Queen's Joy
THE GIFT OF GIVING
mingle with those relatives we despise. We give up our self control and over consume- rich foods and copious amounts of alcohol- that extra serve when we are full or that last glass of champagne...again.
BY URVASHI SARNA- BALDWIN
But have we ever thought about the gift of giving to ourselves? Ayurveda is about living a life of balance. The word itself means the knowledge of life. It may be the buzz word in many trendy spiritual circles but how does it relate to you? Ayurveda is based on the concept that there are three doshas (these can be simply described as energetic combinations) that exist within each of us - Vata, Pitta and Kapha in varying dominances make up each individual’s constitution. Each of these doshas have their own characteristics and qualities that manifest in a mental and physical plane within us. They also all have the ability to go out of balance and then manifest negatively within us. Their ‘shadow’ sides throwing us out of whack on a physical and/or emotional level. Often the doshic imbalances are the result of poor choices in our lifestyles, diet and mental/emotional factors.
For most people the festive season is a time of giving. We are surrounded by festive cheer, invitations to Christmas parties with family, friends and colleagues and for most of us, the annual work Christmas party.
Why not take an opportunity this festive season to check in with yourself?
The past two years with the Covid pandemic have meant less time with family and friends and heightened levels of stress and isolation. This has in turn created a feeling of obligation to attend functions that we would have previously passed on.
Do you notice some days how you are energetic and other days when you feel lethargic. Sometimes excessively joyous and other times stagnant and sad? Sometimes you are driven and focused and at other times irritable and moody? All of these qualities can be attributed to imbalances within your doshas which affect your overall wellbeing and ability to function daily.
During this period the emphasis placed on us is that it is ‘the season of giving’. Not only do we give in the most obvious manner- exchanging of presents but we end up giving in more subtle ways- giving our time to attend family gatherings and social events. We give on an energetic level when sometimes we attend events when we’d rather not, stay for longer than we’d wish or are obliged to
If we could each give ourselves the gift of some time to carry out a few daily self care routines(dinacharya) we could bring the focus to our wellbeing before we carry on into the day. 18
