Hello, my sweet Metta family. In this post I offer 5 Ayurvedic tips for staying safe and healthy while navigating the current state in which we find ourselves.
The most important tip I can give is to stay calm. It is times like these that we put our yoga practice into place.
It is not what we do on the mat but what we take off the mat and the way our practices impact our lives.
I encourage all of you to use all of the techniques you have been taught at the studio to stay calm. A calm, present mind is going to act as the biggest immune system booster of all.
We know viruses settle in the sinuses and the throat. When you begin to feel under the weather, some of you may notice it may start in the back of your sinuses, or you may feel as if you have a sore throat or perhaps your chest feels heavy. We want to address those areas of the body to kick the virus or bacteria out of our system.
Tip #1
Right now doing some deep breathing exercises to clean out the lower lungs and strengthen the diaphragm is very important. An easy exercise you can do to take your index fingers and partially close your nostril flairs 1/2-3/4 of the way. Inhale deeply and retain the breath for a moment. Release the nostrils and exhale through the nose. You can do this 8-10 times to both strengthen and clean your lungs. Eventually building up to 5 rounds of 10.
Tip #2
Oil your nostrils! In Ayurveda, this treatment is called Nasya. You can use sesame oil, ghee (clarified butter) or and ayurvedic oil, Nasya oil. Wash your hands and put a few drops of oil in your palm and then use the pinky of the opposite hand to rub the oil all around the inside of your nostrils. Then wash your hands again before touching anything. This is good to do all the time, year-round. This protects us from breathing in viruses, pollen, and bacteria. I ALWAYS oil my nose before boarding a plane as I do not want to breathe all of that recycled air. But during this time, I oil my nose before leaving the house and have both my son and husband do the same.
Tip #3
Gargle with salt and turmeric. If there are any unwelcome visitors in your throat do this daily; if you have to work somewhere with the general public do it twice a day. Turmeric is a natural antimicrobial- It kills viruses, it is also an antibiotic and aids in digestion, along with a host of other benefits. Mix one teaspoon of each turmeric and salt into a cup of warm water and stir until blended then gargle. You will want to brush your teeth afterward as the turmeric can stain. In addition, cooking with turmeric is fantastic right now. If you love a good curry, there is no better time to go for it.
Tip #4
Be asleep by 10 and get up with or before the sun. This is SO important! There are so many studies that now prove what Ayurveda has taught for thousands of years. Living in line with circadian boosts the immune system. Our overall health will improve by being asleep during the critical times of 10 PM to 2 AM and waking up with the chickens. If you do wake up with or just before sunrise you will also have sustained energy throughout the day.
Tip # 5
Drink a type of tea called Tulsi also known as holy basil. In Ayurveda, Tulsi is known as the queen of all herbs because it has so many benefits. One of the main benefits is a big improvement to respiratory health. It also reduces stress. It is a delicious drink that I have been drinking daily, for years. You can easily find it at Sprouts, Whole foods or online.
Please, if you have any questions feel free to email Lorilee at mokshaayurvedaphx@gmail.com.
