At the turn of this season we may notice some possible minor symptoms of colds, flu, headaches, fatigue, and dry skin and stiff joints or achy joints. If aware of these little "signals," you can address them by not fighting it, but nurturing your body according to treating through opposite quality of the syptom.
For instance, dry skin needs more oiling, as do stiff joints, and using extra fresh ginger in your food or using it in a tea can aid in warming the body and promoting circulation of the blood.
The winter wind blows, the temperature usually drops, leaves dry and fall off of the trees, and days are shorter. The qualities of dryness, of coldness affect the physical body by dehydration of tissues, digestion can slow, and waste be moved out of the body more slowly. Our minds may also experience more insomnia, and nervous emotion. Here are a few recommendations to care for our whole selves during this fall/winter season:
- If you have already learned about your constitution, and know you are primarily Vata and are familiar with the symptoms above more on a regular basis, use 1/4 cup of warmed sesame oil in the morning, or the evening (before breakfast, or before bedtime respectively) on the body as a self massage.
- From top of head (if planning on washing hair afterward) to bottoms of feet, apply oil and then gently massage in clockwise direction all parts.
- Be sure to gently massage with palm around the joints. Allow to remain on body for 30 min or more then rinse off not using soap.
- You are wanting to just remove excess oil. The oil does penetrate the skin and go into the body. This is good! On a regular basis, you will notice a difference in your external skin as well as the inside.
- If you aren't sure about your constitution, use 2/3 sunflower oil and 1/3 sesame oil.
- Use more black pepper and ginger in your food. Also, if circulation is an issue, a little cayenne always helps with that!
- Quiet meditative time before bed is strongly recommended. Just close the eyes in a quiet, comfortable place (preferably not in the bedroom) and simply focus on your soft breathing. If the mind wanders much apply the mantras So on the inhale, and Hum(increasing warmth, and increasing inner digestive fire) on the exhale.
- Sooooo... is the sound of inhalation, and is remembered in the mind along with that inhalation.
- Hummmm... is the sound of exhalation, and is remembered in the mind along with that exhalation.Om. Shanti. (Peace)
