Category: BodyCare

Nasal Cleansing – Ayurvedic Practice

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When it comes to nasal cleansing there are two practices: neti and nasya. Neti is a process where you use salt water to cleanse the nasal passages using a neti pot. With nasya you lubricate the nasal cavities with oil.

You might be wondering why you should cleanse your nostrils, but if you think about it, you’re constantly breathing toxins from pollution in the air, fragrances in perfumes, air fresheners, candles and so on. Much of these toxins fills up your nasal passage and cleansing them can prevent and even heal allergies, colds and flus. You also improve your breathing, cure headaches, release tension and overcome sinus infections. Ayurveda also states that nasal cleansing is important because the nose is the direct route to the brain and the doorway to your consciousness.

Neti

When practicing neti, first make sure your neti pot is clean. Then boil one or two cups of water to disinfect and allow the water to cool to a comfortable temperature and pour it into your neti pot. Add 1/2 teason sea salt per cup warm water and stir. Stand over a sink, place the tip of the pot into your nostril and tilt your head sideways without leaning your head forward or backward. The water should enter one nostril and flow out the other. Breathe through your mouth as you work and do half of the water on one side and then the rest on the other.

When you’re done, you can lean forward and practice kapalbhati to get all the water out of your nose. (powerful exhalations through your nose)

If your nose is completely stuffed, you can stand up, reach your arms forward with closed fists and thumbs pointing up, bring your knees all the way up towards your chest as if your running while standing still. Do this for a minute or two and you’ll notice your nasal passage will open up.

The practice kills bacteria and other debris that cause allergies and illness. It is not necessary for every day, but highly recommended during cold, flu and allergy season. If you have sinus infection or allergies, you can practice up to three times a day.

Nasya

Nasya is a practice to lubricate the nasal passages with oil and its best preformed after neti cleansing. The salt water from neti can dry out your nasal passages, which stimulates your body to secrete more mucus to protect the membranes. Its an effective way of preventing a stuffy nose. It is also said to improve the quality of your voice, improve your vision, promote mental clarity, release tension headaches, heal sinus congestion, and release stress. Nasya oil is typically comprised of sesame oil and medicinal herbs, but if you cant get hold of it, you can just use sesame oil.

There are two ways of practicing nasya. You can either put some oil on your pinky finger and insert it into your nostril. You wont get as deep, but it will still have some effect and is a great starting point.

The other way however is more effectice. Lie down on your back, preferably on your bed with your head backward of the edge of the bed or over a pillow so your head is leaning back. With a dropper, release 5-10 drops of room temperature nasya oil in each nostril. Inhale deeply and lie still for a few minutes so the oil can deeply penetrate your nasal passages. It will feel a bit strange in the beginning, but is worth the benefits!

Dry Brushing – Ayurvedic Practice

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Dry brushing is just what it sounds like- brushing your skin with a dry brush on dry skin. By doing this you scrape the dead skin cells off the top layer of your skin. This is done before you shower. The practice promotes detoxification and stimulates your lymphatic system.

Did you know that your skin is your larges organ? One third of our body’s toxins are excreted through the skin, so it is important to take good care of it. If your skin is covered with dead follicles, it can’t breath and detoxify which will cause inflammation and toxicity in the body. With daily dry brushing you can increase blood flow, boost circulation, reduce appearance of cellulite, remove dead skin cells and help your remaining cells and your body remove waste.

The lymphatic system is like a sewer system which collects, transports and eliminates the waste from our cells. It’s job is very important and dry brushing is extremely cleansing for the system which makes it function a lot better and preventing toxic accumulation.

Dry brushing should be practiced daily before shower, both as a preventative measure to keep your lymphatic system in good health, and as a treatment for when you feel like your toxins have already accumulated. It only takes about five minutes to do, and the benefits are many!

How to dry brush

1 Begin with your arms, with gentle strokes upward towards your heart in long and slow motions.

2 Move to your chest and stomach, again moving towards the heart.

3 Move towards your back. Many people accumulate dead skin cells on their lower back, so this might be an area to focus on. Always brushing towards your heart.

4 Finish your brushing from your feet and up.

Once you’re done, take a bath or a shower and then follow up with Abhyanga practice

You can also dry brush your face, but then by using a separate softer brush, so you avoid bringing toxins from your body to your face.

Wash your brush once a week in a cup of warm water with 3 drops of tea tree oil, then lay the brush bristles down on a towel to dry.

Abhyanga – Ayurvedic Practice

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Abhyanga is an Ayurvedic practice of massaging yourself with oil. Ayurveda states that you should not put anything on your body that you wouldn’t eat, so using natural and organic oils suitable for your Dosha(body-type) 

Benefits

Abhyanga has many benefits, including toning your muscles, enhancing detoxification, softening your skin, calming your nervous system, releasing fatigue, aiding your sleep, improving elimination, lubricates your joints, increases circulation and hydrates you from within. 

Tha Charaka Samhita states, “The body of one who uses oil massage regularly does not become affected much even if subjected to accidental injuries, or strenuous work. By using oil massage daily, a person is endowed with pleasant touch, trimmed body parts and becomes strong, charming and least affected by old age.” 

How to practice

Its an intuitive practice, similar to applying lotion, but more deliberate. The sanskrit word for oil is sneba, which also means ‘love’. When oiling your body, do it in a loving matter and be grateful of your body and all it offers you. 

The touch of the massage depends on how you feel and your Dosha. If you feel heavy and lathargic then use firm and vigorous strokes to stimulate your body and get your muscles loosened. If you’re stressed and tight, practice slower movements. It’s about creating balance. 

1) Make sure the oil is warm before you put it on your skin. Either fill a glass bottle with oil and submerge it in a pot of hot water on the stove or if you don’t have the time you can put a little oil in your hand and rub them until it gets warm before you start massaging your body. 

2) Start by rubbing the oil into your arms and pay extra attention to dry spots such as elbows and wrists. 

3) Next rub your abdomen in counterclockwise circular motion. This is the direction of your colon and the movement aids your digestion and elimination. Go up your right side and down your left side. 

4) Bring the oil up to your chest in long slow strokes towards your heart. This will help you connect with your heart chakra and emotions. 

5) Start massaging your neck and back. The back is a hard place to reach, but try your best. 

6) Then move to your bottocks and down your legs, ending with your feet. 

When you’re done put on some socks to retain the oil and some easy clothes that you’re ok with getting some oil residue on. 

Depending on your bodytype and season you should do this at least two to five times a week. 

For a Vata body, you should do it at least five times a week, maybe seven during the cold and dry season. Sesame oil is recommended. 

for Pittas, three times a week with coconut oil, maybe less during the hot and humid months. 

For Kaphas, practice at least two times a week while paying extra attention to dry spots and by adding stimulating herbs to your oil. Sesame, almond and olive oils are good choices. 

Once a week you should also oil your scalp as it enhances hair growth and calms the mind. If you have long hair you can braid it and sleep with it overnight with towel over you pillow to protect it from the oil.