A balanced lifestyle is more difficult to sustain in extreme temperatures. Fortunately, Ayurveda is helping a lot of Aurovilians get through the ups and downs of the South Indian climate. Our famous Doctor Be always shares her Ayurvedic tips and tricks with the community, and we are happy to share them with you!
Winter is the Kapha season, dominated by the earth and water elements. It is a time when Ayurveda encourages you to live in tune with nature while strengthening your digestive power.
Tips for a balanced winter
- Wake up a little later than usual (around 7 am) than you would in other seasons. The sun isn’t up very early, so why rush it?
- Drink warm water with a little bit of lemon and honey in the morning. This drink will gently stimulate and wake up your digestive system. It is delicious and cozy – soon you will ditch your morning coffee! Throughout the day, you can sip on warm water with an added dash of ginger, cinnamon and clove. This will support your digestive fire – in case you have any inflammatory problems, skip the added ingredients.
- Exercise on an empty stomach. If it is cool outside or raining, chances are low that you want to go outside and exercise. Luckily there is hatha yoga. Do some sun salutations and postures that open the chest.
- It is important to eat a nutritious breakfast. If you don’t feed your digestive fire in the morning it will dry up your body tissues. Enjoy a bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon and add some apples or other winter fruits. Avoid dairy products including curd, cheese, milk and ice cream.
- In this period of time, be gentle with your energies and avoid cold drinks, fasting, late nights, and day-time napping. Yes, even napping – sleeping during the day in the cold season can deplete you instead of replenishing your energy.
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