What have I learned over the five decades around the sun?

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I’m turning fifty in March and it made me think about what this means to me.  There is a lot of negative association with getting older in the western world and to be honest, it’s not something I’m interested in.  I feel more vibrant, more powerful, more joyful and freer at fifty than I have at any other age.

 

In my twenties, I thought I was superwoman and was so busy trying to prove myself in a corporate role while studying for an MBA with a young baby that I felt burn out by thirty.  In my thirties, I had two babies under two and decided to set up a wellness spa at the ripe old age of 32 and spent the next ten years working 6 days a week in my business and raising two young children.  While I loved my work, our team and our clients I was running on a near-empty tank most days and to be honest knew I wasn’t living my best life.

 

In my forties, I started to evaluate what I really wanted for myself and what kind of life I wanted to live.  My children were getting older and I had more time to invest in myself and this lead me to put my wellness into centre stage.  It’s also when I realised I wanted to take Aika out of the day spa I created her back in 2004 and bring her into the world to touch more hearts and souls than I could in my day spas.  I wanted to inspire, educate and empower women to create moments of sacred connection through their skincare at home; and for spas to offer truly pure, organic and holistic treatments to their clients that elevated them from the daily grind.

 

Now that I am turning fifty despite all the uncertainly in the world, what I have learned is there is always uncertainty in the world!  I have lived through a civil war as a child in Sri Lanka, sought refuge outside our home, moved to live in another continent and learn a new culture, experienced the turmoil of the gulf war, the war in Afghanistan, the multiple economic crises over the last 20 years, lived through the terrible twos and the terrible teens of my children (!), witnessed multiple bushfires, floods and storms and recently Covid-19 and now more war, natural disasters and uncertainty again this year.

 

It is easy to feel overwhelmed in times like this.  So I’m choosing to do what I have direct control over by giving financially to organisations that are creating an impact.  On a personal level, I’m taking the advice I’ve been dishing out to my children for many years when I told them to ‘surf those waves’.  Knowing full well that while I may go under smacked over by a huge wave, if I hang on to that surfboard for dear life when I surface to get back up again, I can catch that next exhilarating wave.  And when I don’t feel like surfing anymore I can swim back to the beach and lie on the sand under the sun and rest.

 

Turning fifty has made me think about all the things I have learned to be true over the last five decades and I’m excited about all the things I have yet to experience.

 

These are the 11 key things I have learned, coincidentally my numerology life path number is also 11.

  1. My self-worth is intrinsic. It is not tied to anything or anyone or any situation outside of myself. Self-worth is not net worth.  It is my divine right and no one can take that away from me.  It has taken me the good half of my forties learning to unlearn all the patterns laid down in childhood and lots of therapy and inner work to get to a place of acceptance.  Loving and accepting myself is an inside job, no one else can do this for me, that’s why it’s called ‘self’ worth and ‘self’ love!

 

  1. I am a whole being and the sole custodian of my wellness. My physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and communal wellness is inter-connected and in synergy.  Every morning I write in my journal how I am going to nourish each of these areas that day.  It is my sacred responsibility and no one else’s to take good care myself so that I stay vibrant, energised and in a state of equilibrium and balance.

 

  1. My energy is my most valuable currency. I choose where, when, with whom and on what I gift my precious energy to.  Building my day mindfully around my energy and how I want to spend it has been instrumental to my health and vitality.  Having consistent daily rituals including meditation, physical self-care practices, nutritious food and hydration, rest, sleep and connecting with nature is essential to replenishing my energy.

 

  1. I choose to believe in the good in people. Everyone is doing the best they can with what they have at any given time.  Being gentle and well-intentioned with others starts by embracing an attitude of being gentle and well-intentioned with myself.  When I am feeling good I emanate this goodness out into the world.

 

  1. Good people are gifts. The older I get the circle of people I choose to spend time with has shrunk significantly but the ones that I keep in my inner circle are precious gems.  I only invest my energy and time in relationships that are deep and nourishing in a mutually meaningful way.  As Esther Perel says ‘the quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life’.

