Ayurveda Tips for Stress Reduction
Nature thrives on harmony. We thrive with
nature. A seed sprouts when there is synchronization of soil, water and
sunshine. Happiness thrives when there is accord in our external and internal
environment. Any discord in this harmony results in stress.
Stress is normal
physical response to situations that make a person feel threatened or insecure.
Stress response is generated when a person senses danger, which could be real
or imaginary. It’s a way our body has been attuned naturally to protect itself
and be secure from danger. Some stress is needed to keep us motivated and to
accomplish our goals. Stress becomes a problem when it starts affecting our
physical, emotional and social health in an unconstructive way. We need
professional help when stress starts upsetting our wellbeing, mood,
relationships, productivity i.e. the overall quality of life. It is not so intricate
to manage stress. The secret lies in our own ability to handle the day to day
challenges of life in an optimistic way.
Ayurveda attributes
inability to understand our deeper inner self as one of the causes of stress.
When an individual is unable to balance the real self (what we are) with the
ideal self (what we desire to become) it results in stress. However the main
cause of stress is the Imbalance of Doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. When an
external stimuli or stressor results in erratic response (Physical or mental)
it causes the imbalance of Vata. This leads to disturbance in body metabolism
and enzymatic activity resulting in the imbalance of Pitta. This affects the
other functions in body resulting in slowdown, heaviness, stagnation,
hopelessness etc., meaning the Kapha has been Imbalanced.
Ayurveda, the
science of life, mainly focuses on restoring the balance. Treatment is based on
body constitution of the individual and the imbalanced doshas. Some ways to create
harmony and manage stress with Ayurveda are:
Dincharaya or the
daily regimen: For a healthy life it’s necessary to have regular sleep wake time.
Eating healthy food keeps body healthy and provides strength to manage daily
stressors like deadlines, family engagements etc.
Exercise
rejuvenates body as well as mind. It strengthens muscles and builds stamina to
deal with the stressors. Regular physical activity in any form like, yoga,
walk, jogging, cycling etc is therapeutic. Choose age appropriate activity
according to your interest. Seek the advice of a medical practitioner if
needed. Yoga should be practiced under the guidance of a qualified yoga practitioner
to gain maximum benefit.
Meditation has
the power to soothe the troubled mind. It enables a person to calm the thought
process resulting in better concentration, stress relief, normalized blood
pressure and better health. Meditation slows down the breathing rate and helps
in relieving stress and anxiety.
Breathing is
closely related to our state of mind. When a person is relaxed and happy,
breathing is calm and tranquil. When a person is anxious or stressed breathing
becomes short , shallow and anxious. Thus it really helps to observe our
breath. When stressed, try to slow down the breathing rate. Sit in a relaxed
position and take a few long deep breaths. Feel the air coming from deep within
you, deep down from your abdomen. Deep breathing is a good way to take short
breaks to relax during a hectic busy schedule.
Seeking professional help is always better when one feels that
stress is not letting the individual lead a healthy and happy life. Identifying
the stressor and eliminating the cause of stress can be achieved by undergoing professional
counseling. Rasayana therapy and other ayurvedic medications have the ability
to calm mind and provide relief from physical symptoms associated with stress. Ayurvedic
procedures like oil application on body once a week (Abhyanga), Pouring
medicated oil on head (Shirodhara), Oral adminstration of mixture of herbs in
ghee or butter (sneh panam) are really helpful in relaxing mind and body.
These procedures ensure a reduction in
tension and help in restoring the dosha imbalance leading to a relaxed mind and
body. This provides relief from stress and improves the overall quality of life
creating harmony and enabling individuals to accept each day as it comes, with
ease.
© Moninder Kaur Rekhi
moninderrekhi@gmail.com
