Maitri - Benevolence or Loving Kindness to Ones-Self
Did you know that stress contributes to about 80% of the pain in the body? It is one of the main proponents of disease and the general feeling of depletion. In order to avoid common stress on the body being a contributor to chronic illness, it is crucial that we incorporate lifestyle practices to rejuvenate the body, that we maintain a healthy gut microbiome, and that we honor the parts of ourselves that often take a back seat.
I am the first to agree with you that finding time and space for this kind of self-care can be difficult, maybe even seemingly impossible. Perhaps you are a student, the parent of young kids, at the height of your career, or spend a lot of your time traveling. There are a lot of reasons that time can be limited but I am still a believer that what you do to care for yourself now is going to contribute to your health and ability to enjoy your life as you age.
Vata dosha is the made of air and ether. It is responsible for the movement of the body and since most of us are on the move MOST OF THE TIME, it tends to be the dosha that swings out of balance most easily for a lot of us. As a matter of fact, I am convinced that we are living in the most vata-driven time in history and it is absolutely necessary that we consider the power in easing up in order to create a healthier generations coming along.
In order to balance vata dosha, which is the cause of anxiety, overwhelm, sleeplessness, low self-esteem, fear, ADHD, and so much more, we must consider adding a balance of opposite qualities - stillness matters! Here are some ideas for creating a more balanced vata dosha and improving the quality of your current life while also loving on your future self that you can thank me for later!
Get plenty of rest. Create a stable and non-negotiable routine around sleep. Ideally, you are in bed and drifting off by 10pm and waking up with the sun. If you have trouble sleeping, consider warm milk with 1/4 tsp nutmeg a couple hours before bed, wear an eye mask, and avoid looking at screens after 9pm. The more you practice with this routine, the more easy it will become. If your sleep patterns have been off for a long time, it might take some practice. But the more you stick to this routine, the more your body and mind will jump on board and before you know it, you will be drifting into dreamland with no issues.
Get plenty of hydration. Contrary to popular belief, chugging water is not that hydrating. For best results, sip warm or room temp water throughout the day. Cold water is actually a lot of hard work for the body and so the more your vata dosha is out of whack, the worse cold water is for you. It takes a lot of effort for your body to heat the water to body temperature before it can travel to the deep tissues and cells, and therefore hydrating properly.
Eat at regular times. Tell your body that it can trust you that the next meal is coming at the same time every single day. This helps the body utilize the fats its storing and therefore, gives you more energy to use and helps with achieving your ideal weight.
Maintain a healthy gut microbiome. If your gut is in bad shape, then so is your future. If you experience chronic digestive issues, please seek the support of a practitioner immediately. Chronic diarrhea or indigestion is a sign of too much heat and could mean long term inflammation. Recurring gas or bloating means your food isn’t being properly digested and you may have excess metabolic toxic waste in the body that contributes to clogging and reduced hormonal production and eventually causes illnesses like cancer. A low or depleted appetite means stagnation and low output of energy and eliminating toxins in the body. No matter the issue, if your digestion isn’t working well, it’s an important matter to be addressed. To keep your gut healthy, avoid digestive issues and watch for healthy elimination patterns.
Movement matters! Be sure to provide plenty of healthy and enjoyable movement. Whether its a yoga practice in your living room or a consistent walk around the block each day, a little bit goes a long way!
Get body work! Massage, Reiki, Shirodhara, Facials and other forms of body work send a signal to the body to rest and reset. They create feelings of safety that are important to acquiring the type of rest we really need to maintain good health.
Be creative. Whatever you do (or used to do) that helps you get into a state of flow is incredibly important and healing for the body. Painting, gardening, building, dancing, singing….there are so many options! Let go of the need to be productive at all hours of the day and find something that fills your soul and makes you smile. Sure, its okay to binge on some television once in awhile…but find balance with those activites that get you past the state of numb (like tv does), and into the state of flow!
Interested in learning more about how to step into your joy and move beyond the must-do’s into the get-to’s? Contact me for a free 15 minute Discovery Call.