 

  1. A sense of wonder and magic is a beautiful thing. I’ve always been a dreamer and insanely curious.  I still get excited over the simplest things like watching the sunrise and marvelling at how the sun rises no matter what is going on in our world.  I am constantly amazed at how my tiny babies Aiden and Karma have grown and evolved over the last 20 years into young adults, it’s been miraculous to watch them!  Miracles are real!

 

  1. Boundaries are boss. My life transformed when I learned how to create boundaries both internally for myself and externally with others.  I had to get really clear on what my values in life are and communicate and live these through boundary setting.  This has been one of the most difficult things I have learned to do and the most revolutionary to my sense of contentment in life.

 

  1. I’m here to live an extra-ordinary life in my values of joy and freedom. I am the sole definer of what an extra-ordinary life means to me.  One of the definers of what makes my life extra-ordinary is that I am constantly learning and investing in educating myself. The second one is how I can I be of service to others.  What can I learn that will increase my joy and freedom and what can I offer that will bring joy and freedom to others?  These are the questions I keep asking myself daily.

 

  1. I don’t want a work-life balance. I want a fully integrated life where my work is in alignment with my values where I can live my purpose in a practical and meaningful way. When I was younger in a corporate role I was told to leave my personal stuff at the door when I came to work and vice versa when I got home! I refuse to do that as it makes me feel fragmented and I am a whole being.  No matter where I go or what door I walk through I take my whole self through every time.

 

  1. Life is too short for crappy skincare. How I nourish and treat my body both internally and externally is a reflection of what value I place on myself and how I choose to love and honour myself.  We literally feel and experience the world through our skin and I refuse to put anything on my skin and body that doesn’t serve my highest good.  Skincare is Soulcare and this is why I created Aika because I wasn’t satisfied with what was out there in the market for me and for my clients when I ran my two-day spas in Melbourne. I wanted a better way and no one else was doing it so I created it.

 

  1. How I age is up to me. How I feel about ageing is up to me.  The older I get the more I’m getting in touch with my wild side.  So far in 2022 I’m relishing going bush and off-grid, camping is my new thing! I’m howling at the full moon naked, I’ve immersed myself in the esoteric teachings of Tantra, I’m doing a course in revolutionary self-love, another in restorative yoga teacher training, I’m studying Ayurveda Marma Therapy with Dr Vasant Lad, I’m swimming with dolphins and learning to scuba dive so I can do this over the great barrier reef later this year.  Fifty is looking good!

 

I like to listen to a podcast every day and last year I listened to one of Oprah’s Supersoul Sessions podcasts with Rob Bell called ‘Is Your Best Day Behind you?’.  He talks about meeting a 92-year-old woman Mary, who said ‘I’m 92 and I’m just getting started”!  It was so inspirational as she raises a profound question about what it means to be growing and living your best life no matter what age you are.  I honestly believe that regardless of our chronological age, it is how we choose to live our lives in the small daily ways that add up to the richness of our lives that we experience.  So moving into my fifth decade of life I am going to live more wholeheartedly, more wildly, more nourishingly and more wholly than I have ever done before.  I’m looking forward to having my best day yet.

 

To celebrate my birthday and International Women’s Day this coming week I’m so happy to offer you 15% off any Aika product from the 7th of March to the 9th of March at 11:59 pm. CODE: ERANTHI15

 

AIKA’S AYURVEDIC TIPS FOR SPRING SKINCARE

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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

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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

 

Self care

LOCKING DOWN ON SELF CARE

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Self care

 

Right now a lot of us are feeling a sense of overwhelm, anxiety and heaviness with how much our lives have changed and a sense of loss for how our lives used to be and uncertainty as to when things may become ‘normal’ again. That’s why it’s more important now than ever that you are kind to yourself by cultivating a practice of consistent daily self-care.

 

Fortifying your emotional, physical, and spiritual health through self-care is the foundation for your overall health and well-being

 

In Part 1 we will explore what Ayurveda teaches us about self-care and physical practices and in Part 2 will expand on the spiritual, emotional and mental practices for wellness.  I’m sharing what my personal practices are for each of these areas and I hope this inspires you to take good care of yourself during times of lockdown and beyond.

