Ayurveda understands that sound has a profound effect on our well-being.  Sound can be used to reduce stress, maintain health, and also to invoke spiritual awakenings.  The official term for the use of sound and music as a spiritual path is Nada Yoga, which translates from Sanskrit to mean “Sound Yoga.”  Russill Paul is a world-renowned musician who was born and raised in India.  He blends Indian and contemporary music in his recordings and performances.  I just discovered his new book: “The Yoga of Sound: Tapping the Hidden Power of Music and Chant.”   The book looks at the four streams of the Nada Yoga system: mantra (sound), mudra (sacred gestures), pranayama (yogic breathing), and dhyana (meditation).  When talking about music, Paul explains that each note “has intrinsic properties that generate healing, wholeness, and love.”   There are lots of chants, exercises, and meditations he gives that we can use right now.  And the best part is that the book comes with a CD, so we can hear the music that goes with the teachings.

Living an ayurvedic lifestyle helps us to feel energetic and look good!  Most people who live ayurvedically look a lot younger than their chronological age.  A lot of the reason for this is simply that we take care of ourselves, but it’s also that ayurveda has certain recommendations to keep the skin and hair in excellent condition.  We all know that the sun can be damaging to the skin, but it’s also a source of energy for the mind and body.  The sun is an excellent source of Vitamin D, which is essential for calcium absorption and healthy bones.  Doctors say that 15 minutes of direct exposure to the sun will help us to get our minimum daily requirement of Vitamin D.  So, we need to maximize the benefits of the sun, while at the same time protecting our skin from damage.  Avoid exposure to the sun in the midday, when the sun is the hottest.  And avoid long exposure to the sun when you are angry, hungry or upset, as these factors increase body heat and make the skin more sensitive.  Pitta types need to always wear sunscreen, and keep a hat and sunglasses handy.  Avoid soaps and shampoos that contain harsh chemicals.  Synthetic fragrances can be irritating because they affect the emotions.  Look for products with all-natural ingredients that balance and nourish all seven layers of the skin.  And, of course, eat fresh, organic foods whenever possible.  Chemicals and preservatives that are in foods accumulate in the liver and kidneys and are released with sweat through the skin.  Keep the body hydrated by drinking, and bathing in the purest, filtered water.

Neem has a long history of use in Ayurveda.  Neem is a large evergreen tree in the mahogany family, and it grows naturally in India and Sri Lanka.  It has small, white flowers and a smooth yellow-green fruit.  In India, Neem is known as “the village pharmacy” because all parts of the tree have beneficial uses.  Neem can be used to treat fever, inflammation, respiratory disease, and viruses.  Neem is especially amazing in treating many skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, acne, dermatitis, and many fungal conditions like athlete’s foot.  Because of its healthful properties for teeth and gun tissue, Neem is also used for oral hygiene.  Neem is best known for promoting radiant skin, and healthy hair and nails.

In Ayurveda, weight management is individual, and a lot of its depends on your dosha.  Even Vatas, who are normally thin and lanky, may have problems with weight gain.  For Vata types, weight gain may be because of a metabolism change, or because they are mentally stressed.  Under stress, Vatas often eat irregularly, which disturbs the digestion.  So for Vatas, routine is crucial.  Vatas need to eat warm, cooked meals at a regular time each day, and make sure they get enough sleep.  They need to eat in a relaxed, calming atmosphere and not be rushed.

Pittas have problems with weight gain when they don’t eat regularly.  They have a lot of fire in their system, and that fire needs something to cook.   If it doesn’t, then their metabolism slows down and toxins build up.  It is important that Pitta types not skip breakfast.  Hyperacidity is also an issue with Pittas, so they need to avoid both sour and spicy foods.    Favor cooling foods and spices.

Kaphas are naturally prone to weight gain, and usually this stems from a slow metabolism.  So Kaphas need to start with balancing the metabolism, increasing the ability to digest sugars and carbs, and getting on a Kapha diet and lifestyle routine.  One way to boost metabolism is by adding some of the fire element into both food and lifestyle.  Use spices that are pungent, such as pepper, ginger, and turmeric.  Favor both bitter and astringent tastes, like leafy green veggies, beans, broccoli and sprouts.  Make sure vegetables are cooked and warm, as raw vegetables are hard to digest.  Quinoa and Basmati rice are both good grains for balancing Kapha because they have a drying quality to them.  Sipping warm water throughout the day (allow water to boil, then cool before drinking) also helps to add fire to the body.  Avoid heavy, cold, and fried foods.  Exercise vigorously on a regular basis.

Ayurveda sees cooking as an important part of the whole digestion and nutrition process.  Anyone can cook ayurvedically, we just need to follow a few simple guidelines.  The taste that accompanies food gives information to the body, and every taste has a specific effect.  A balanced meal in Ayurveda contains each of the six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent.  Because fresh foods provide the maximum amount of energy, Ayurveda recommends that we use fresh foods while cooking.  Avoid eating leftovers, and frozen or processed foods whenever possible, as they lack vital energy and are more difficult to digest.  Vegetables are more efficiently digested and assimilated when they are cooked, so Ayurvedic cooking principles advise that we cook our veggies rather than eating them raw.  The environment comes into play when cooking, too.  To help our bodies acclimate and stay in balance, Ayurveda recommends that we seasonally favor dosha balancing foods in each of the three seasons, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.  And cook with love in your heart, so that positive emotions infuse your meals.

