[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_title margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=””] 8 Practices to Stay Healthy This Spring – What can we learn from Ayurveda [/fusion_title][fusion_text] In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “life science”. This 7,000-year-old healing system, which originated in India, has its roots in the philosophy of seasonal change, in which our body synchronizes with the four elements of the earth. That is, we become communicants of air, earth, fire, and water. Spring has arrived and the humid, cool weather is preparing the soil for a vibrant summer. But how can spring be connected to human beings and how does it affect our bodies?
Spring and the communication channeling through the body
The truth is that whether you are in a city, town, or village, you can feel nature’s presence. Flowers blooming (oh, the joy of allergies!), birds chirping non-stop and a really tempting desire to go out, go for a walk, run, see friends and do more outdoor activities. This euphoria and this need to go out, move and do what you couldn’t during winter is no coincidence. On the contrary, your body somehow “pushes” you to do that!
Practices that contribute to the well-being
In order to keep our bodies light and moving, we must be able to embrace the cold, earthy, and liquid elements of this time of year. So, we need to stay healthy and fit.
These 8 Ayurvedic practices will help you. Keeping notes? Let’s go!
Rise and Shine
Wake up with the first rays of the sun and pour yourself some hot water with lemon. This is a great way to way you start with energy, boost your digestion and embrace the brightness of the day!
Keep moving
Research shows that if you wake up to exercise, it helps your heart rate and you feel more energized during the day, while you can avoid nighttime insomnia. Go out for a brisk walk, do moderate or intense yoga or work out between 6 and 10 p.m. Morning exercise helps in waking up the muscles, digestion, and detoxification mechanisms of the body.
Eat lightly
Many people tend to crave sweet, hot, and fatty foods – so to speak – during the cold months. But spring has got us covered! Include legumes, whole grains, raw greens, and sprouts in your diet and prefer fresh juices. A walk in the orchard, in the popular neighborhood, in the vegetable corner of the supermarket, or in the grocery store is all that your body needs to strengthen its defenses.
Eat all things seasonally
Enjoy anything that sprouts this season (cabbages, citrus fruits, astringent tender green leaves, bitter asparagus, carrots, herbs, and bitter herbs). Vegetables and fruits are finally ready to make their entrance and all you have to do is enjoy them boiled, in salads or combined with legumes!
Healthy inhaling or what?
Whether you pour salt water into your pot, or you prefer a sea solution from your pharmacy is exactly the same! Because in any case, you will be able to clean your mucous membranes from pollen, allergens, bacteria, and anything else that may bother you in the spring. Extra tip: Apply a drop of sesame oil to each nostril after use to keep your nostrils hydrated.
Do not get rid of your hot beverages yet!
According to Ayurveda, cold weather worsens our Vata dosha (which governs all movement, including blood circulation and digestion). Accordingly, it is recommended to avoid really cold foods in the spring, such as some drinks and frozen delicacies. Instead, opt for steamed vegetables, pure broth soups, herbal soups, and hot tea. What a contradiction, right? Let your taste guide you Flavors are more than just a part of the eating process, they are also an independent function. Bitter, astringent, and spicy foods, for example, help reduce inflammation, digestion, and our body’s natural detoxification processes. That is why foods with such taste are excellent choices for spring meal prep. Salty and sour flavors also help maintain our metabolism and immunity, while keeping our body hydrated.
Keep moving
Inconsistency in exercise routines, excessive sleep, sedentary lifestyles, and long hours of sleep are what prevents our body’s natural need to cleanse itself. So what happens? Our body breaks out in spring! Instead of giving up, saying, “Well, this is not for me” continue your wellness routine and make sure to include some type of movement every day in your life. Ioanna Douri Translated by Katerina Kontolati [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]