 

WHAT SELF CARE IS NOT

 

The term ‘self care’ can raise many emotions including guilt and for some it can seem overly indulgent or egotistical; that we are pursuing a life of narcissistic self-absorption.

 

However, this can’t be further from the truth.  Research in the fields of medicine, psychology, sociology and various fields of wellness have shown that self-care has a positive long lasting effect on our health and wellbeing and on how we respond to stress and anxiety.

 

Self-care is not something you only do if you have lots of leisure time. Neither is self-care a reward that is only to be gained once other tasks are completed.

 

Self-care is not selfish or a waste of time.  It is essential to our whole well-being and health.

 

AYURVEDA AND SELF CARE

 

In Ayurvedic teaching, taking conscious and mindful ownership of your wellness is not just necessary but your sacred duty to yourself and your community.

 

This is essential as we are here to fulfil our Dharma or our calling here on the planet. Think about that for a moment!  Isn’t that such a powerful thought?

 

To support yourself in your daily life you must be healthy and well in all aspects of yourself – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

 

If we made it our purpose that looking after ourselves is our number one personal priority and this, in turn, empowers others and contributes to a greater level of wellness in our families, communities and on the planet then what a powerful movement that would be!

 

LET’S GET PHYSICAL

Self care

You can create daily self-care rituals to care and connect to yourself on a deep level by honouring your Ayurvedic Dosha or mind-body type and its specific needs.  You can learn more about your dosha here:

BE AN EARLY BIRD

 

Waking up before the sun rises is recommended in Ayurveda as it’s a time of day rich in the universal quality called Sattva which brings about balance, peace, harmony, purity and clarity.  In the early morning when there are these loving Sattvic qualities in nature is the perfect time to bring peace to the mind and freshness to the senses.

 

HOT WATER HEALING

 

The first thing I do on getting out of bed is tongue scraping my tongue with a copper tongue scraper to remove toxins (called Ama) deposited overnight.  I follow this with a big glass of hot water, an Ayurvedic recommendation to help detoxify the body and I continue this practice of sipping on hot water during the course of the day.

 

This daily hot water cleanse helps dissolve and wash away any accumulated Ama that is blocking both physical and subtle energy channels.  It aids in digestion and assimilation of food during the day and ensures nutrition can be delivered more effectively to your cells and cellular metabolic waste is more efficiently eliminated.

 

LOVE YOUR SKIN

self care

skin care, self care, ayurveda

Create moments of ritual and connection through using Aika organic skincare.  Invest the time to deeply breathe in the aromas, engage your senses by enjoying the textures of each product and feel them melt into your skin.  Bathe in the energy flowing through you as you massage your face and neck with love.  This is not functional skincare.  It is showering ourselves with loving care every day and is pure joy.

 

Just as nature has daily rhythms so does your skin and body.  That’s why I’ve created the AM and PM skincare to cater to your different needs in the morning and evening.

 

MORNING SKIN LOVE

 

In the morning I love the 3-step Aika Arise Ritual of using the Pure Polish Ayurvedic skin cleanser for sweeping away dead skin cells and creating smoothness and softness.  Even sensitive skin types can comfortably use the Pitta Pure Polish which has a cult following with those that have rosacea, acne and skin sensitivity.

 

Follow with the Tonic, our organic skin toner and face mist to infuse hydration and balance the skin and emotions. I carry a Discovery Size Tonic in my bag that I use during the day for a hydration boost, aura cleansing and emotional balance whenever I need it.

 

While my skin is still damp I apply the Face Balm concentrated day moisturizer to lock in hydration, provide daily nutrition and protect my skin during the day.  The Eye Elixir eye serum is the final step to help keep the under-eye area looking and fresh and protected.

 

NIGHT SKIN LOVE

 

At night I cleanse my skin with the Deep Cleanser and make up remover to remove any trace of makeup, increase the circulation, release toxins and drain lymph.

 

I follow this with the Ayuressence aromatherapy compress drops (one of my favourite products) to help my skin regenerate from the cellular level and prepare me for deep sleep.

