Morning water

 After scraping your tongue in the morning, it's beneficial to drink a cup of warm water. Warm water helps cleanse the body and dissolve impurities. Just think about how much easier it is to clean dishes with warm water compared to cold water. 

However, it's not advisable to drink hot water straight from the tap. Instead, use cold water and boil it, preferably for about 10 minutes. To have it ready immediately in the morning, you can boil the water the night before and pour it into a thermos. If the water is still too hot, you can mix it with a little cold water.

If you feel like you have a lot of waste products in your body and want an extra cleanse, consider adding a teaspoon of good-quality honey and the juice of half a lemon to the warm water. Just make sure the water is no hotter than 40 degrees Celsius, as honey should not be heated beyond this temperature. Good luck 😊

Tounge scraping

 According to Ayurveda, scraping your tongue first thing in the morning is highly beneficial. During the night, your body undergoes a cleansing process, excreting waste products, some of which are eliminated through the tongue. Using a tongue scraper helps remove these impurities, preventing them from re-entering the body. It is advisable to use a high-quality scraper, preferably made of copper or silver, rather than a plastic one. Scrape carefully to avoid damaging your tongue. Good luck!

Beauty

I read in the newspaper that the majority of people in Sweden, especially women, are dissatisfied with their appearance. How sad is that, considering we all possess a source of beautiful, heavenly light within us—that is who we truly are. ✨ This beauty goes beyond description, and it’s simply a matter of not preventing it from shining through. Sometimes, it may be hidden behind veils of stress, disappointment, negativity, anger, and suffering; however, deep down, it exists in everyone. 🌈 The light does not have to dim as we age. In fact, if we allow it to flow, it can become brighter as we grow older. 🌟

According to Ayurveda, living a life-enhancing, sattvic lifestyle is essential. We should be kind, friendly, understanding, and patient. 😊 Always try to see the good in others; everyone has something positive within them. When we focus on the goodness in others, that positivity grows within us as well. 🙌 Practices like yoga, meditation, and Ayurvedic treatments can be beneficial, along with a generally healthy lifestyle that includes fresh food, exercise, and sufficient sleep. 🍏🏋️‍♀️😴

Don't forget to be especially kind to yourself. 💖 Celebrate all the positive things you do, and don’t blame yourself if you occasionally fall short of your expectations. Instead, view these moments as lessons. 📚 Remember, it’s primarily stress and external factors that hold you back. As you work towards achieving balance and embracing your true self, your inner heavenly light will shine ever more brightly. 🌟

Happy Diwali

Today, as we celebrate the new moon in October, many observe the Vedic tradition through Deepavali, also known as Diwali, which is a festival of lights. People illuminate their homes with candles and honour Mahalakshmi, the goddess of light, love, beauty, and prosperity. This celebration is somewhat akin to the Swedish Lucia festival. 

Feel free to light a candle tonight, and most importantly, strengthen your inner light by meditating and practising yoga, allowing it to shine brightly and bring joy to those around you.

Vata season

 

As we enter October, autumn has arrived, marking a time of year dominated by the vata dosha. Vata is characterised by qualities such as coldness, lightness, changeability, and mobility. In today’s fast-paced society, where stress is common and we are constantly exposed to various sensory stimuli, maintaining a vata balance can be quite challenging. Most of my clients demonstrate some level of vata imbalance. With the arrival of autumn, characterised by cold temperatures and wind, this challenge becomes even greater. 

To maintain vata balance during winter, prioritise regularity, rest, and warmth. Also, consider the following tips for a healthy season:

• Consume warm, cooked, nourishing meals at regular intervals, seated peacefully and solely focused on the food without engaging in any other activities.

• Avoid cold and carbonated drinks. Instead, opt for warm beverages during and between meals.

• Make sure to exercise regularly, but avoid pushing yourself so hard that you become exhausted.

• Keep yourself warm from the cold, wind, and drafts. Ensure your home remains at a comfortable temperature, and dress appropriately for the outside temperature. Make sure to protect your ears, neck, lower abdomen, and feet in particular.

