- It’s 3 days after Thanksgiving and my body is screaming to get back to healthy eating. I don’t know about you but my routine goes out the window during holiday season. I love the special time with friends and family though and today, my body and mind are pushing for some vata pacifying foods and exercise!
Until I can get to Costa Rica for the annual yoga retreat and cleanse, I’ll be using the ayurvedic diet to bring some balance back into my body. Please join me if you feel ready to cleanse your body, lose weight and lift your mood.
1) Fresh out of bed-brush the teeth and scrape the tongue-scraping the tongue stimulates digestion. If there’s coating, it’s a sure sign that there is coating in the digestive tract. Mine is slightly gray in color…more on that later!
2) Drink cup of warm water and a little squeeze of lemon. It starts the detox process by softening tissue and encouraging eliminations.
3) Oiling-It’s really cold this morning, so the warm sesame oil (organic, cold pressed) is going to feel great! Warm the sesame oil by putting the container in some warm water (I use the water from the kettle that I’ve boiled for my hot drinking water). Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then using just a small handful (about a tsp) rub it into the skin limbs first. You can rub your ears, scalp and torso too. Don’t use to much or you’ll feel your Thanksgiving bird!
4) Neti-rinsing the nose with warm salt water cleanses some of the nasty travel germs that I’m sure I’ve picked up. It makes sense to wash our nose just as we brush our teeth and clean our ears. A little warm, salted water is dripped into the nose. I’m already starting to feel a bit lighter and cleaner!
5) Nasya-can’t forget to oil the nose as well. Nasya drops can be the same oil that you’ve used to oil the body. It can be swished inside the nostrils with a q-tip or using a dropper, put 4 drops of warmed oil in each nostril. The nasya helps prevent the sinuses from becoming dry. If they dry out, then the body creates more mucous to protect itself.!
Funny how simply taking care of myself in a few small ways, gives me a kick start to my cleansing diet. I’m off to create a delicious, healing breakfast. Please share your thoughts and experiences too! Check back tomorrow for more great ways to heal from the ancient science of Ayurveda!
Let’s keep at it together and I hope to see you in Costa Rica in the Spring!
I’m on board! I already did my dinacharya and had a baked pear before yoga class this morning. I will be eating a lot of soup and maybe some kichari this week as well. My digestive system is screaming for some healing food. Thanks Karen.
Great! It feels good to get back to routine, though it sounds like you’d didn’t fall very far off the wagon!
I’m still drinking flaxseed tea every morning, a habit from the summer cleanse! Should I switch to the lemon water for the winter?