During sleep, our body removes metabolic waste products (called). Ama (in Sanskrit), some of which coat the tongue with a gray, dark-white, or yellow residue. Scraping your tongue not only helps remove ama, but also “activates your salivary glands, improving your digestion and ability to taste,” Hemsley explains. “This will make you more aware of what your body needs, and you’ll be less likely to overeat just for the taste.” , it can also help with sore throats, sinus infections, and stuffy noses.
Run a copper tongue scraper (try West Tongue Tingler’s East or RW Perio’s Tongue Scraper) over your tongue and rinse with hot water. Sahni recommends drinking a glass of lukewarm water at the beginning of your day to detox and stimulate your system.
yoga and pranayama
“Most people don’t know that Ayurveda and yoga are sister sciences and complement each other,” says Sahni. “Yoga balances mind, body, and soul, so start your day with some light stretching, yoga, or pranayama (or meditation).” Hemsley says this should be an hour-long practice in the studio. Instead, it can simply involve a combination of fast and slow movements, breathing exercises, mantra chanting, and complete silence. The goal is always mental, physical and spiritual health, and deepening the connection between the three. “Sometimes just rolling around on the floor for five minutes before bed helps me get back into shape and take my mind off of it,” she added.
Pranayama is the practice of regulating breathing using specific techniques. “Breathwork, or the conscious regulation of breathing through various exercises, has many benefits, including calming the nervous system, promoting sleep, strengthening the immune system, improving concentration, and increasing creativity. ” points out Hemsley.
Abhyanga (or massage)
Oils have been used in Ayurveda for centuries and are “known for their ability to provide a powerful delivery system that allows for optimal bioavailability of active ingredients,” Sahni says. Masu. You may have heard of Indian hair oils and traditional massages that mothers give to their children’s scalps. This is called Shiro Abhyanga (Sanskrit for “head massage”). It doesn’t have to be the scalp. Focus on relieving your aches and pains. “Self-massage can help you regain balance, no matter what you’re going through,” says Hemsley. “It promotes blood circulation, stimulates organ function, helps the body detoxify, and improves sleep. It is one of the most effective ways to relieve anxiety caused by modern life.”
Delve into nature’s medicine cabinet
“Incorporate nature’s medicine cabinet, also known as herbs and spices, into your cooking,” suggests Hemsley. “Each spice has its own health benefits. Turmeric has been proven to lower blood sugar levels and flush sinuses, cinnamon promotes circulation, and cardamom is known to fight mucus. She also cites fennel, coriander seeds, cumin, and grated ginger as her favorite ingredients.
Reset the season
Due to the busyness of life, it is easy to forget about it in daily life. To resolve this, you may want to try a seasonal reset. “I like to recharge my batteries by focusing on Ayurvedic practices on long weekends, especially if I’ve been busy and feeling out of sorts,” says Hemsley. “I’m following a (free) 3-day Cleanse + Reset program. This program is a great way to slow down, eat nourishing, home-grown food, get into nature, and counter the craziness of modern life. The idea is to cultivate habits, not to deprive yourself, but to tune into your body’s natural rhythms and treat them gently.