 

I love massaging the Face Elixir organic face oil slowly and mindfully over my face and neck for a boost of anti-oxidants and vitamins to help repair my skin while I sleep. The Eye Balm Aika’s rich eye cream melts into firm and nourish the skin around my eyes.

 

I have bundled the morning and evening 3-step ritual kits for your personal at-home skin routine here –

 

HOW DO I FIND THE TIME FOR MY SKINCARE?

 

I get asked a lot about how I find the time for all this and my answer is simple.  I prioritise me.  When you prioritise anything in your life you find the time and you make the time to do it.

 

LOVE YOUR BODY

 

One of my absolute favourite Ayurvedic daily rituals is to lavish my entire body with herbal oil after a shower.  Our skin is our largest organ and this daily Abhyanga oil massage moisturizes and increases our skin’s elasticity, promotes circulation, strengthens the muscles, helps detox the lymphatic system, calms the nervous system and balances the doshas.

 

How beautiful that the Sanskrit word for oil, Sneha can be translated as both oil and love!  Just like the experience of being loved, Abhyanga can give a deep feeling of security, stability and warmth.

 

I have created the Aika Body Anoints to be used daily and they are beautifully aromatic Ayurvedic herbal body oils customized for each dosha.  Aika body oils are made over a long process of herbal infusion and small batch hand blending to be richly infused with herbal phyto-nutrients.

 

Select the one for your dosha or if you’re like me get them all and vary them based on how you want to feel each day here:

 

FEED YOUR BODY THE GOOD STUFF

 

There is so much to say about Ayurvedic food that I could write a book on it!  Very simply the best way to nourish your body with food is to eat what is in season, choose local and organically grown with minimal pesticides, herbicides and additives, include as much fresh coloured vegetables in each meal and eat for your dosha.  More on dosha specific nutrition to come in a future blog!

 

MOVE YOUR BODY

exercise

exercise

The secret to establishing a regular exercise routine is finding something that you enjoy and suits your mind-body type and each dosha has specific needs when it comes to physical movement.

 

Vata dosha individuals benefit best from grounding and gently paced exercise such as walking, cycling, dancing and yoga.  Pitta dosha types thrives on anything that gets them out in nature such as walking, gentle jogging and swimming and anything that helps them stay cool-headed and calm.  Kapha dosha people get the best results with endurance sports such as running, weightlifting and team sports.

 

I like doing gentle stretching in the morning and walking my dogs in our local park in the evening. I practice Vinyasa and Yin yoga weekly and I love how alive my body feels after.  Most nights while preparing dinner I play some music and dance while I cook!

 

Next week I’ll be sending out Part 2 of this blog to deep dive into emotional, mental and spiritual self-care.

 

Take good care of yourself.

 

Love Eranthi

LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE IN THE RUNNING TO WIN A HONEY HYDRATION MASK (RRP $79)

The Best Winter Skincare Routine to Combat Dry Skin

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While the cooler months bring with them some much-needed relief from the sweaty summer days, winter presents its own challenges for the skin.

From cracked lips to blotchy, itchy dry skin across the face and body, it can be a challenge to keep the dreaded ‘winter skin’ at bay.

Before the mercury drops even further, now is the time to switch up your routine and find the perfect dry skin products for your winter skincare routine.

Choosing the proper winter skincare routine is crucial to soothe dry skin and safeguard your skin’s natural barriers against weather, irritants and pollutants. Here at Aika, we’ve formulated 100% certified organic dry skin remedies inspired by Ayurveda to naturally alleviate irritated, dry skin and flaky skin.

Our Vata range is inspired by the Ayurvedic ‘Vata’ dosha and is tailored to normal and dry skin, making for the ideal winter skincare routine.

With all-natural ingredients such as vitamin-rich plant oils, extracts and essences, herbal infusions, and organic AHA’s, this organic and vegan skincare range vitalises and repairs dry skin while promoting elasticity, suppleness and brightness for radiance all winter-long.

Morning Winter Skincare Routine

 

Vata Pure PolishVata Pure Polish - Aika Wellness-Australia

If you’ve got flaky skin, our beautifully balanced Vata Pure Polish is a must for your winter skincare routine.

