Ayurveda is an ancient health system that is thousands of years old. Its main principle is living in accordance with the laws of nature. In Ayurveda, when we are out of balance it creates disharmony in our bodies leading to disease. We become out of balance by not living in accordance with the laws of nature. Each of us has a specific mind/body type or our energy flow making us each unique. We all require a different type of care depending on what our energy flow is. Nature can influence our physiology changing the type of care we require at a given time. The changing of the weather and the seasons can create imbalances for us if we do not take steps to coincide with nature. As humans, we are governed by the same laws of nature as the universe. Everything we expose ourselves to such as diet, lifestyle, the environment that we live in, etc. acts in accordance with these laws and affects how we feel. Ayurveda helps us to understand how to live in harmony with nature so that we can live a happy and balanced life.
Some of the things you can do to live in accordance with the natural law are eating the right foods for your energy flow, eating fruits and vegetables according to the season, having a daily routine, going to bed before 10:00 pm, and eating the biggest meal at lunch when your digestive fire is the strongest. Our digestive fire is very important in helping us stay balanced. To keep your digestive fire strong, try drinking warm water instead of cold water that can put out your fire. Eating your meals at the same time every day and not over or undereating is important for digestion to stay strong.
Our bodies have circadian rhythms or our biological clock. These are how our bodies and minds work off a 24-hour period. Being out of tune with nature can disrupt our circadian rhythms. Almost every tissue and organ in our bodies have biological clocks. When our circadian rhythms are disrupted, it can cause imbalances in our hormones, sleep patterns, affect our digestion, and decrease alertness. Our circadian rhythms become off by changes in our environment and our bodies. Changes in our light-dark cycle can throw off our rhythms, so going to bed at different times or staying up too late can have an effect on our inner clocks.
One of the best things you can do for your circadian rhythm is to go outside in the morning when the sun is first coming up and get 10-20 minutes of sunlight. This helps set your biological clock in motion for the rest of the day.
We can easily become out of balance when the seasons change. Practicing self-care during these times can help us ensure that our bodies stay in tune with the flow of nature. Abhyanga massage, eating warm-nourishing foods, and taking time for self-reflection on daily habits is a great way to stay balanced during seasonal changes.