"Ayurveda teaches us to live in harmony with ourselves, others, and the environment to achieve true well-being." - Ayurvedic principle.
Winter is definitely not my favourite season, but I’m learning to find little bits to love about it.
As my life has started to align more closely to the seasons, I have learnt ways to nourish myself better through the foods I eat and the daily practices + rituals I undertake. I have reduced the expectation to keep up a “summer” style/level of output. I have played around with different hobbies and crafts to help keep me busy and contented indoors and I have adjusted my wardrobe to better acclimatise to the cold weather.
All of this helps get me through the winter months.
According to Ayurveda, winter is governed by the kapha dosha (earth + water) with aspects of vata (wind + either) dosha present too.
Winter is naturally a time for slowing down and resting more - there is a reason many animals hibernate through the cooler months! The colder days and long nights are a great time to turn to gentle and still hobbies such as crafts or reading a book by the fire, but it is also important to keep moving your body for overall health and wellbeing.
The principle of ‘like increases life and opposites attract’ means that in the winter months we want to use all the elements and particularly fire to balance out the predominant elements (earth, water, wind, either) as they exist in the environment around us and especially as we experience them through particular symptoms in the body and mind. Tuning in to what is happening in the environment (daily weather, seasonal transitions + different geographic and landscape specifics) as well as spending time checking in with all aspects of yourself is key to living according to the principles of Ayurveda.
EAT warm, cooked meals filled with plenty of warming spices. Favour soups and stews and add an extra pinch of chilli, pepper, pippali, ginger to help internally warm, energise and dry out your system when the cold, grey, wet weather sets in. Other spices such a cumin, cloves, cayenne, paprika, turmeric and mustard seeds.
DRINK warm beverages throughout the day to help stay hydrated including herbal teas, chai/milk tonic and soup broths.
MOVE slowly and gently to soothe excess vata on cold windy days, move a little more vigorously to internally warm the body and get the blood circulation pumping if you are feeling a little slow, tired or sluggish which indicates excess kapha may be present.
YOGA provides the perfect way to help balance the body and mind - warming yoga sequences such as Sūryanamaskāra (Salute to the Sun) help warm the body internally and get all the systems moving and inversions such as Viparita Karani (Legs up the Wall) and Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulder Stand) help to invigorate the lymphatic system to encourage the body to flush toxins, virus and bacteria which lead to winter illness.
BOOST immunity naturally with immune enhancing ingredients such as garlic, ginger, turmeric, echinacea, amla
RESIST the urge to sleep in too long. Our bodies naturally want more sleep in the colder months but Ayurvedically speaking, when it comes to sleep we can have too much of a good thing - finding the right balance for you is most important.
WEAR warm clothes - this one may seem a little obvious but it's a good reminder. Natural fibres and thermals worn close to the skin help to insulate and keep the body temperature moderated. Covering the head + extremities with hats, beanies, gloves, woollen socks and slippers means the body doesn't have to work too hard to keep you warm. Covering the neck and throat with a scarf helps to keep excess kapha in check.
HYDRATE the body by drinking lots of fluids - warm beverages are preferred, and look after your skin with nourishing practices such as abhyanga massage, full body moisturising and steam treatments when you can.
See here for nourishing Ayurvedic treatments offer by myself at Liminal Life or follow @liminal.life.au on Facebook and Instagram for more Ayurvedic lifestyle tips.
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