This rejuvenating 2 in 1 dry skin exfoliator enhances your skin’s natural detoxification process and delivers instant skin moisture, nourishment and smoothness, so you can skip dry skin and go straight to soft, glowing skin for the day ahead.

Vata Tonic

Love a dewy, fresh complexion? Start your morning the right way with our Vata Tonic. This is a high-performing 2 in 1 dry skin toner and firming mist enriched with a re-mineralising complex of 84 essential minerals, perfect for use as a skin primer, setting spray or a refreshing spritz.

Packed with plant hydrosols and fresh whole-plant extracts, the Vata Tonic dramatically increases skin hydration, boosts circulation, plumps fine lines and quickly banishes skin dryness.

Vata Face Balm

Chapped skin are common complaints in winter, which is why Aika has developed a completely natural dry skin treatment, the Vata Face Balm. 

This dry skin cream is perfect for rubbing into itchy, cracked hands, knuckles, knees and elbows for instant relief. Looking for something to help with chapped lips? Our lightweight eye balm is ideal.

Evening Winter Skincare Routine

 

Vata Deep Cleanser

In winter, don’t over-cleanse. Before bed, opt for warm, not hot water and gently wash your skin with a natural cleanser designed for dry skin, such as our Vata Deep Cleanser.

This dry skin cleanser is a richly emollient 2 in 1 cleansing balm and makeup remover formulated with golden clay to dissolve makeup, environmental pollution and impurities while maintaining the skin’s moisture balance for a soft, plump and healthy glow.

Vata Face Elixir

Need a little extra hydration for your winter skincare routine? Our immensely hydrating and repairing Vata Face Elixir is a dry skin oil that provides a divinely nourishing boost of moisture to the skin.

This opulent, silky dry skin serum replenishes dry skin with luscious natural oils, plant essences and active extracts that boost cellular repair and rebuild collagen to restore firm, bright and incredibly soft skin.

 

Vata Ayuressence

Looking to get that summer glow with your winter skincare routine? Defeat devitalised and dehydrated skin at the end of the day with the Vata Ayuressence.

The Vata Ayuressence brightens and firms while working to refine texture and smooth the skin’s surface for luxurious hydration and radiance all year round.

This miracle essence contains a synergy of natural oils and essences to accelerate collagen and elastin repair for increased elasticity and tone while gently resurfacing and increasing cellular turnover to combat flaky skin.

 

Winter Skincare Routine for the Body

 

Vata Body Polish

Show your body some winter-time self-care and scrub away stress with the Vata Body Polish. This exfoliating body polish for dry skin also doubles as a bath salt.

It is brimming with Ayurvedic herbal extracts and aromatic essences to relieve fatigue and soften dry skin for ultimate luxury and recovery.

Vata Body Anoint Oil

Moisturising is an essential step of any winter skincare routine, and it shouldn’t be limited to your face.

If you’ve got dry skin or itchy, flaky skin on your arms, legs, hands and feet, our Vata Body Anoint Oil serves as a deeply nourishing dry skin treatment and moisturiser for dry skin. This loving body oil is packed with antioxidant-rich oils and infused with rejuvenating extracts to help relax and soothe dry skin all over your body.

Not sure which one will suit your winter skincare routine best? Purchase our Vata Dosha Discovery Kit today and try them all!

Spring

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Spring is the season of Kapha dosha which is composed of the elements of Earth and Water. Ayurveda says that “Kapha accumulated in winter is liquefied in the body by the heat of the Spring sun. This can affect the power of digestion and metabolism and result in a variety of complaints.” (Charaka Samhita)

When in excess or imbalanced Kapha is characterised by heaviness, lethargy, accumulated toxins, water retention and sluggishness. Think of what happens when water and earth mix, you get mud! Having too much Kapha is a bit like feeling ‘stuck in the mud’.

Ayurveda tells us that ‘like increases like’ so we need to incorporate those elements that are the opposite of Kapha – light, quick, mobile. As winter melts into Spring this is also the ideal time for us to melt away and eliminate accumulated toxins from our bodies and mind and embark on a ‘mind-body spring clean’.

We can do this in all aspects of our life through our choices in lifestyle, food, activity and spiritual practice. Below are some easy tips for you to include this Spring.

