AIKA’S AYURVEDIC TIPS FOR SPRING SKINCARE

The Laws of Nature

Ayurveda emphasizes the need for us to align with nature, however, our modern fast-paced lifestyles and having a ‘doing’ culture has pushed us to feel disconnected from the rhythms and cycles of nature.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, the shifts in nature and the changing of seasons can influence our lives. Our physical body and mind senses the changes in our environment and so when we are conscious of these changes in nature we know it’s time to consciously make adjustments.

The Importance Of Transition

The wisdom of Ayurveda, stresses that we should pay attention to the transition between two seasons. As we pass from the old season and into a new season, we should consider and make adjustments for a new lifestyle and new attitude that are more aligned to the new season.

Winter brings about rest, restoration and building up energy stores that have been depleted during the summer. Spring calls us to move, expand, create and make use of the new restored energy.

Spring brings with it the promise of new life and new energy, an opportunity for fresh thought, creative awakenings, and unlimited possibility of manifesting what we want in our life.

Spring – the Season of Kapha Dosha

Just as each of us has a predominant dosha, the different seasons are also governed by a particular Dosha.

According to Ayurveda, spring is the season of “kapha dosha” and is characterized by the presence of the elements which make up kapha = earth + water.

The season of Spring and Kapha dosha share many similarities. In spring, the growing heat of the sun warms the earth and melts away the cold of winter and causes water to flow and brings moisture to the atmosphere. You may have heard the term ‘Spring Showers’.

As our body is the mirror of nature this new springtime warmth also melts the accumulated cold and wet qualities of kapha dosha in our body.

Ama or toxins that may have accumulated in your body over the winter months begin to melt and loosen at this time. If your body doesn’t eliminate these toxins naturally, they may collect in the channels of the body and create a variety of symptoms which can manifest as sinus problems, spring colds, nasal congestion and itchy and watery eyes.

Your mind may start to feel dull and your body heavy and congested and your skin may lose its glow and become itchy, sensitive, and prone to breakouts. Accumulated Ama also lowers your immunity, which can lead to skin allergies and infections.

So Spring literally needs to be the season of cleansing and ridding yourself of all that you have accumulated in the winter season – a spring clean!

Beauty & Wellness

Ayurveda regards beauty and health as interrelated. Healthy skin and hair are a reflection of a healthy body. Being healthy includes having beautiful skin that is glowing with health and vitality and reflects your inner health.

Looking after our skin and body requires a holistic approach that focuses on wellness – an overall sense and feeling of good health. This involves making lifestyle changes and good dietary practices.

 

SPRING TIP 1: EAT A KAPHA DIET

Your skin is a mirror of what’s happening inside your body and beautiful skin begins from within, with a balanced diet, good digestion and proper absorption of nutrients by your body.

Ayurveda teaches us that like increases like and opposites bring about balance. Since springtime is Kapha season and reflects this dosha’s cold, heavy, slow qualities, it’s helpful to modify your diet to warm things up a bit and choose foods that have the opposite qualities of being light and dry.

Choose more:

Fresh lightly cooked vegetables that are in season such as bitter greens and from the cabbage family (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage)

Choose legumes such as lentils, mung beans, black beans, white beans, kidney beans. Choose grains like basmati rice, quinoa, barley, amaranth, buckwheat and rye.

Eat fresh fruit such as apples, pears, pomegranates, stonefruit (apricots, cherries, peaches), berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)

Stick to light easy to digest dairy such as yoghurt, cottage cheese and goats milk.

Use lots of herbs and spices in your cooking that are warming, pungent and astringent such as cayenne pepper, chilli pepper, black pepper, mustard, ginger, asafetida, turmeric, basil, peppermint, dandelion, aloe vera, fenugreek and neem.

Avoid

Overly fried, heavy, oily and sweet foods, fast foods excess bread, excess dairy and reduce your intake of red meat.

Do a Kitchari Cleanse

It is recommended in Ayurveda to cleanse at least once per year with a series of five actions called Panchakarma, and ideally seasonally, especially in the Spring and Autumn and supporting this with a simple diet of Kitchari.

