Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old system of health and longevity is deeply rooted in Mother Nature and her elements. Many people are intimidated by the complexities of this ancient science, but you can benefit greatly from its common sense wisdom without becoming an Ayurvedic scholar.
We are all a unique combination of the elements – air, space (ether), fire, water, and earth.
Think about the “fire” in our belly that drives digestion. The blood (water) in our veins. The air element that moves everything in the body. Without it, nothing would happen and our life would cease. There is space inside of us and our bones are of the earth. Air, space, fire, water, earth.
In Ayurveda, this combination determines our innate constitution (Prakriti) with which we were born. This never changes. Our present state of health (Vikriti), however, is constantly in flux.
The more we recognize both our own unique constitution and our present state of health, the more easily we can work to bring back balance to our body, mind and spirit.
Because we are all so unique, following a one-size-fits-all approach to health and healing (certain diets and lifestyle activities) makes little sense.
If this intrigues you, take this quiz to help you determine both your Prakriti and your Vikriti.
No matter what your constitution is, Ayurveda believes strongly in a daily routine.
The body craves routine.
Think about how Nature follows a natural daily and seasonal routine. We are really no different, but the modern world has led us so far away from these natural rhythms that we are becoming detached from Nature, our very essence, and becoming sicker and sicker.
Staying connected to Mother Nature and following these simple Ayurvedic principles can revolutionize our life and almost miraculously restore us to good health – far more than any medication or herb.
I’m not going to include the entire daily routine that Ayurveda recommends, but you can click here for a complete list.
Try these age-old Ayurvedic practices and see what a difference they make
- Rise before (or with) the sun. We are wired this way. And here’s why
- Add oil pulling and tongue scraping to your oral health care
- Drink a large glass of warm lemon water to flush toxins that have accumulated overnight and to help get your bowels moving. Our body wants to eliminate waste early every morning. If this isn’t happening, it’s a goal you should work towards. Triphala is a great herb to help you along
- Exercise during the morning hours after elimination and before breakfast. And remember, exercise should rejuvenate, not deplete
- Sip warm/hot water throughout the day. This is a much better way to stay hydrated than gulping glasses of cold water. Cold water shocks the system and puts out our digestive fire, making it harder for our food to be assimilated. Warm/hot water bathes and helps the body detoxify. Add ginger or lemon, or drink it plain
- Eat your largest meal of the day around noon. This is when our digestive fire is strongest. Make it a healthy one to avoid crashing in the afternoon. But if you are going to cheat and eat something not-so-healthy, do it at this meal, rather than at dinnertime, when the digestive fire is low
- 10:00 am – 2:00 pm are productive times of the day, according to our body clock. It’s a great time for working on projects, creative endeavors, holding meetings.
- Eat an early, light dinner (5:00 – 6:00 pm)
- Avoid heavy snacking in the evening. It will only stress the digestive system.
- Get to bed by 9:30 – 10:00 pm. I can hear the laughter. But seriously, there’s a reason people get their second wind around 10:00. 10:00 pm – 2:00 am are Pitta hours, according to Ayurveda. This is when the body “wakes up” and begins to work hard at repairing and rejuvenating. If we’re up, reading, working, watching TV, our energy is going to be spent on these activities rather than healing that broken bone or detoxing the liver.
I guarantee that if you make these suggestions part of your daily routine, it will have a life-changing effect on your health.
It the list seems daunting, start with one practice a week and go from there.
Pretty soon you'll be living an Ayurvedic lifestyle more in harmony with Mother Nature and I think you'll like how it feels!
Much love,
Barbara
About the Author
Barbara Sinclair is a weekly Writer for CLN. She is an artist and holistic health practitioner with a passion for Ayurveda, the ancient mind/body system of health and longevity. Barbara was able to heal herself from years of fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, by adopting an Ayurvedic lifestyle. You can learn more about her by visiting her website barbarasinclair.com. Barbara posts a new article every Wednesday morning on CLN. To read her former articles, click here.
This article (Staying Connected to Mother Nature and Following These Simple Ayurvedic Principles Can Revolutionize Our Life) was originally created and published by Conscious Life News and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Barbara Sinclair and ConsciousLifeNews.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this Copyright/Creative Commons statement.
Please note: Any content written by Barbara Sinclair for Conscious Life News is provided for informational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your professional healthcare providers before beginning any new treatment. It is your responsibility to research the accuracy, completeness, and usefulness of all opinions, services, and other information found on this site. Barbara Sinclair or Conscious Life News assumes no responsibility or liability for any consequence resulting directly or indirectly from any action or inaction you take based on the information found on or material linked to on this site. Everyone’s body chemistry is different and what works for one, may not work for another. Please take care whenever making changes regarding your health. Though all information is reviewed carefully, Barbara Sinclair or Conscious Life News cannot guarantee, or take responsibility for, the effectiveness of the ideas discussed on this site.
I know that when I am upset, just for days. That feeling of discord or anger or just unrest….I go get grounded.I work in the garden,repot a plant,walk in the grass and it helps. It’s a connection that I can’t make in my day to day and its very personal. It does help:-)
I have ayurvedic training and use it in my work, my diet, my home remedies and in my overall lifestyle. I find it a very beautiful thing.
This is very informative and the best for ones preconceptions ando a good life