychophysiology.

Some of the benefits of Abhyanga massage are:-

* Reverses, prevents aging and increases longevity.

* Removes fatigue and stress from work and life overall.

* Promotes good vision.

* Gives beautiful lustre to the skin.

* Works on several levels to reduce stress, improve immune functioning and revitalize the body.

* Oils used for the massage, enhance the purification process and nourish the skin and relax the mind. Oils are used according to a person's constitution and skin type. Besides softening and soothing the skin, the oils lubricate the internal environment and loosen stored-up toxins.

* Increases blood circulation and makes the skin naturally soft and radiant.

* Improves concentration.

* Makes the body feel light, active and energetic.

*  Increases body heat and improves circulation.

* Remedy for insomnia.

* Oil rubbed into the skin prevents dehydration and strengthens the nerves.

Abhyanga provides specific benefits for people of different constitution. Specific herbal oils and strokes may be used for people of different constitutions. The healing properties of herbal oils are absorbed into the skin within few minutes.

In short, Ayurvedic massage helps you keep feeling young, vital, beautiful and healthy.