The other day I did a Facebook Live on these 4 practices and I thought a blog to go with it would be a nice reference.
So, many people are wondering, what is ayurveda? Ayurveda is an ancient "science of life," according to Deepak Chopra's website www.chopra.com/articles/what-is-ayurveda. It was developed thousands of years ago in India and is practiced throughout the world. Now, I'm not a certified ayurveda practitioner, but I do incorporate ayurveda practices in my day-to-day routine.
The first thing I do when I wake up is something called tongue-scraping. Tongue scraping is great for eliminating bad breath, toxins, and for overall good oral hygiene. The tongue scraper is usually made from stainless steel. Step one, stick out your tongue and place the tongue scraper towards the back of the tongue and scrape forward towards the tip of your tongue. Step two, rinse the scraper after each swipe of the tongue. Keep scraping until the film on the scraper is mostly clear, usually 4-5 times. Rinse the scraper again and store. Fairly easy and not too complicated for daily use before you brush your teeth. Here is a link to one your can buy online.
The second practice I showed on the Facebook live was oil-pulling. You basically swish oil, yes oil, in your mouth for up to 20 minutes. When you first begin this practice, it may be easier to start with 3 or 4 minutes and then work your way up to 20 minutes. I am usually doing something else while I swish my tablespoon of oil in my mouth. When you're finished swishing, spit the oil in the toilet or the trash can. Do not spit the oil down your sink, it will clog the drain since the oil (depending on what kind you use) can solidify and cause major plumbing problems. I like to use sesame oil, but you can use coconut oil or sunflower oil. It's more about your preference and what seems to work for you. It's also nice to add some essential oils for extra detox benefits, I like to add OnGuard by doTERRA.
This third practice is something I have done for about 4 years and I believe it has made a huge difference in my digestion. Having warm water aids in getting the digestive juices flowing and encouraging a smooth BM. It's important to hydrate the body first thing in the morning and this mixture is the perfect go-to! So, after tongue scraping and oil-pulling, I like to enjoy a cup of warm water with one or two drops of lemon essential oil and a tablespoon of chia seeds. If you don't have lemon essential oil, you can always use the juice from a lemon. Before I used essential oils, I used half a lemon in my water. Now, make sure if you are using essential oils you are using a brand that is reputable and safe. I personally use doTERRA Oils, let me know if you need any, I am a distributor.
The fourth ayurveda practice that I spoke about was dry brushing. Dry brushing is great for exfoliation, blood circulation, cellulite reduction, and draining the lymph in our bodies. Be sure to use a natural bristled brush. My brush is a regular size brush, but one with a long handle may be better to reach those hard to reach spots on the back. Here is a great visual for how to dry brush specific parts of your body. Be sure to start with the bottoms of the feet and work your way up. After dry brushing, jump in the shower to clean your body of the dead skin.
Until next time, Beauties!!
Peace, Love, and Light
Namasté,
KC