Spring Diet

Eating lots of fresh lightly cooked meals (not raw) that are easy to digest and favour bitter, astringent and pungent flavours such as ginger, pepper, basil, and bitter greens. Eat less of Kapha increasing foods such as dairy, cold foods and drinks, oily and fried foods and those high in sugar. Always allow for at least three to four hours between meals to allow each meal to digest completely. Sipping warm water during the day also helps our body to eliminate. A good way to help your body detox is by eating only kitchari, which is a simple rice and lentil meal, for 24 hours. Ayurvedic doctors prescribe kitchari before, during and after the Panchakarma detoxification treatment. Kitchari provides nourishment while allowing your body to eliminate and heal. Here’s the link to an easy recipe from Dr Vasant Lad:

https://www.ayurveda.com/recipes/kitchari

Lifestyle
Waking up with the sun before 6am is a good way to calibrate your body in line with nature’s rhythms and your body’s circadian rhythms. Kapha time runs from 6am to 10am and this is the perfect time to develop a morning cleansing self-care routine of tongue scraping and oil pulling. Using an invigorating and uplifting body scrub is especially helpful in reducing sluggish Kapha. Aika’s Kapha Body Polish used in your shower or bath will help eliminate toxins, increase circulation, clear the mind and energise the spirit for a new day ahead.

See below for our special Kapha Body Polish offer!

Spiritual practice
Letting go and creating space for newness in our lives is a way to decrease excess Kapha. This is a good time to introspect on what is not working for you and what is holding you back and look at ways you can release this and move forwards. Decluttering your home and workplace is also a good way to increase energy into your physical space. By including a simple daily meditation practice while moving is an ideal way to keep your Prana (vital energy) circulating through your body and mind. Try this simple Pranayama walking exercise for 10 minutes each day to this simple 4.2.4.2 rhythm:

4 – walk four steps and breathe deeply through your nose into your belly for four counts (one count per step)
2 – walk for two steps while holding your breath
4 – walk four steps and breathe out for four counts (one count per step)
2 – walk for two steps while holding your breath
Repeat this cycle for 10 minutes of your walk

Breathing to this rhythm while walking means you are only taking 5 full breaths per minute so you increase the oxygen into your cells and slow down your heart rate to create a feeling of mindful calm. Remember to walk slowly as the idea here is to be mindful in your breath rather than to exercise!

SPRING SPECIAL OFFER!

The Kapha Body Polish (value $56) is all yours when you take home $100 or more of your favourite Aika products.*

Your free gift will be added at checkout when you simply use this coupon code: SPRING

Why Kapha Body Polish?

Kapha Body Polish stimulates and cleanses the lymphatic and circulatory systems, removing toxins, firming and toning the skin while increasing new cell formation. Your skin will be transformed with minerals and hydrating oils that revive even the driest of skins, banishing roughness and flakiness and optimising the flow of Prana (energy) throughout your body. Energising and detoxifying Ayurvedic herbal extracts of Tulsi, Arjuna, Eucalyptus and Dandelion are combined with Himalayan crystal salts, containing 84 minerals essential for your body. A synergistic blend of Lemongrass, Lime, Niaouli and Geranium essences will clarify and uplift your mind leaving you feeling refreshed and enlivened, basking in the divine aroma of true peaceful time for yourself.

Kapha Body Polish Ritual & tips

  • In the shower massage 2-3 teaspoons of the body polish in light circular motions onto damp skin paying attention to the dry and rough areas such as elbows and knees. Shower off.
  • In the bath, after massaging the Body Polish all over your body, sink into the warm water letting the soothing aromas melt away any tensions while you soak.
  • Ideal to use in the bath for after sport for relieving tired and aching muscles.
  • Great to use as a targeted anti-cellulite treatment. Simply massage firmly in circular movements over the affected area.
  • Drink plenty of water after you use the Body Polish to aid in flushing toxins out of your body.

* Hurry as this free offer is only available until the 15th of October 2018. One free Kapha Body Polish per order.

 

Shop Aika Certified Organic Skincare

WIN $150 OF AIKA SKINCARE!

