Is stress taking a greater part in your life than you might want it to? For the majority of us, the response to that inquiry is a resonating, YES! Stress is a genuinely universal element of the modern human experience. While taking some stress in life is fine and even productive, but an excess of it can be harmful to our overall mental, emotional and physical being. Ayurveda has a delightful perspective on stress management. Here are a few of our favorites:
Ayurveda for Stress Management:
1. Slow Down:
One of the essential first steps towards balancing life and stress management is to slow down. However, when we are acclimated to carrying on with a quick-paced, occupied life, slowing down can feel completely impossible. It isn’t. For those of us who can gather the courage to start to welcome a slower, more balanced way of being, into our everyday schedule, one baby step at a time, the rewards are often felt very satisfying. Then, with time, the positive changes fortify our intentions and can encourage us to slow down a little more. But, how to start? That is really the core of the entire endeavor. One of the best ways to lower down our pace is to indulge in devoted and purposeful self-care, taking time every day to be still, quiet, and immersed in self-nourishment.
2. Indulge in Quality Self-Care:
Purposeful and devoted self-care can be a very beautiful part of the recuperating process and a great opportunity to practice self-love. A committed practice of self-care reaffirms a profound commitment towards self, towards well-being, and towards vibrant health. Choosing to give importance to things like sufficient rest and other nourishing activities like meditation, yoga, listening to soothing music, etc., can enable us to remain focused as we navigate through the turbulence of the world around us.
In truth, there are innumerable approaches to care and nurture ourselves. Those that bestow feelings of relaxation, warmth, and stability will be best in balancing abundant stress. However, it is essential that you follow your instinct as you know best. Below are some of the different things you can practice to tackle stress management in your everyday life.
Take a bath:
– It relaxes the nervous system, releases tension and helps to soothe & calm the mind.
Practice oil pulling:
– A conventional method of self-massage with various kinds of therapeutic and medicinal oils soothes the nervous system, lubricates and refreshes the tissues, and promotes healthy circulation throughout the body.
Practice Nasaya:
– It is a practice of applying oil to the nasal passage. It helps calm delicate tissues, enable unobstructed breathing, release accumulated stress and support mental clarity.
Massage your feet before the bed:
– Applying oil to your feet before sleeping calms the nervous system, reduces stress and promotes sound sleep.
Sit in Nature:
– Taking a gentle walk, sitting by a stream, consuming a beautiful view, or simply surrendering your body to the surface of the earth helps “rest and digest”.
Read an uplifting or inspiring book:
– A good read can actually help in relaxing and rejuvenating your body to some extent.
Lie on the couch for sometime:
– There is definitely nothing more soothing than taking a rejuvenating afternoon nap or simply taking a long break.
3. Commit to a Daily Routine:
Ayurveda suggests a daily routine also known as Dinacharya for everyone. But it is specifically essential for the ones who are trying to balance out excess stress. There are some very easy steps to establish the daily routine like waking up early in the morning, eating meals, going to bed at about the same time each day, and if possible, maintaining a consistent work or activity schedule. All these activities alone can have a profound impact on the nervous system, provide deeper self-understanding and help us deal with stress in a better manner.
4. Quiet the Mind-Body Organism:
Chronic stress tends to disturb our nervous system so that our body reacts to every being as if they were extremely menacing. Ayurveda suggests various therapies like pranayama, yoga, and meditation as powerful methods for breaking this cycle, resetting the nervous system, and developing a healthier physiological reaction to stress. Read more on the importance of yoga. Various medicinal plants also foster health in the mind and the nervous system and can be unbelievably supportive. While we can’t carry on with a life which is totally free of stress but we can surely change our capacity to cope with them.
5. Eat a Supportive Diet:
Eating a balanced diet does not have to be a taxing endeavor. In fact, when we are dealing with stress, our lives are very complicated and our system only responds to solutions that are comparatively simple. The diet that you take should be nourishing and grounding. While you may still consider eating a Vata pacifying, pitta pacifying, or Kapha pacifying diet, it is essential to focus on healthy, whole foods and minimizing the consumption of processed foods and refined sugars in your ayurvedic diet. If you cannot get time to prepare your own meals; soups, root vegetables, stews, and other simple preservative-free foods are usually a good choice.
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