THE GIFT OF GIVING BY URVASHI SARNA- BALDWIN

THE GIFT OF GIVING

BY URVASHI SARNA- BALDWIN

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Why not take an opportunity this festive season to check in with yourself?

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.

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.

Below are three key routines you could start introducing into your life. As well as doing a daily ‘check in’ with yourself when you wake up making you more aware of how you are feeling and whether you feel centred or not.

Tongue scraping and brushing.

Tongue scraping is a valuable tool that assists the body with the removal of ama (toxins) which your body naturally has expelled and they accumulate on the surface of our tongue overnight which if not scraped off soon after waking will get reabsorbed. By using a copper tongue scraper with a light/ medium pressure scrape from back to front on the surface of the tongue in conjunction with brushing first thing in the morning. We can assist the body with removal of this ama, as well as the scraping action having an additional benefit of an organ massage as the surface of the tongue is a mirror of your internal organs (used for health assessments in Ayurveda consultations). Regular tongue scraping also has the added benfit of contributing to improving your Agni (digestive fire).

Morning detox drink.

In Ayurveda it is recommended that the first thing ingested each morning is a warm drink made with 1/2 teaspoon each of honey, fresh lemon or lime juice and fresh grated ginger. Honey should not be added to boiling water as this depletes the beneficial properties. The ginger has a scraping effect within the gut, the raw honey for binding the ama toxins and the lemon/lime juice to flush these toxins out of the body. This concoction is excellent to assist in flushing out toxins from the GI tract, regulating bowel motions, stimulating the digestive system and Agni as well as counteracting sluggishness in the lymphatic system. The perfect antidote to excessive consumptions of rich and heavy festive foods and drinks.

* Although honey is the preferred option for this drink, it can be substituted with jaggery or molasses if you’re vegan or dislike honey. Abhyanga (Self massage)

Often medicated Ayurveda oils are used to address specific dosha imbalances. However, cold pressed, black sesame oil is a great starting oil and is the base oil used for Ayurvedic herbal oils. Alternatively, cold pressed coconut oil can be used. The oil must be warmed before use- a bottle of oil placed in a bowl of hot water should suffice. The warm oil should be applied from the feet towards the heart in long upwards strokes. The stomach should be massaged in a clockwise direction and the arms should be massaged in long strokes from the fingers towards the heart. After 10-15 minutes the oil can be washed off with a warm shower. Self-massage has several physical and emotional benefits such as reducing stiffness in muscles and joints, promoting skin hydration, encourages circulation of blood and boosts sluggish lymphatic system and can reduce insomnia and stress to name a few! Abhyanga also relaxes and nourishes the body and you can take this a step further by really allowing this self massage to be a meditative exercise and thank your body and mind as you apply the oil.

*Other cold pressed oils are suitable alternatives for those with nut allergies.

Ayurveda is a vast healing modality and the most empowering aspect is that it places the individual at the epicentre of their healing capacity. Remember your body wants to be well and we all have the ability to become out of balance but also to bring ourselves back into balance.

For further information or individual health consultations contact:

Urvashi at baldwinwellnessglobal@gmail.com My New Year gift to you is a 15% for all health and lifestyle consultations booked in the month of January.