Why do you choose certified organic? Comment on our Blog and go in the draw to win $150 of Aika certified organic skincare in August.

We value your feedback and would love to answer any questions you have about Aika.
Please visit our website for more information or contact our passionate and dedicated team at Aika HQ

‘Lighting the way for true wellness’

True Benefits of Certified Organic Skincare

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September is Australian Certified Organic Awareness month and in line with this I want to share something that’s close to my heart – the true benefits of buying certified organic products.

When you buy a certified organic product what you are really buying is absolute assurance that what you are getting is actually what it says on the label and in the container. With the recent media airing of how certain companies have mislead us consumers it is becoming increasingly difficult to know who to trust and believe.

Greenwashing (making misleading claims about a product’s sustainability and purity), and falsely making organic claims is rife.

Just recently Gaia Naturals (includes GAIA Natural Baby, GAIA Pregnancy + New Mum, GAIA Skin+Body, especially for women, and GAIA Made for Men) a well known skincare brand was fined by the ACCC who released this statement on their website on the 20th of June 2018:

“GAIA described its Natural Baby Bath & Body Wash, Baby Shampoo and Baby Moisturiser as “Pure ★ Natural ★ Organic”. However, these products contain two synthetic chemical preservatives: sodium hydroxyl methyl glycinate and phenoxyethanol.

“Businesses making organic claims must be able to substantiate those claims. GAIA’s claims may have misled consumers into thinking these products are free from synthetic chemicals when they are not,” ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said.

This enforcement outcome with GAIA forms part of broader work by the ACCC relating to organic representations. Acting on information from stakeholders, the ACCC has assessed the use of organic claims across a range of businesses and products.

I’m a mum and the fact that BABY PRODUCTS are marketed in this way to us mums is something I find absolutely outrageous and horrifying!

Then just yesterday the honey industry was rocked with the news that Capilano, Australia’s biggest honey producer, and supermarkets are accused of selling ‘fake’ honey! As the ABC reported on the 3rd of September:

“Testing at a leading international scientific lab that specialises in honey fraud detection has found that almost half the honey samples selected from supermarket shelves were “adulterated”, meaning it has been mixed with something other than nectar from bees.”

What these actions really amount to is unethical behaviour by businesses that value profit over ethics and transparency.

So here’s the deal. When you want absolute assurance that what you are getting is actually what’s on the label and what you want it to be – CHOOSE CERTIFIED ORGANIC!

By choosing certified organic you buy from businesses that are investing time, money and hard work in getting an independent and unbiased certification so you the consumer can rest easy and get what you actually want and pay for.

It would have been so easy for me to have created just another skincare range and called it natural, botanical , chemical free and organic. This would have been the fast, easy and cheap way to get to market. Instead it took me over three years just to get organic certification! ALL Aika’s 29 products are certified organic (not just a few). That’s 29 formulas with over 120 ingredients. I persevered because I wanted to create something that was beyond just a business. I wanted to create a business with heart and soul, something that stood for more than just me earning an income and putting food on the table for my kids. Because I care deeply and passionately about you.

So here’s three great benefits of buying Aika certified organic skincare:

1. SOIL TO SKIN PURITY:
We can prove organic certification for our entire supply chain. This means that every single raw ingredient we use (we have over a 100) needs to be traceable back to its source and verified individually for how each is grown, harvested, processed, stored and transported. It means that all our processes from receiving and storing raw ingredients, our formulas, how we manufacture our products, cleaning processes, water safety, environmental sustainability, packaging and how we deliver our product to market has been scrutinised by ACO and meets these high standards. This is our ongoing commitment to you that you will only and ever get the best of the best from Aika.

2. PEACE OF MIND
Regular audits are essential for our suppliers and includes inspection of farming land including soil and water testing for toxic insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilisers to ensure growers and handlers are meeting these set standards. Aika also undergoes yearly audits on all our systems and processes which include inspection of our certified organic facility The Lighthouse, to ensure we adhere to the strict ACO standards. Regular testing is carried out on our products which guarantees that no chemical residue is present in our product. We want you to have absolute peace of mind as to what you put on your skin.