Cleansing every six months in this way, allows any built-up Ama (toxins/waste) that has accumulated in the previous season to be shed from the body and mind, leaving you clear, and prevents the onset of chronic imbalances.

At home, you can do a simple Ayurvedic Spring Kitchari 3 day cleanse which is a simple dish of basmati rice and moong dal lentils which are known for its detoxifying and healing properties. It gently cleanses the system of Ama, purifies the channels so that Prana can flow unimpeded, and allows the body to heal all on its own while providing essential nourishment for the emotional and spiritual purification that also occurs hand in hand with the physical cleanse. Choose three days in the week where you know you can commit to eating only the Kitchari and drinking plain water. Make a fresh pot of Kitchari each morning and have this throughout the day.

Eranthi’s Easy and Tasty Kitchari Recipe

Ingredients

½ cup split mung dhal lentils (soaked for two hours or overnight)

½ cup basmati rice 4 cups water

1 tbsp ghee (if ghee is not available substitute coconut oil or butter) 1 tsp grated ginger

1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp fennel seeds

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp cumin powder

½ teaspoon turmeric

6 curry leaves

Optional

1 cup of chopped vegetables such as zucchini, sweet potato, asparagus, kale, carrot

Method:

  • Mix the rice and mung lentils and wash thoroughly several times until the water runs clear
  • Add the lentil rice mix to a deep saucepan and cover with the water
  • Cook on medium heat for 15 minutes
  • Add the chopped vegetables and keep cooking it for a further 20-25 minutes until very soft and mushy like a thick soup
  • In a small frypan warm the ghee over a medium flame and add the ginger, herbs and spices and cook for 3-5 minutes to release the aromatics.
  • Add the spice mix to the rice and lentils and stir well
  • Enjoy!

NB: you can get the spices and curry leaves from an Indian grocery store

 

SPRING TIP 2: MOVE YOUR LYMPH

 

In Ayurveda, lymph is known as one of the seven Dhatus (tissues) and is called Rasa, the sacred carrier and cleanser of the body, taking waste products from every cell and moving them out of the body for disposal.

The lymphatic system is like the drains and pipes in your home and if not kept maintained can get blocked. Because the lymphatic system has no automatic pump of its own, it relies on our conscious choice to move our bodies in order for it to turn on and to function properly. If we don’t move enough, the accumulation of lymph can lead to stagnation and a build-up of toxins and can lead to imbalance and eventually, disease.

Kapha Balancing Practices for movement

Ayurveda suggests engaging in more vigorous, heart-pumping exercises at this time of the year. Make a commitment to engage in a 30 minute to 1-hour movement practice each day, and consider planning your practice for the Kapha time periods of the day: between 6- 10am or 6-10pm.

Choose more vigorous and chest opening yoga asanas which are great for the lungs and respiratory system such as forward and back bends, sun salutations and twists. Power walking, skipping, running, biking, swimming, hiking, dancing, pilates, weight training, or whatever exercise leaves you feeling energized, internally heated, and sweaty.

Perspiration allows the skin to remove toxins and also releases pollution and grime which may accumulate in the pores. After sweating, make sure you cleanse your skin to remove the released wastes from your skin.

 

SPRING TIP 3: DRY BRUSH AND MASSAGE YOUR BODY

 

In Ayurveda, Garshana or dry brushing is described as a method of alleviating the buildup of ama (toxins) and move excess Kapha such as water retention, bloating and feeling heavy and sluggish out of your body. If you find you have trouble getting energised in the mornings this daily practice of stimulating the body’s natural detoxification efforts will awaken your whole system.

Before your shower, use a body brush or glove to dry brush the entire body. Brush with long strokes on the limbs, and circular strokes around the joints, moving towards the heart. This helps stimulate and move stagnant lymph, improve detoxification, improve circulation, softens and smoothes your skin and revitalize the body and mind.

In the shower using Aika’s Kapha Body Polish rich in detoxifying herbs and plant extracts helps boost the circulation, stimulates the lymphatic system and invigorates sluggish metabolism and has stimulating properties for the emotions and mind. Using it around the thighs, buttocks and tummy can help break down cellulite with regular use. It is great for when you need to feel uplifted and energized and focused.

