5 Ayurvedic rituals of self-care for relaxation and rejuvenation of the whole body

Ayurvedic medicine has a rich history, originally passed down through oral tradition, later recorded in Sanskrit in four sacred texts called the Veda. This ancient practice of Ayurveda is to connect with ourselves and be in harmony and balance with the natural world. Ayurvedic rituals are not just about preventing disease but also healing it; they are also working on how to live in a state of strength and energy. In India, more than 90% of the population uses Ayurvedic medicine. Although much more popular here in the West, it is still considered an alternative medical treatment.

The theory behind this medicine is that all areas of life have an impact on one’s health. Here in the Western world, we believe in the use of tactics (usually prescription medications) aimed at curing specific ailments. Ayurveda sees the body as a whole. Like traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda is about the connection between mind, body and spirit.

The goal of daily Ayurvedic rituals is to return the body to its original healthy state; true bright beauty must help health. They are at the heart of Ayurveda ojas, the very essence of our life force, our health and well-being. They are our honey, the sweat of the tree that is our body. Ojas give us the ability to move forward. When our eyelashes are strong, our bodies are strong and supple, our skin is light and shiny, and our hair is shiny and healthy. Ojas also allows us to be overwhelmed with love and compassion.

However, the modern world assumes the ojas. Constant stress, processed foods, technology, over-dissemination and too much information exhaust and dry out the ojas. When we recover them — in conjunction with meditation, healthy eating, and the universe — we become bright.

Removal of waste and toxins oja helps to flourish, as detoxification allows the system to be nourished. The goal of daily Ayurvedic practices is to improve your health. When your body is free of toxins, it is able to reap the healthy benefits of nutritious foods, facial masks and body oils. Rather than promoting a hard and simultaneous approach to detoxification, Ayurveda uses a variety of small daily or weekly practices to help ensure that your body is always detoxified and processes waste efficiently.

Ayurvedic Self-Care Practices

Incorporate these practices slowly into your day. You can start in the morning with small things like integrating fresh produce into your diet, massaging your feet or washing your skin dry. These daily ayurvedic supplements will help you keep your body in rhythm and balance. Once you get to know your body, you can adapt to certain practices.

1. Tongue scratching

If you break your tongue every morning, you can give clues as to how your digestive system works. If your tongue is very covered, it usually means that there is a high level of motherhood or toxicity in your system. With this Ayurvedic morning routine, you can measure how your system throws out toxins.

To break the tongue:

+ Use a stainless steel tongue scraper (which you can find online or at most health food stores) or a spoon. Gently scrape from the back or foot of the tongue until you have dragged the entire surface, which is usually done at any point between seven and fourteen strokes. This cleanses the bacteria. Scraping stimulates gastric and digestive enzymes to wake up and start working.

+ Rinse your mouth and continue to extract the oil as your next Ayurvedic morning ritual.

2. Extract the oil

At night, as you sleep, your body produces toxins while you are in a state of rest and cleansing. Extracting the oil allows these toxins to be released. Since it is an Ayurvedic ritual, oil extraction should be done as early as possible in the morning before having anything to drink or eat. Coconut, sunflower and sesame oils work well, but coconut oil has the added advantage of teeth whitening.

For oil extraction practice:

+ Take a tablespoon of oil and put it in your mouth for fifteen or twenty minutes (this is the recommended time frame, but sometimes I do it for a few minutes to feel the refreshing effects of coconut oil and teeth whitening).

+ It is important to keep the oil in your mouth and not swallow it. It is advisable to throw it in the toilet or in the trash, as the sink may close.

+ Once the oil has come out, brush your teeth or rinse your mouth thoroughly.

3. Dry cleaning

The skin is our largest organ and is responsible for 25% of the body’s ability to detoxify, yet we often focus our beauty and self-care habits on the face and hands when the whole body deserves respect and respect. In addition to being an Ayurvedic ritual practice, cleansing the skin for the whole body it is used in Scandinavia, Russia, Japan, and Greece, and by the Cherokee tribes (using dried corn) to name a few examples. Brushing the skin helps to remove dead skin from the body and also stimulates the lymphatic system and circulatory system, which help the kidneys and liver release excess hormones produced in the organs.

Over time, dry brushes can help prevent cellulite and regenerate collagen and, in the short term, revitalize and energize you. When you’re throwing away dead skin, you’re also asking to release what is no longer worth it to you. Dry cleaning is an Ayurvedic ritual to be performed before bathing or showering; the skin should be dry.

To practice dry cleaning:

+ Using a body brush with natural bristles (I like those with copper to help balance electromagnetic fields), start at the foot and move up the torso.

+ Using long strokes in the direction of your heart, wipe each part of your body six times.

+ Make the brush a little painful but good, just like when you get a very deep stretch.

+ To increase the detoxifying effects, continue with a cold shower.

4. Self-massage

In the West, massage is considered a special treatment, but for many Indians, massage is a common part of life and self-care in Ayurveda. Babies and infants are massaged daily, and when they are a little older, they teach family members how to give a massage. Women get massages every day for childbirth and forty days. Once you get used to the health and beauty benefits of massages, you will not be able to do without them. Luckily, for wallets, Ayurveda considers self-massage or abhyanga, to be as beneficial as a massage given by another.

Allow some time once a week, or every day if you can, to practice abhyanga, and you will soon see the benefits of this common Ayurvedic ritual, including bright toned skin; better circulation; relief of joint stiffness; and throwing toxins into the body. It’s also a wonderful way to get to know your body better. Use sesame, sunflower or almond oil for massage; it feels extra luxurious if you preheat it in a pan of hot water.

To practice self-massage:

+ Apply warm oil generously on the body, starting with the limbs. Use long strokes on the arms and legs and circular movements in the joints. Massage to release tension in a clockwise direction, and insert areas such as under the neck and arms to focus on the lymph nodes.

+ Massage the abdomen and chest with clockwise circular motions. Follow the path of the intestine in the abdomen, up to the right and down to the left.

+ Apply the oil to your crown chakra, making outward circular motions.

+ Immerse your fingertips in the oil and massage your ears.

+ Massage the feet (but make sure the oil is removed before walking).

+ Throughout the massage, send love intentions to your organs and show gratitude to your body for all it does for you.

+ Allow enough time before soaking the oil to soak your skin.

If you don’t have time for a full massage, you can always take a small ball of shea butter and do a foot massage before going to bed. This serves as an acupressure and helps shea butter moisturize dry skin. At the same time, you’re honoring your feet — what the basics are — and how much they do for you throughout the day.

5. Bath

In ancient times, bathing was considered by the gods as a gift of their health. Taking baths in the usual rituals beforehand can be a therapeutic activity. Almost every evening, after taking care of my work, my daughter and my animals, I will enjoy the bath. Taking a bath is the perfect way to feed yourself on time and create yourself a little sanctuary. Baths are cleansing and can improve physical and mental energy, remove negativity and relax the body and mind. They are also a wonderful way to immerse yourself in a deep way therapeutic medicine of essential oils and other ingredients that are good for the skin.

Soothing mineral bath

One of my most relaxing baths for all dosha is the magnesium bath. Most lack magnesium due to depleted foods that are the result of overcharged soil beds. Magnesium is essential for healthy skin and hair, is helpful for sleep and can create a deep sense of calm and well-being.

For bathing:

+ 1 cup magnesium flakes

+ 10 drops of a soothing essential oil (I like chamomile or lavender)

+ Fill the bathtub with the right temperature for you. Add magnesium and essential oil before entering. Soak for 20 minutes or more.

Excerpwith the permission of Shiva Rose’s Whole Beauty (Craft Books). Copyright © 2018.