In the Northern Hemisphere, we’re into Kapha season now.  One of the issues that comes with this time of year is allergies; spring fever, hay fever, whatever you want to call it, many of us will be sniffling and sneezing with the pollen and moisture in the air.  Ayurveda offers us some tips to help balance this excessive Kapha and counteract the seasonal distress:

-Choose warm beverages, like ginger tea and apple cider.  Avoid cold drinks and cold foods.

-Favor dry, light and warm foods.

-Avoid heavy foods, fried foods, and instead choose foods that are baked, broiled or grilled.

-Add warming spices to your foods, like ginger, garlic, cloves, cinnamon, and pepper.

-Keep warm.

-Exercise daily, work up a sweat.

-Practice Yogic Breathing, or Pranayama.

-Use a Neti pot to keep sinuses clear.

When you go to an Ayurvedic spa you’ll see quite an offering of wonderful treatments to choose from.  Some of the names may not be familiar to you, so let’s run down what these treatments are, and what their benefits are to you.

-Abhyanga can be done as a massage or a self-massage.  The oil, usually infused with herbs especially chosen to help balance your dosha, penetrates the skin, relaxes the mind and body, and helps to stimulate circulation.

-Garshana is a dry massage.  Silk gloves are used to brush the skin and enhance circulation.  This also cleans the skin so that oil and herbs can more deeply penetrate the skin.

-Shirodhara is an amazing treatment where warm herbalized oil is slowly and gently poured over the forehead.  While this happens, you are lulled into a very deep state of profound relaxation, allowing brain waves to synchronize body, mind, and spirit.

-Swedana is like a steam bath.  A tent is used so the head is kept cool while the body is heated to remove toxins that have built up in the body, mind, and emotions deep within the cells.

-Udvartana is a massage that uses an herbal paste to help the lymphatic system drain.  This is an exfoliating treatment that also beautifully conditions the skin.

-Vishesh is a deep muscular massage.  It helps open up the channel of communication to the deep tissues and improve circulation to the muscles.

Ayurveda teaches us to care for our hair both inside and outside.  Hair is a by-product of our bones, and healthy bones depend on healthy fat tissue.  We need to care for our both our bones and our fat tissue to have that luxurious hair we crave.  Using healthy fats, such as olive oil and ghee (clarified butter) in cooking helps.  It also helps to eat sweet, juicy fruits and leafy greens, while avoiding processed and packaged foods, refined sugars, and fried foods.  A good night’s sleep is of benefit to body, mind, and spirit, and will reflect in our entire physiology, including our hair!  To care for our hair on the outside, we need to use gentle shampoo and conditioners with natural ingredients like plant extracts that nourish the hair and provide moisture and balance to it while getting it clean.  We can also massage the hair and scalp, once a week, with warm oil.  It keeps our hair looking good, and it feels great!

Thinking of what to do for your Valentine this year?  Let Ayurveda help you out!  Use your honey’s dosha to come up with the perfect romantic surprise.  When it comes to the senses, each dosha has one or two that are dominant.  Vatas are most sensitive to touch and sound.  So for your Vata sweetie, plan for time to cuddle in front of a warm fire, and listen to soft, calming music.  Or if you’re daring enough, treat your Vata to a warm almond oil massage, and play nature sounds, like ocean waves, in the background.  Pittas are visual creatures.  For them you want to put on a show!  Set the scene with beautiful flowers, and flattering lighting.  Wear your best outfit, and present your sweetheart with a framed photo of the two of you.  Kaphas will melt when you indulge their senses of taste and smell.  Feed them their favorite meal, or sweet chocolate covered strawberries while they close their eyes and enjoy.  End the evening with an aromatherapy bubble bath.

These days, we spend so much time in front of the computer screen, watching TV, driving, reading, we’re using our eyes all the time, and yet we tend to take them for granted and not give them the care they deserve.  In Ayurveda, we learn that it is important to take care of our health, and the health of our eyes, while we are healthy.  This way we can prevent problems from occurring and improve our vision.  The eyes are governed by Pitta, which becomes less balanced as we age, so it’s a good idea to implement some Ayurvedic recommendations for eye care now.

-Make sure you get enough sleep.  Your eyes need rest just as the rest of your body does.

-Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from direct sunlight.

-Make sure you have proper light to work or read in, not too dim or bright.

-Take a break from the computer every 30 minutes.  Get up, walk around, and look at objects in the distance for awhile.

-Try this Yogic eye exercise.  Look up for two seconds, then look down for two seconds, then close your eyes for two seconds.  Open your eyes, look right as far as you can for two seconds, then look left as far as you can for two seconds, look to the front again, and close your eyes and breath for 10 seconds.  Repeat.

-Make sure to include foods that are rich in vitamin A in your diet, like carrots, and green, leafy vegetables.

-Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and keep the eyes moist.  Avoid caffeine.

-In the evening, rest with two cotton balls dipped in rosewater placed over your closed eyes.  Rosewater is cooling, and the fragrance is balancing for Pitta.