3. ECOLOGICAL HARMONY
Using certified organic products ensures that we protect and promote a more sustainable environment for everyone. It ensures that animal welfare is maintained, there is no animal testing of raw ingredients or end products. It means that farming communities benefit from fair trade practices and child labour is not used. Since all our products are certified organic what goes down the drain won’t harm the environment. All our packaging has been assessed to be eco-friendly, recyclable and biodegradable. Kind to you, kind to our planet.

At Aika we stand by the Sanskrit philosophy of Ahimsa – do no harm.

Aika’s Australian Certified Organic (ACO) certification logo.

 

Next week on the blog – Celebrating Spring the Ayurvedic way!

 

Shop Aika Certified Organic Skincare

WIN $150 OF AIKA SKINCARE!

Why do you choose certified organic? Comment on our Blog and go in the draw to win $150 of Aika certified organic skincare in August.

We value your feedback and would love to answer any questions you have about Aika.
Please visit our website for more information or contact our passionate and dedicated team at Aika HQ

‘Lighting the way for true wellness’

Aika Wellness Vibes

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FIRST LIGHT

What an incredible time it’s been since we launched Aika! We officially alighted during the October new moon on the festival of Deepavali or Diwali, the FESTIVAL OF LIGHT. Deepavali celebrates the victory of good over evil. Light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. It is a reaffirmation of Hope.

Launching on this day was deeply significant for us. You see our Vision is all about Light:

OUR WHY

“We’re lighting the way for true wellness to heal the world”

This is our WHY. The reason we wake up every morning with a driving sense of purpose and the reason we go to bed with a full and grateful heart. We are here to shine a Light on what true wellness is – beyond skin, beyond beauty, beyond lifestyle, beyond health. It encompasses all these and is yet so much more. We believe that true wellness comes from the Soul. It is our Soul’s desire to be in a shining state of Light. From this space, we can heal ourselves and that’s when the real magic starts to happen. When we are in balance and brimming with life-force, our essence, we are fully able to express our love, creativity and joy. It is then that we can offer the best of ourselves to others. When we do this, we heal the world.

BEAUTY TO WELLNESS

Aika is here to redefine beauty and take it into the realm of true wellness where it belongs. Taking beauty into the realm of wellness means that we do things differently. It means you will only get the purest skincare on earth, no compromise. It means you can rest assured that we have done the hard yards, the research and taken the time to bring you only what will make you look well, feel well and be well. We do this by creating the most sensuous, sustainable and soulful products and wellness experiences on the planet. Because we believe YOU deserve the best.

Award Winning Skincare

We joyfully wrapped up our first month by winning the ‘Cosmetic of the Year’ at the Australian Organic Annual Awards in November. These awards recognise leadership in the Australian organic industry. The judges’ comments encapsulate our vision:

“Aika presented a really interesting point of difference that was extremely impressive. As the only certified organic Ayurvedic inspired skincare, they have tapped into a booming market in a unique way. Aiming for global wellness, they are sustainable, ethical and supportive of organic farming. They go beyond being a beauty product but aim to empower, heal and promote both inner and outer health to the wider wellness community.”

Launch Winner!

In this spirit of joy and celebration we are excited to announce that the WINNER of our Landing Page Launch competition is

….Drummroll …

Dani!!

Dani, you have won one of our gorgeous Discovery Packs that include the complete Arise and Retreat Rituals, everything you need for glowing gorgeous skin. All you need to do is check your email!

A big thank you to all of you who subscribed to become Friends of Aika. We are so grateful for your support and will continue to send you exclusive Friends only offers throughout the year.

We wish you a wonderful Christmas and holiday season full of love, joy and wellness.

Give the gift of wellness to someone special this Christmas with these gorgeous bundles of beauty. Now that special person could be You! These are limited edition gifts sets at limited edition prices so get yours quick before they are all gone!

Shop Christmas Gifts

We wish you a wonderful Christmas and holiday season full of love, joy and wellness.

We value your feedback and would love to answer any questions you have about Aika.
Please visit our website for more information or contact our passionate and dedicated team at Aika HQ

Together, we can heal ourselves and the world.