Ayurvedic tips to prepare your body for winter
Darkness, cold, wind... it's the normal cycle of nature during autumn and winter. Fall and the first part of winter is the season of Vata dosha. Vata (air and space) is light, mobile, harsh, cold and dry. An overflow of the Vata dosha causes, among other things, irregular sleep and even insomnia, constipation, gas and bloating, dry skin, fear and anxiety.
In order to avoid a surplus of Vata in our body and mind, we simply need to nourish ourselves with the opposite qualities:
Soften – Warm – Slow down – Anchor - Lubricate
It's the hibernation period, it's time to do less, to slow down, to take care of ourselves, to retreat.
Dress warmly, cover your head with a hat, put your hands on a cup of herbal tea to warm them, make a good soup... This is a balancing routine for the month of November!
Autumn is also the ideal time to receive hot oil massages such as Abhyangha, or a Shirodhara treatment which will deeply calm the nervous system.
Ayurvedic milks, gold for health!
The cow is a sacred animal in India and milk has been used for millennia in Ayurveda to heal and strengthen. If it is difficult to digest when eaten cold, it becomes nutritious, easy to digest and beneficial if cooked with spices. Hot cooked milk is an excellent food to prepare your body for winter and pacify the Vata dosha. It is also excellent for building our Ojas (immunity).
Ojas?
Ojas is a substance that can be compared to honey, which we produce in our body and which governs aging, immunity, complexion, vigor, mood, sleep, digestion, spirituality and strength physical. In Sanskrit, Ojas means 'vigor' and 'the physical expression of consciousness'. Ojas is the most refined byproduct of digestion. Complete digestion of a meal takes approximately 24 hours, then it takes 30 days for the body to sufficiently refine what has been eaten to produce Ojas. Unfortunately, during this period, several factors can compromise the production of Ojas and deplete our reserves, creating health problems.
Stress, intense or prolonged physical activity, excessive activity and too frequent sexual relations burn our reserves of Ojas.
OJAS MILK RECIPE – nourishes the 7 layers of tissue – immunity
organic milk – dates – blanched almonds – ghee – cardamom – dry ginger – cinnamon – saffron
Heat 1 cup of milk gently over medium heat in a saucepan with 10 crushed blanched almonds, 2 chopped fresh dates, 1 tbsp. ghee, 1/4 tsp. crushed cardamom seeds, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, 1 pinch of dry ginger. Remove from the heat when the milk simmers. Blend in a blender until smooth. Pour into a cup and add a pinch of saffron.
Take care of the body with hot, liquid, cooked, spices, take care of the heart with hugs and tenderness, take care of the mind with calm and peace. The month of November invites us to create a cocoon of softness to face the cold weather.
By Jessica Charron,
Certified Naturopath in Ayurveda and Yoga Teacher