According to the ancient living wisdom of Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science, having a daily self-care routine infused with mindfulness is one of the best things we can do for our wellbeing.
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We can support our own physical and mental health by integrating simple and natural Ayurvedic wellness rituals into our usual routine.
With very little effort or expense, we can create magic from the mundane and feel like we are on a yoga retreat without even leaving home.
Anything can be a ritual in your self-care routine when infused with mindfulness and gratitude.
Ritual means an active participation in life rather than just watching from the sidelines or mindlessly going through the motions on autopilot. It is a way to live more consciously and awaken to the beauty and wonder that is all around. It’s the personal practice of interacting with the divine.
Whatever your spiritual, religious, or scientific perspective may be, I think we all can agree that this mysterious thing called life is quite rare, special, and unique. By honoring Life itself, directly and without an interpreter, we bring more authenticity and connection into our existence.
Try These 5 Ayurvedic Wellness Rituals for Self-Care That Are Accessible to Everyone:
As a wellness professional and educator, I understand the multifaceted importance of a meaningful daily self-care routine.
The following Ayurvedic wellness practices awaken the potency of the present, where we can access our innate vibrance that so often lies dormant because we are too busy being busy to cultivate it.
Here are five Ayurvedic wellness rituals for self-care that are easy and accessible to everyone.
1. Awaken Slowly, Mindfully, and With Gratitude
The simplest way to bring more vitality and joy into each day is to express gratitude first thing in the morning the moment you realize you are awake.
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Awakening and greeting the new day becomes a ritual in the celebration of life. Express gratitude for everything you can call to mind and deeply welcome all of the colors life has to share with you.
Focus your awareness on your breath and thank the prana (life-force energy) for moving through you. Express gratitude to an essence or supreme energy you connect with, and communicate your desire to live in alignment with your purpose, whatever that may be.
Set an intention for the day, which can be anything at all. Keep it simple. For example, “Today is going to be positive and filled with beauty.” Or focus on something more personal and specific.
When you begin each day with thoughts of gratitude, you honor the sacred miracle of being alive. And in return, life becomes much more fascinating and rich. We become more able to roll with the ups and the downs, and aren’t so sensitive to all of the dramas presented to us by the modern world.
Give yourself enough time in the morning so you don’t have to hit the ground running. Ease yourself into the day, and that ease will remain with you.
Rushing around frazzled and bleary will leave you stressed and depleted, and that vibe affects you all day long. This residual stress builds up over time, and can lead to adrenal fatigue, burn-out, and a weakened immune system.
Instead, start your day with the simple Ayurvedic wellness practice of gratitude as the very first step in your self-care routine.
2. Scrape Your Tongue
One way we can assist our body’s natural detoxification process is to scrape our tongue as part of our morning self-care routine.
Do this before drinking, eating, or even speaking. You can procure tongue scrapers at most natural food stores and online. I recommend a stainless steel tongue scraper because it is easy to keep clean and lasts forever.
Gently scrape away the thick white coating toward the back of your tongue that is only present first thing in the morning. If you don’t scrape it off, it is believed to be a burden to your system that requires more vital energy to re-process and eliminate.
It’s a combination of accumulated mouth bacteria and ama (a toxic by-product of digestion). Notice the sensation while sending some love and gratitude to your tongue and digestive system. After scraping, rinse and spit with clean water.
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3. Hydrate With Warm Water and Lemon
Did you know that we lose up to a pound and a half (or just over half a liter) of water each night while we are sleeping, simply by breathing? Water is necessary for the healthy functioning of our nervous system, digestion, joint lubrication, and pretty much every other bodily function.
On average, the human body is made up of about 60% water. So it’s no big surprise that the classic Ayurvedic morning drink is warm water with lemon.
Why warm? Warm water is easier for our body to assimilate because it’s closer to our internal temperature than cold water. Cold causes our tissues to contract, whereas warm water helps our system to relax and function better.
We lose up to a pound and a half (or just over half a liter) of water each night while we are sleeping, simply by breathing.
Why lemon? Lemon water is a natural electrolyte, which replenishes our vital micronutrients. Lemon is high in Vitamin C, an antioxidant important for immunity, healing, and repair.
Warm lemon water is delicious anytime of day, but consuming it first thing in the morning is an effective way to support the activity of our organs, tissues, and cells. It gives both our mood and our metabolism a boost! If you don’t have lemons or warm water, a glass of pure room temperature water also works wonders.
Use a special cup or mug that is beautiful to you (bonus Ayurveda points for using a copper mug!). Notice how lovely it is and how it nourishes your senses of sight, touch, taste, and perhaps even smell and hearing.
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As you drink this morning beverage as part of your self-care routine, ritualize the process by being fully present to all of your senses and surroundings. Do nothing but drink, breathe, and be.
4. Balance Your Doshas With CCF Tea
Equal parts of whole cumin, coriander, and fennel seeds (about one teaspoon of blend per cup) steeped in hot water for five minutes or more is a traditional Ayurvedic wellness elixir to support digestion, improve circulation, increase immunity, and balance the doshas.
“Dosha” is a Sanskrit word which refers to the unique expression of physiological functions, body parts, and mental characteristics that each of us embody. The three doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. All of us are a combo of all three, put together in our own personal way.
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So drinking this herbal tea has an overall balancing effect on everyone. This tea is delicious either warm or at room temperature. Brew it fresh, or make a master batch in the morning to enjoy throughout the day.
Reserve a special moment at some point in your day or evening to sit and imbibe tea with all of your senses. Use a special mug or teapot, put away your device, and be present to the experience as part of your self-care routine. Invite a friend, co-worker, neighbor, or family member to join you and share the sacred space.
5. Create a Spa Experience at Home
The Latin phrase, salus per aquam, meaning “health through water,” is the original meaning for the acronym SPA. Soaking in a warm tub or allowing the flowing waters of a shower to wash away our stress is a universal healing modality.
Indulge at home by putting aside 30 minutes to an hour to soak, cleanse, rinse, and relax. Light some candles, add some crystals, some flower petals, fresh herbs, or essential oils, and enjoy. If you don’t have a bathtub, a shower can work just as well.
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You can make a salt scrub by starting with an organic lemon (or any other citrus fruit) peel. Chop it up and then blend into a pulp with a powerful blender. Remove from the blender and mix the pulp into a paste (by spoon or hand) with about a cup of fine sea salt, Himalayan salt, epsom salt, or any high quality salt without additives.
Use this in the bath or shower as a body scrub. Massage it all over, let it sit for a bit, and then rinse. The citrus offers uplifting and anti-depressant qualities and is good support for the immune system and helps the body heal and regenerate.
The salt relaxes muscles and clears negative energy. The scrub will last unrefrigerated for about a month, so you don’t have to use it all at once.
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Infuse Your Self-Care Routine With the Wisdom of Ayurvedic Wellness
Making the time for these simple rituals based in Ayurvedic wisdom makes our wellbeing a priority. The choice to mindfully participate in the small moments in life subtly reminds our body, mind, and spirit that we are an integrated part of something vast and mysterious.
Anything can be a ritual in your self-care routine when infused with mindfulness and gratitude. Ritual gives us the superpower of seeing the beauty in everything, even if it is not what we consciously desire or culturally consider to be beautiful.
With very little effort or expense, we can create magic from the mundane and feel like we are on a yoga retreat without even leaving home.
Start with one of these Ayurvedic wellness practices or go big and try all five. Notice how you feel and how your relationship with the present moment shifts as you actively nurture your own wellness.
In doing so, you will empower yourself to awaken the magic that exists here and now. You will never look at FOMO in the same way again.
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