Abhyanga Ayurvedic self-massage after your shower is a daily recommendation in the Ayurvedic lifestyle and it has a multitude of benefits which include improved lymphatic drainage, firmer and more toned skin, better sleep, and improved circulation and stamina.

Aika’s Kapha Body Anoint is a light and easy to absorb body oil including stimulatingAika’s and invigorating herbs and essences such as Eucalyptus, Holy Basil, Cedarwood and Cypress to release heavy Kapha energy and energise and uplift your mind and emotions. Apply it with firm and fast strokes downwards from your shoulders and arms working towards the feet and soles.

 

SPRING TIP 4: MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE

 

While each person has unique skin and its properties depend on their predominant Dosha you may find that seasonal changes occur. In Spring the qualities of excess Kapha build up in the skin such as increased oil production, cystic breakouts and puffiness and slow lymph drainage, blackheads and whiteheads may present.

If you normally use the Pitta Deep Cleanser or the Vata Deep Cleanser, swap to the Kapha Deep Cleanser for its drawing properties and the Green Clay which is detoxifying on the skin.

The Kapha Pure Polish is ideal as a more granular exfoliant than the Vata Pure Polish and Pitta Pure Polish and can be used for excess skin build-up and the oily areas of the skin. Apply it and massage for 2-3 minutes on the skin and then leave to dry before gently rolling it off your skin.  As it rolls off it will lift away the dead skin cells.

Choose the Aika Masks for Spring skin:

  • Herbal Detox Mask to help purify congestion and cystic breakouts on the skin
  • Fruit Enzyme Mask to break the bonds between excess dead skin cells and deep cleanse the pores with natural AHA’s and enzymes
  • Honey Hydration Mask for warming the skin and increasing the circulation where sluggishness presents.

Do a daily scalp massage before bed

Remember the head has many marma acupressure points and a lot of toxic emotions such as stress, anxiety, worry and nervous tensions are stored in the head. By massaging the scalp with Aika’s Herbal Hair Anoint you will detox emotionally and mentally. The Hair Anoint is infused with Ayurvedic nervine and cooling herbs that help with mental health such as Brahmi, Neem, Liquorice, Frankinsence and Sandalwood.

LOCKDOWN LOVE PART 2 – EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL SELF CARE PRACTICES

For many of us, moving our bodies is a lot easier than sitting with the turbulence of our emotions and constant self-talk of the mind.

Feelings and emotions can provide clues about what’s missing in our life.  Emotional self-care revolves around getting in touch with our feelings, learning to understand what they have to say, and using this information to better protect and nurture our emotional health.

Here are some tips on how to nurture your emotional and mental energy and my own morning and evening practices to create a mindful daily routine.

 

Breath your way to balance

Pranayama or breathing techniques were prescribed in the Vedas (an ancient collection of written knowledge and science) to move Prana or life-force into the body and the mind.

With Prana moving through the body and also the subtle energy channels called nadi’s and chakras, we have the ability to drop into a state of deep meditation and transcendence beyond our physical selves.

I love practicing mindfulness as often as I can.  Mindfulness as a practice has been shown to increase our mental wellbeing and is something that is so simple to bring into our day.

The way I bring mindfulness into my day is by practicing Pranayama or breath regulation every morning and evening lying in bed as I awake and just before sleep; and also during stressful times during the day or whenever I feel anxious.  It was taught to me many years ago when I was 14 as a way to manage pain without pain killers (as I had horrible period pain) by a family friend who was an experienced Yoga teacher.

 

The 4 2 4 2 Breath Sequence for Stress Relief

 

Here is the simple breath exercise I have been doing for over 30 years.

Place one hand on your stomach and one on your chest or heart center.  You want to feel the hand on your stomach move in and out more than the hand on your chest.  Take a deep breath in through your nose.  As you inhale count in your mind 1…2…3…4 and imagine using the air you breathe in to expand through your chest all the way to your ribs and down to your stomach.  Hold this inhalation for a count of 2.  Then exhale through your nose for a count of 1…2…3…4 and pause again for 2 counts before starting again.

