Ayurveda-inspired wellness ideas for the busy modern woman

Rippan Sandhu

Between hectic work schedules, home, and busy social life, women in our generation are often left with little to no time to spare. But ladies, let’s take a moment to pause, shall we? Self-care may be all the rage these days but we know how hard it is to squeeze in time for an elaborate spa therapy or a luxuriant, hour-long bath (not that we wouldn’t love any of those!). Amidst the chaos of our active lifestyle, how about we dedicate just a little bit of time every day for ourselves? 

The good news is that taking care of your health and wellness doesn’t have to be time-consuming or money-sucking. With a few Ayurveda-inspired small actions incorporated into your daily schedule, it is possible to find moments of calm during the day and also ensure your overall wellbeing. The following ideas might be a good place to start if you have been struggling to find time for self-care. 

Morning detox drink 

Autumn and winter are soon approaching and according to Ayurveda, they tend to make our systems a little sluggish, heavy and cold. So here’s a quick little pick-me-up that you can include into your winter morning schedule to help you stay energized throughout the day. Start your morning with a warm cup of ginger and lemon tea to stimulate digestion, improve appetite and ward off seasonal infections. Here's how. 

* Crush a small piece of ginger in a mortar and pestle and add it to a cup of boiling water. 

* Let it steep for a few minutes and strain it. 

* Add a tablespoon of lemon juice and a dash of honey if you want some sweetness. 

* Mix it thoroughly and drink while it’s warm. 

This small addition to your morning routine not only takes minimal time and effort but is also something that will keep you rejuvenated and hydrated through winter. 

 DIY exfoliation 

Ayurveda considers body exfoliation as one of the key steps in skincare because of its physical and mental health benefits. The process of exfoliation not only helps to eliminate dead skin and expel toxins by stimulating the lymphatic system, but the gentle scrubbing motion is also a great way to show care and love to your body. 

While this may seem like an elaborate ritual, it actually shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes of your time, that too only once or twice a week. Just take a few spoons of any one of these natural flours - oatmeal, rice, or chickpea, and mix it with some milk or Ayurda Rose Mist to form a smooth paste. Oatmeal, rice and chickpea flours are all excellent natural exfoliators that also nourish the skin and keep it supple. Apply the paste all over your face, neck, arms, and legs while gently massaging in a circular motion. Then rinse it off in the shower and voila, 10 minutes to glowing, smooth skin! 

Improve your oral health 

You may be diligently brushing your teeth every morning and night, but what if we told you that may not be enough? While brushing helps to clean your teeth, your tongue remains unattended. Tongue cleaning or scraping is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that is known to remove Ama, the toxic build up on the surface of the tongue, which if not cleaned every morning has been found to cause bad breath. According to Ayurvedic philosophy, scraping off the debris from the tongue can also significantly improve the sense of taste and in turn, enhance the digestive process. Our digestive health is closely connected to our oral health and this seemingly small act of tongue cleaning may be able to activate your taste buds and rejuvenate your system. 

5-minute self-massage 

At Ayurda, we keep going back to this at the cost of sounding repetitive, but that’s how important a daily massage routine is! Abhayanga is an Ayurvedic self-massage ritual that makes use of oil to help balance your doshas. In addition to the physical benefits of an oil massage such as toned muscles, lubricated joints, and improved blood circulation, Abhayanga focuses on making the person performing it feel loved and nurtured. 

Lightly warm Almond, Coconut or Sesame oil and start massaging from the crown of your head, moving down towards your face, arms, abdomen, and legs. Use firm but gentle strokes and savour every bit of the self-massage as the oil penetrates deep into your skin and the warmth nourishes your soul. This ritual is best done daily before your morning shower if you want to reap the benefits. Self-massage takes only about 5-10 minutes and is a great alternative to elaborate spa therapies when you are time-poor. 

At Ayurda, we are staunch believers of self-care and understand that it needs to be simple and straightforward. Ayurveda teaches us to be kind to ourselves and as women, that is probably the most important self-care practice we need to inculcate. But if you can spare a little time for yourself, we hope you are able to incorporate at least one of our favourite time-tested Ayurvedic rituals into your daily or weekly schedules. We can’t promise magical transformations, but we sure do believe you’ll feel the difference!