Whew!! 2020 was a year to remember!! Life got turned upside down. Daily routines were different. We were forced to step into discomfort. We all had different experiences and reactions as we navigated what was going on in our world. We were asked to pause. For some, this pause was a chance to slow down and to reflect. For others, it was a struggle as people lost businesses, jobs, loved ones and freedom. Mental health was a huge topic on my mind, as I was working with my own feelings of disconnection, loneliness, fear and anxiety. What came up for you in 2020? Whatever you felt, it is okay. Own it! There is no right or wrong around our feelings. In the end, all that matters is how we manage them. We all react to life differently because we are unique individuals. As we move into 2021 and a new year, it can be a great time to think about our health and well-being. When I think of "health", I think about physical health AND mental health. We can't have one without the other because our self IS our physical body, mind body and spiritual body. We need these layers of our whole "being" to be connected and functioning well in order to feel great. So, what does living a healthy lifestyle look like to you? Let me share with you the Ayurvedic perspective on what the true signs of health are.
Being "healthy" means different things to different people. In Ayurveda, it means that we are digesting our life with ease, grace and balance.
We are staying in alignment with our true Self. We are able to navigate what we are taking in with our five senses in a way that leads us towards balance, ease and happiness. This includes what we take in physically, like food or drinks, and also what we are taking in emotionally. We can use practices from Yoga and Ayurveda to manage our emotions in a healthy way. If we are in balance, we are also processing food and drink in a way that is in tune with our constitution. In our western world, our views of what constitutes being "healthy" is very different than how Ayurveda views health. In our western culture, we may see someone who is very successful, fit, strong, has six-pack abs, who lives in a big house with a fancy car and who we think "has it all." There is nothing wrong with achieving those as long as you are in alignment with yourself. But does that dictate "true health"? In Ayurveda, we look at the inside of the body rather than outward appearances. We take in consideration where a person's mind is at. Are they really truly living in alignment and feeling content, happy and peaceful? It always comes back to how we process and digest our life using our five senses.
In Ayurveda, we look at these guidelines as signs of True Health.
1. We possess a "zest for life".
We are happy. Really truly happy, most of the time. We are excited to wake up each morning. We are living in alignment and we have manifested a life that we enjoy. We are living in each present moment. Our life is full of choices and we can choose and create the life we want to live. It can be challenging at times, but we go with the ebbs and flows and we use our resources to manage those challenges in a mindful way. If you are not fulfilled with your life, what changes can you make to allow yourself to experience happiness?
2. We experience even energy throughout the day.
We wake up feeling refreshed. There are no dips of energy throughout the day. If we are too depleted, we need to reflect on what is depleting our energy. Is it our work? Our daily schedules? Our food that we eat? When we tap into what is causing this depletion, then we make small changes that allow us to feel even energy throughout our day. This allows us to feel joy!
3. We have clear skin and clear eyes.
Our skin is a reflection of what is happening inside of our body. If we are digesting our food, drink and emotions well, it will show through our skin. Our eyes tell a story. Are they clear or foggy? When we are in alignment and are feeling healthy, we will glow. Our skin will be clear, radiant and lustrous. We will see things clearly with our eyes and life becomes much more sweet.
4. We have easy elimination of urine, feces, sweat and tears.
What we take in with our senses, needs to be properly eliminated. Yes, we need to cry!! Yes, we need to eliminate feces daily so that ama (toxins) leave our bodies. We need to sweat a little! If we are not eliminating these things, including emotions, our bodies and mind's will fill up with physical and mental toxins, which can lead us to pain and suffering.
5. We are able to sleep restfully.
We are following the natural rhythms of our body. We don't even need an alarm clock because our body intuitively knows when to wake up! We can fall asleep easily and wake up feeling energized. We can stay asleep and our sleep is very peaceful. There is no waking up with anxiety and tossing and turning. Poor sleep can be a result of stale emotions and also from staying up too late at night. Ideally, we are in bed before 10 p.m. and awake before 6 a.m.
6. We have strong agni and are able to digest our life and our food in a healthy way.
Agni is our digestive fire. It allows us to transform our food in our bodies that creates easy and smooth digestion. We need it to be strong. If our agni is weak, this can lead to dis-ease. Having strong agni also allows us to process what are taking in emotionally each day. Weak agni is caused by poor food choices and poor food quality, eating too fast, not chewing food thoroughly, eating when we are emotional, talking too much when eating or not eating in a calm environment. Also, weak agni is caused by the inability to digest our life and manage our emotions in a healthy way. When we use practices from Yoga and Ayurveda, we are able to be with our emotions and clear negative energy from our minds. We can handle anything that we take in with ease and grace because we have the ability to discern what we need to let go of.
Here are some tips on how you can stay healthy this year and live your best life!
1. Get good quality sleep! Go to bed before 10 p.m. or you will get your "second wind" and then it becomes much harder to fall asleep. Rise before 6:00 a.m. when the energy is clear. You will feel more energized! Maintain this sleep schedule even on the weekends to feel great.
2. Eat high quality organic food that is full of prana (life force energy). This includes vegetables, fruits that are in season, legumes and whole grains that are cooked well. Use high quality oils in your foods and consume ghee daily! Limit meat to 20% of your meal as meat has no prana or life force. Cut down on processed foods, refined sugar, breads with yeast, alcohol and caffeine.
3. Create the life you want to live. Make choices each day that allow you to feel happy. Are you doing things that do not feel right or are depleting your energy? How can you change that? Start small with baby steps. Only do things that are a "hell yes"!!! Listen to your intuition. If you don't want to do something, say no without explanation.
4. Surround yourself with people that uplift you. If you are surrounding yourself with people that drain your energy, think about why. Do not be afraid to stand up for yourself and find people that support you and love you for who you are.
5. Learn ways to manage your emotions. Use meditation and simple breathing exercises to clear emotions and energy. Cry when you need to! Crying can be very therapeutic. Journal each morning or when you are having strong emotions. This helps us release thoughts and emotions. These tools can help us not be so reactive when challenges come our way. Recognize what triggers you and sit with it, breathe and let it pass by.
6. Move your body in a way that feels right. Go for a walk. Practice Yoga asana. It does not need to be hardcore exercise, but moving in way that feels good. Sweat a little bit!
7. Be in nature! Get outside. Feel the sunshine! Breathe in fresh air and oxygen! Nature is so healing and when we are aligned with nature, we feel grounded and connected to Mother earth.
* If you are looking for more ways to find health and ease this year that are specific to your own unique body and mind, book a session with me! I love to help people find the best version of themselves!!
Namaste,
Stefanie
BeYou. BeBrilliant.
www.brilliantlifemn.com
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