Doing this breathing exercise slows down your breathing to just 5 breaths a minute.  On average we breathe about 15-20 breaths a minute, more when we are anxious or stressed. Ayurveda teaches us that when we slow our breath we slow our heart rate and when we slow our heartbeat we increase our lifespan.

Deep mindful breathing gets more oxygen to your brain and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which sends a signal to your brain to tell the anxious part that you’re safe and don’t need to use the fight, flight, or freeze response.

 

Mindfulness Practices

If you want to learn more about mindfulness practices, Mindful in May is a program I have personally engaged in and enjoyed.  You get access to guest speakers from around the world and they also have some short courses.  Find more about it here

 

Mental and Spiritual Soul Care

All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone. 

-Blaise Pascal

I love this quote from the 17th-century French philosopher Blaise Pascal.  Sitting quietly in a room in silent meditation is a gift to our emotional and mental wellbeing.

I love meditating every morning.  It’s a routine I’ve had for many years and so simple to do.  If you are new to meditation start with just 2 minutes and you’ll be rewarded with a sense of peace and calm.

I use a personal mantra which I repeat during my meditation.  You may choose a mantra or an affirmation to say silently to yourself or simply close your eyes and focus on your breath.

If you are looking for a meditation teacher I highly recommend Laura Poole who is a Vedic Meditation teacher and someone I know personally, a beautiful soul inside and out.

Here’s a link to the Laura Poole Website 

 

My Morning Meditation Ritual and Journaling

 

I wake up early between 5.30 am and 6 am which is a magical time of the day when night gives way to dawn.  I make a pot of tea, sit by the fire in winter or outside on my decking in the warmer months and have all this magnificent time of day to myself while I meditate, journal and create the intention for my day in peace and quiet.

I create a sacred space for my meditation by lighting a candle and incense at my altar and carry more incense around the house to bless it and all of us that live here and all who enter my home.  I then sit quietly and meditate for 20 minutes.  I love seeing the sunrise after my meditation and I follow with journaling and writing down all the things I am grateful for, feeling into my core values and dreaming about my goals and what I want to achieve for the day, how I want to feel during the day while I am going about it and what my intention is for the day.

 

My Night Time Retreat for Peaceful Sleep

I like to spend the evening unwinding from the day by going for a long walk with my dogs to the local part or beach. Breathing in the fresh air after being indoors is so recuperating.  I like to cook dinner and then follow the 3:2:1 rule during the weekdays.  I eat dinner 3 hours before I go to sleep, 2 hours before bed I turn off bright lights and switch to a Himalayan salt lamp and candles from 8:00 pm to support my body’s production of melatonin the sleep hormone for a great night’s sleep and 1 hour before I go to bed I turn off all electronics and I’m usually in bed by 10:00 pm.

Just before bed, I perform my 3-step Aika Retreat Ritual which I have created in line with our body’s natural bio-rhythms and chosen herbs and aromatherapy specifically for reducing stress and infusing a sense of calm and peace for a great nights sleep.  Each dosha is catered for with what they need for nighttime rest and renewal.

I cleanse and massage my skin with a Deep Cleanser and this winter I’ve been using the Kapha Deep Cleanser for its warming, uplifting and detoxifying effect.  I then follow with compressing my skin with the Pitta Ayuressence and taking deep healing breaths of its gentle aroma.  This really soothes my skin and mind and brings about an immediate sense of calm.  It is one of my favourite products and helps to regenerate my skin while I sleep and the plant essences help induce deep sleep.  I follow with the Pitta Elixir for deep cellular nourishment and repair with a boost of anti-oxidants and vitamins and finish with the Eye Balm for firming and nourishing my under-eye skin and also my lips.

 

Honour yourself

Tailoring self-care for yourself is an act of deep love and celebration of your individuality.  It is something we can all do with consciousness and awareness that we are taking good care of ourselves inside and out.  Planning your self-care and adapting it to what works best for you and then making a commitment to do this consistently will lead to your whole body wellness – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

 

As always take good care of yourself.

 

Love and wellness

 

Eranthi