Working Girl At Home – 7 Ayurvedic Self Care Rituals

1. TONGUE SCRAPING

• You can remove the toxins and bacteria that have accumulated in your mouth overnight with a tongue scraper.

• First thing in the morning, before taking liquid or food, stick your tongue way out and look in the mirror.

• Using gentle pressure, scrape your tongue as far back as you can at least seven times, rinsing the scraper each time.

2. DRINK HOT WATER WITH LEMON OR LIME

After cleaning your mouth with a tongue scraper and brushing, drink hot or warm water with a squeeze of lemon (for Kapha and Vata) or lime (for Pitta) in the morning. Waiting until after cleaning your mouth ensures that you won’t swallow the bacteria that built up in your mouth overnight.

If you do not know what your Ayurvedic constitution or “dosha” is take this test.

Warm water: The warm water hydrates your tissues more effectively than cold water.

Lemon: We typically wake up with a high acidic pH level. Lemon is alkaline and balances this out. Lemon juice also contains potassium, vitamins B and C, calcium, magnesium, and trace minerals. It cleanses the liver and stimulates your digestive fires ready for breakfast. It will also facilitate a good bowel movement.

Lime: Lime has a more cooling effect, while lemon has a more heating effect. Lime also has less acid and is less sour than lemon, so it’s a better choice if you are prone to heat of have what is termed a Pitta dosha in Ayurveda.

3. NETI POT

Your nose is your first line of defense against environmental toxins.

A neti pot is a container resembling a small teapot that is used to irrigate and flush out your nasal passages.

The water from the neti pot helps reduce inflammation or irritation in your sinuses, and washes out toxins.

To use a neti pot

• Boil water and allow it to cool down until it’s just warm.

• Add ¼ teaspoon of pink Himalayan salt to your neti pot.

• Fill up your neti pot with the warm water, and tilt your head towards a shoulder.

• Make sure your chin is not too far forward or not too far back.

• Breathe through your mouth.

• Gently pour one potful of water through one of your nostrils.

• If you feel the water in your ear, your head is too far back. If you feel the water in your sinuses, your head is too far forward.

• Breathe naturally though your mouth.

• After allowing the water to flow through your nostril, gently blow your nose.

• Repeat with a full pot on the opposite side.

4. OIL PULLING (GANDUSHA)

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic technique for cleansing the mouth and body by holding oil in the mouth for 10 to 20 minutes every day, if possible.

Oil pulling include reduces “bad” bacteria in the mouth, gums, cheeks, and tongue; prevents bad breath and tooth decay and whitens teeth.

Oil pulling is also believed to detoxify the entire body as the tongue is connected to all the major organs and other body parts.

The body tries to heal and detoxify itself at night while you sleep. Oil pulling done first thing in the morning allows you to clear all the bacteria and toxins your body has tried to dispel and that have ended up on your tongue and in your mouth.

You can use a special oil pulling oil, organic unrefined coconut oil or organic unrefined sesame seed oil.

To do oil pulling

• First thing in the morning, before taking liquid or food, after scrapping your tongue, place a tablespoon of the oil pulling oil in your mouth.

• As you allow the oil to sit in your mouth, only swish gently now and again to allow the lauric acid and other compounds in the oil to commence intensely cleansing your tongue and mouth.

• Allow the oil to stay in your mouth for about 10 to 20 minutes or whatever time you have in the morning.

• When you are done, spit out the used oil, preferably not into your sink as the oil may clog the drain.

• For extra cleaning and freshness, mix ¼ teaspoon of baking powder with a little water, and do a quick mouth rinse.

5. DRY BRUSHING

Dry brushing increases circulation, moves toxins out of the body, and exfoliates the skin.

To do dry brushing:

• Dry brush before you do your oil massage and before you shower.

• Use a natural bristle dry brush.

• Begin with your feet and move upward, straight across the body and in circular motions around the joints.

• Keep the pressure firm.

• Your thighs and buttocks contain more fat and therefore accumulate more toxins so spend more time on those areas.

• Do not use the brush on your face.

• Continue the process for five minutes.

6. OIL MASSAGE (ABHYANGA)

Oil massage, or abhyanga, is a full-body oil self-massage, which helps stimulate the lymph system and remove toxins.

By leaving the oil on the skin for 20 minutes, the oil penetrates all the tissues layers, helping to remove toxins that are held down deep in the system.

You can use an oil suitable for everyone such as general daily massage oil, sunflower oil. You can also use an oil for your specific constitution according to Ayurveda (Pitta, Vata or Kapha).

Vata: heavy, heating oils—vata massage oil, sesame seed, almond, or avocado.

Pitta: light, cooling oils—pitta massage oil, coconut, olive, sunflower, or ghee.

Kapha: invigorating, heating oils—kapha massage oil, mustard or safflower.

If you do not know what your Ayurvedic constitution or “dosha” is take this test.

It’s best to avoid this practice if you are menstruating, are pregnant, are going through an illness, or have open sores, or infected, swollen skin.

To perform abhyanga

• Place some of the oil in your palms and rub them together briskly to heat the oil.

• Apply and gently massage the oil into your body, starting with your scalp, and moving to the soles of your feet.

• Cover your body with oil, using more oil for Vata than for Kapha.

• If possible, allow the oil to stay on your skin, from start to finish, for about 10 to 15 minutes.

• Allow the oil to carry away the toxins from your body by rinsing it off in the shower or bath.

7. NASYA OIL

Nasya oil is an herbal-infused oil for use in your nostrils.

Nasya helps block environmental toxins and reduce inflammation. It keeps the sinuses moist and healthy.

If you don’t have nasya oil, you can use organic sesame seed oil (but not toasted sesame seed oil) or ghee.

To use nasya oil

• Tilt your head back or lay down and place three to five drops directly into each nostril using a dropper and sniff the oil back.

• Alternatively, insert a clean little finger and massage the oil into your nasal passages.

• Pinch and release your nostrils and inhale though the nose and release several times.

• Massage the nasal passages along your nose and cheeks.

• You can do this two to three times a day or as needed.

Do not use nasya oil until at least an hour after you have used your neti pot so that you don’t trap any water in your nasal passages or sinuses.

You can also massage your outer nose with the oil.