Ayurveda is a type of alternative medicine originating from India thousands of years ago, and its teachings are based on the all important mind-body connection (WAY before modern medicine caught up). Ayurveda is a system for treating illness, but it is also a lifestyle that you can adopt in big and small ways every single day.

So, in this post, I’ll be giving you a range of Ayurvedic practices and ideas that YOU can implement in your life, and watch your life become healthier, happier and more balanced!

  1. Find out your dosha.

Ayurveda is based on 3 doshas – vata, pitta and kapha. ‘Dosha’ is basically a synonym for body type, and everyone fits into one of the categories. Each dosha has different needs, from diet to overall lifestyle, so for optimum health, it is VITAL you find out which you fall into. You can take a dosha quiz here.

2. Create a good daily routine.

Ayurveda believes that there are optimal times of the day to eat, sleep and perform activities. Here is a typical daily routine:

Before 10am –

  • Wake Up
  • Eat Breakfast
  • Start daily tasks.

10am – 2pm –

  • Finish majority of tasks.
  • Eat a BIG lunch (digestion is strongest now)

2pm – Sunset

  • Time to CREATE
  • Exercise
  • Plan for next day

Sunset – 10pm –

  • Eat a light dinner
  • Relax with family
  • Fall asleep by 10pm

3. Create healthy morning habits.

Getting your day started right is essential for your health and wellbeing. Here are a few ways to bring Ayurveda to your morning.

  • Clean your tongue using a tongue scraper.
  • Clean your mouth through the method of oil pulling.
  • Use a neti pot to clean out your sinuses.
  • Practice self massage using natural oil.
  • Dry body brush to help blood circulation.

4. Get your diet on track.

Once you find out your dosha, you can begin tailoring your diet to your dosha’s needs. However, there are a few general diet tips that every dosha can follow:

  • Drink warm water (optionally, add lemon) to start your digestion for the day.
  • Consume cooked, hot meals rather than raw foods.
  • Make lunch your biggest meal of the day.
  • Cook with a lot of spices
  • Consider reducing the amount of meat and fish you consume
  • Use natural sweeteners such as honey or maple/agave syrup
  • Consume more RIPE fruits and vegetables

5. Yoga and meditation

Ayurvedic practitioners stress the importance of yoga to support health, wellbeing and vitality. There are 3 main parts of a yoga practice:

  1. Pranayama (Breathing exercises)
  2. Asanas (yoga poses)
  3. Savasana (relaxation)

Slowly build up to 45 minutes to an hour of yoga a few days a week, incorporating the 3 aspects. You can find a ton of free yoga classes on Youtube which will take you through a full practice.

Pranayama can be practiced outside of your full yoga practice. You can carry out breath control exercises such as diaphragmatic breathing and alternate nostril breathing in times of stress, or simply as part of your morning meditation routine.

Another way to mediate is to repeat positive affirmations and chant mantras such as OM, SO’HAM and SAT NAM. These can be incorporated into your breath practices.

So there are just a few ways to incorporate Ayurveda into your life. Employing some of these habits will have a profound effect on your wellbeing and health, both mentally and physically.