Ayurveda
in Daily Life
Massage
Necessary
for every person, a regular self-massage with herbal oils is usually adequate
but needs to be supplemented with professional attention occasionally. It makes
the skin supple, controls vata by reducing its cold, dry, light, rough & erratic
qualities, enhances blood circulation, encourages quicker removal of metabolic
wastes and relaxes the body. Follow the normal direction of hair growth, use
a little extra oil over the body's vital parts, massage the scalp and head at
least weekly and just the soles of your feet if short of time.
Meditation
Ideal for disciplining the mind and removing stress & strain, it is best done
after a quick bath to cleanse yourself. Critical in satisfying the mind's
hunger, when done well it is so nourishing that even the body can survive
on less. Control of desire, or mental hunger, is the key to longevity and
immortality. Anything can be meditation so long it is sincere and heartfelt.
The simplest and healthiest involves the sun and its golden colour is deemed
the most nourishing and productive.
While this routine acts as a critical shield of defence against the destabilising
influences of an external environment, by using selective choice in some of
the other factors mentioned below you can easily improve upon the condition
of your total health.
Clothing
In shielding from extreme temperatures, it tends to reflect the temperament
of the wearer in a society showing growing preponderance of the same. Should
always be light & airy, and made of natural fibres as cotton, wool, linen
or silk. Always wear clean, and never anyone else's except that of a saint.
Since energy is brought into the body through the crown of the head and exits
from the soles of the feet – extracting abnormal heat from the system – the
polluted energy usually collects in the footwear. So avoid wearing other's
footwear, try not to take shoes into the house and walk barefoot whenever
possible. And wooden sandals are more healthy than animal skin or rubber shoes.
Employment
Since work consumes at least one-third part of our lives and success or failure
in your profession affects self-confidence, self-worth, it is important that
the nature of work should match well with your
prakriti.
Vata people love work that requires sudden bursts of intense energy. But it
tends to exhaust them also. So to balance it off, despite their dislike, they
should be in routine jobs, slightly repetitive. Need a soothing home and work
environment to smooth out their rough edges. They need adequate rest, specially
in the afternoons. And should avoid places where the air is exceptionally cool
and dry e.g. the freezing cold inside electronics manufacturing outfits or exceptionally
dusty fertiliser mills. The ideal jobs must have enough excitement to hold their
interest and sufficient routine to avoid imbalances.
Pitta people are very practical, making good administrators but not original
thinkers. By nature aggressive and self-promoting, these realists see everything
as a contest that has to be won. Insisting on being in the forefront of all
activity, they cram as much work as they can, demanding perfect functioning
from their bodies all the time. They do not take delays and obstacles to their
plans well and must seriously try to be fair to and keep their professional
and private lives separate. They should avoid work that is physically irritating
or involves heat (as welding or metal casting) and listen more to others. They
should ideally have sufficient challenge to keep them occupied without the stress
of severe competition.
Innate Kapha stability and balance makes them great administrators. They must
make a conscious effort bring in change or variety to their otherwise staid
and routine lives. And ensure that even if work is not physically active, leisure
is. Slow to get going in the morning, competition is good for them although
they may find it stressful.
Choice of Pet
Often an extension of their owner's personalities, pets should ideally be chosen
so as to have a therapeutic effect on your doshic imbalances.
Vatas get along famously with dogs, the canine's loveable, sloppy,
open-heartedness reassuring and stabilising their cold, fearful, fickle nature.
Some do well with small, furry high- strung animals as guinea pigs that arouse
the maternal instincts in the owners.
The
cat is the
Pittas favourite. With
strongly held opinions on most subjects, the feline presents continuous challenges,
even with its movements.
Kaphas in turn prefer birds, the avian's light chirpiness helping
offset some of the dosha's natural ponderousness. For some large dogs prove
beneficial as the canine encourages them to exercise along with.
Choice of Partner
Ayurvedic wisdom suggests that like types make better mates because
of similar mental processes, attitudes and sexual proclivities. Unfortunately,
two people of similar dispositions are likely to have the same defects too.
Choosing the right partner who will stimulate, inspire you to evolve into better
individual thus becomes very important.
Sleep
A state of physical inertia with mental relaxation, sleep promotes proper growth
of the self. Night is the natural time to sleep and mid-day catnaps should not
be more than 15 minutes long except for the very young, very old, very weak
and those intoxicated, diseased, exhausted or traumatised. Avoid having a full
meal just before retiring to bed. Sleeping on the right side is the most relaxing
and good for yoga. On the left, it is most digestive and increases interest
in food, sleep and sex. Sleeping on the back indirectly and on the stomach directly
encourages disease. Sleeping with crown of the head facing east and feet into
the west promotes the best meditative sleep. Washing the hands, feet & face
just before improves sleep. Never sleep in the kitchen and go to bed only to
sleep. 6 to 8 hours of daily sleep is essential. The ideal form of sleep is
yoga – a state of complete physical inertness with retention of mental alertness
& awareness.
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