• Go to bed early, before 10 PM, and unwind without screens a few hours before bed.

• Vata is associated with hearing. Enjoy beautiful music and nature sounds, and try to minimise noise and disturbances.

• Loving body contact is ideal for balancing vata, as are massage and marma treatments.

• Take time to meditate and practice yoga to reconnect with yourself.

• Try to avoid stress and conflicts. Spend time with friendly people you like and give them your love and care.

• Live in a way that brings you joy; prioritise what is pleasant and fun. Ensure you feel cosy during the autumn darkness.

Wishing you a pleasant and restful autumn!

The Moon and the woman's cycle

 

What is the connection between the moon and a woman's cycle? As humans, we are profoundly influenced by the natural cycles that surround us. The most apparent cycle is the Earth's rotation on its axis, which creates the alternating patterns of night and day. The second cycle is caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis, resulting in varying amounts of sunlight as the Earth orbits the Sun, which is why we experience seasons.

The third cycle is more subtle and relates to the moon's orbit around the Earth. Although its effects are not as obvious, research indicates that the moon can influence our sleep and energy levels. This connection is also recognised in the Ayurvedic concept of marma points.

There is a relationship between a woman's menstrual cycle and the lunar cycle, as both last roughly the same duration. In Ayurveda, menstruation is viewed as a vital and purifying process for a woman's body, and it is important to respect it. Menstruation is primarily governed by the underdosha known as apana vata, which is the descending form of vata. If women engage in strenuous activities or experience stress during their menstruation, it can disrupt the function of apana vata. This disruption may prevent the natural downward cleansing processes from occurring, potentially leading to various health issues.

During menstruation, it is essential for women to rest, take it easy, and avoid exposure to stress or negativity. When they do so, the cleansing processes can work effectively, waste products can be eliminated, and women can feel revitalised with ample energy for the rest of the month.

In ancient India, women would divide their work in such a way that those who were menstruating could rest during that time. However, in today’s society, this is not as common. Women are often expected to carry on with their usual responsibilities even while menstruating. Recently, the issue of female athletes being required to compete during their periods has started to gain attention.

As a woman, it’s important to take care of yourself during menstruation. If possible, try to reduce your workload and allow yourself to rest. While exercise is beneficial, it may be wise to take it easy during this time. Focus on self-care and try to avoid negativity whenever you can. 

If you are a man living with a woman, your support can make a significant difference in her life. Take on household chores, be kind and positive, and help create a calm and happy environment for her. Your efforts will be appreciated and returned throughout the month—and in the long run.

Training

 Exercise is essential for maintaining good health, a view supported by both Ayurveda and Western health science. Lack of exercise can lead to brittle bones, muscle atrophy, and an increased risk of various diseases. As we age, the importance of regular exercise becomes even more pronounced in order to maintain our bodies' optimal functioning. 

Additionally, exercise is one of the most effective methods to manage stress. Stress prepares us for physical activity, helping us to flee from or confront threats. However, the stressors we face today are often not something we can escape or physically fight off. This is why physical exercise is so beneficial; it provides an outlet for the stress hormones that can otherwise disrupt our bodies.

According to Ayurveda, those who neglect to make time for exercise will eventually find themselves needing to allocate time for illness. Ayurveda also emphasises that exercise plays a key role in strengthening digestion, which is crucial for overall health. However, it's important not to overdo it. The approach recommended by Ayurveda is to exercise at about 50% of your maximum capacity. There are various interpretations of what this means in practice. My guideline is that training should always be fun and enjoyable; it should bring joy, not pain. If you push yourself too hard or train too frequently, your body may break down instead of building up. 

Strength, speed, and endurance are not gained during the training itself but during the recovery periods between workouts. This highlights the importance of recovery. It's not just about how long you rest between training sessions, but also about how you recover. Proper sleep, a nutritious diet, and managing stress are essential. Additionally, practices like meditation, especially Transcendental Meditation (TM), can provide deep rest that benefits recovery.