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I came to Ayurveda nearly two decades ago when I was in my early 40s . I was easily 50 pounds overweight , tired , stressed out , and at my wit ’ s end . I had just opened a bookstore and was working 60-70 hour weeks . I needed to do something to feel strong , vibrant , and healthy enough to keep myself and the bookstore alive !
I took a few Ayurveda books off the shelf and dived in . I had been practicing yoga and meditation for years and had heard about Ayurveda , a sister science to the other Eastern modalities .
Ayurveda looks at each individual as a combination of elements , called the doshas , in Sanskrit . My excess weight was Kapha dosha – too much earth and water . The other doshas , Vata , comprised of air and space , and Pitta , a mix of fire and water , were also at play providing movement and transformation . I was struggling with the overwhelming amount of earth and water that was literally weighing me down , mind , body , and soul .
I studied the remedies to find balance , in the form of lifestyle changes , food , and suggestions of body oils and supplements . My journey began with the cleansing treatment called panchakarma . I did a 10- day retreat to remove deep-seated toxins and jumpstart the healing process . Within a short period of time ( about 6 months ) I ’ d lost 60 pounds and shaved 80 points off my cholesterol . I was sold ! ( The bookstore was doing great too .)
I became a practitioner , studying in the US and India , and eventually an author of books on Ayurveda . The weight has stayed off all these years and my health is excellent .
While losing weight is great if you feel you need to , Ayurveda is about creating a healthy and sustainable lifestyle based on your unique needs . For me , it was letting go of access weight , which opened the doors to healing all sorts of emotional issues that kept me holding onto the pounds . In the end , through Ayurvedic recommendations , I have been able to help myself , and thousands of clients , readers , and students around the world .
There are many basic Ayurvedic remedies and rituals that you can easily employ regardless of your particular dosha or imbalance . It ’ s always ideal to work with a local practitioner , but you can begin to adopt these practices into your life at any time . Hopefully , you ’ ll begin to feel better , motivated , and encouraged to delve deeper into the practices .
As we enter winter in the northern hemisphere , these Ayurvedic recommendations can help you prepare the body for the seasons . Ayurveda is a science of opposites . Winter can be cold , wet with heavy snow , or dry with chilling winds . We look to do the opposite to balance these qualities . Choosing warm , grounding food , eating hearty nourishing meals , wearing layers , and getting enough rest will go a long way in keeping you in perfect health this season .
Lifestyle Choices : I can ’ t stress enough the importance of good sleep all year round , especially in winter when we are susceptible to respiratory ailments , coughs , and colds . Get to sleep by 9 or 10 p . m . to give your body enough time to rest , detox , and rejuvenate before you wake up at 6 or 7 a . m . For many of us , the sun sets
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