Looking to take a step towards wellness, but not sure where to start? These simple, yet transformative practices are rooted in ancient Ayurvedic philosophy, and are the foundation for a more peaceful, holistic, & intentional life.
Ayurveda is the ancient Indian medical system based on ancient writings that rely on a natural and holistic approach to physical and mental health (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest medical systems. Ayurvedic treatment combines products (mainly derived from plants, but may also include animal, metal, and mineral), diet, exercise, and lifestyle. Intentional living begins with self-care. These daily Ayurvedic practices are an easy start to a lifetime of self love.
It's important to set yourself up for wellness, and it can be a challenge with a busy schedule. By implementing these following practices one by one on a weekly basis, you may find it easier to make these adjustments to your current routine. By the end of this 6-week plan, you will have created a lifestyle that supports lifelong health and wellness. I've found it helpful to start a journal to document any changes you may notice in your body or mind. through this process.
Week 1
Start your day with a glass of warm water. The intent is to regulate bowel movements and fire up your digestive system. Drink an 8oz glass of warm or hot water before doing anything else.
Week 2
Eat your main meal between 10 am and 2 pm each day. This meal should contain the most protein of any meals for the day. At lunch time, our digestive fire is the strongest, and we are able to digest and move food through our body most efficiently. By having our largest meal at this time of day, we can reduce cravings and blood sugar issues later in the day.
Week 3
Eliminate cold or frozen foods, including ice. You are only to consume warm drinks and warm, cooked foods. No raw foods such as salad, raw vegetable and fruit. No smoothies or ice.
Now I have to admit, this one is hard to sustain after the 6-week journey. But I think it's an important piece to the overall journey, so if you can do this for at least the length of this program, you will see results in digestion.
Week 4
Go to bed with sunset, wake up at sunrise. Not all times of year is this possible, since wintertime here in the northern latitudes we see the sun seeing around 5pm. So make it a routine to go to bed around 9pm each night, and wake up when the sun rises. Sleep is one of the most important things you need to support a health and intentional life.
Week 5
Meditate for at least 10 minutes per day, any time of day will do. Meditation can come in many forms. One of my personal favorites is walking meditation, and this can be done even on your lunch break at work. Research some different meditation techniques and choose one that works for your lifestyle. Meditation helps to reduce stress levels by bringing mindfulness and awareness to our lives.
Week 6
Practice gratitude every day. Vocalize (or journal) five or ten things you are grateful for when you wake up in the morning. Again, this practice can take on many forms, but practicing gratitude on a daily basis builds a loving foundation for your day and can reset our perspectives on life.
After this journey, you will have found things that work well for you, and others that don't serve your soul. You can choose which practices you would like to continue, and even if you just choose a couple, you are still setting the intention to live more mindfully.
References
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Ayurvedic medicine: In depth. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Retrieved August 8, 2022, from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ayurvedic-medicine-in-depth
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