Are you feeling sad, anxious, fatigued?
I know I am.
Is it the cold and dry weather? The fact that Europe is on the verge of war? Or maybe the placement of Mars? I mean, it seems like there are more reasons to be anxious and exhausted than not, right?! Gratefully, whatever the reason, Ayurveda can help us uncover some clues as to what is setting it off and remedies to bring you (and me at this very moment ) back into alignment.
So, using me as an example, here are some of my clues today:
Clue #1: While generally speaking I sleep very well, I startled awake this morning from a nightmare. It’s the first nightmare I’ve had in a while, and the second disturbing dream in as many nights. It took me a good 30 minutes to stop crying and ground myself in reality. Fear based nightmares are considered a sign of a Vata imbalance.
Clue #2: I’ve been feeling a bit depressed, like I’m not achieving … something, although I really can’t articulate what. And there are never enough hours in the day. This could be a sign of any of the doshas being imbalanced, and I’ll get more into that below.
Clue #3: I’m zapped of energy by about 5pm, which is when the sads set in and my brain is not very kind to me. I’m too pooped to know what to eat, so sometimes I don’t, or I just grab something easy. More on what this means below.
Any of this resonate or sound familiar to you? If it does, you may be experiencing a provoked Vata that has been pushed to the point of exhaustion. Society as a whole in this day and age is Vata aggravated. We are always go-go-go, rarely eating in a relaxed state at a regular time, and running from here to there. That is why I believe that most depression at this time is truly just exhausted Vata. And to make things more confusing, sometimes the depression can look on the surface like provoked Kapha, especially during this wet and heavy Kapha season we are experiencing now. This is why individualized assessment is key, but a good place to start is to actually stop. Stop for a moment. Breathe. Inhale for 1 - 2 - 3. Exhale for 1 - 2 -3. Good. Now, let’s ask ourselves a question.
What are you sads and fatigue like? Anxious or fearful? This is Vata. Angry, emotional or resentful? This is Pitta. Hopelessness or worthlessness? This is Kapha.
Now that we’ve taken a moment to tune into ourselves, let’s look at some things we can do to make it better. And, by the way, good for you for taking a moment for yourself and some introspection. This is always the first step to any healing, and look! You’ve done it! Woohooooo! (Imagine crowd noises and screaming fans, because that’s what I’m doing.)
Here is a menu of options (I like choices, and menus, and food … but I digress). All you need to do is pick one thing. Change one thing today and observe tomorrow. If you can add another tomorrow, or the next week, fantastic! But we can’t expect things to change if we do not make any changes ourselves, no matter how small.
Set the stage. Your morning is the on-ramp to the day. I like to give each one of my senses something that brings calm, or even better yet, joy soon after I wake. This doesn’t have to take a lot of time if you don’t have it. Light a candle whlie you get ready for the day and gaze at the flame while you smell it’s aroma. Moisturize your body with gentle lovingness. Put on a song you love that feels inspiring. Drink some warm water with lemon to rehydrate. If you do this while you do your normal morning routine, you have already prioritized your well being right at the start of the day.
If you have the time, practice Abhyanga in the morning. This gentle tip to toe self massage helps awaken the body as well as warm or cool it. Use sesame oil if you are tending Vata, coconut if you are more Pitta, and dry brush before sesame oil if you are Kapha.
Come back to your breath. Put one hand on your sternum and press lightly. Put the other on your belly. Close your eyes. As you feel your gentle breathing, hum. I love to do this to Faith’s Hymn, by Beautiful Chorus. The vibration heals and calms.
If you have a little more time at night than in the morning, practice Yoga Nidra, or choose the evening to meditate. Insight Timer is a great tool for both.
Do your best to eat three meals a day, without snacks in between. And if you can choose fresh, homemade food, all the better. I know not everyone loves the kitchen, but making your own meal can be therapy in itself. It is a beautiful and creative form of self care.
Incorporate movement. If you are feeling Vata overwhelm, go for some grounding Asana poses (here is my practice from January), or a nice walk in nature if it’s not too cold or windy. Connect to the earth. If Pitta, try some cooling breath, such as Sitali, where you inhale and exhale through your tongue like it’s a straw for several breaths. If you are tending Kapha, dance. :) Put on some music to lighten the mood and just let your body be free.
Choose something, anything, that brings you true joy. Not the temporary fleeting joy that comes from external influences like hearts on the Insta, or the sweetness of a Snickers bar. Nope. Something that makes you feel special to yourself. Incorporate it into your life today. Have a favorite sweater or jeans or a dress that either feels great against your skin or makes you feel like a million bucks? Wear it around the house. Just for you. Love taking a bath? Do it. Haven’t painted in a while, but it brings you peace? Pull out them brushes. Miss a friend? Call them and catch up. Listen to your inner knowing. It’ll let you know what to do.
The interesting thing about these tips is that they themselves (except for a couple) are not necessarily Ayurvedic. What they all have in common is one of the driving forces in Ayurveda: self-study. The more we get to know ourselves, the more we see that we have more control over our well being than we realized previously. As one of my lovely yoga teachers, Amy, says, “your body is your only life-long partner.” So, take time every day to treat yourself like your partner, with love, presence, and grace.
Know that you are not alone. Even as a wellness counselor, I feel these ebbs and flows. Everyone does. Be kind to yourself and know that you do have the ability to make small changes that will make a big difference in your life.
Footnote:
My Linestrider’s Journey Tarot card pull today: 10 of Wands, an indicator of overwhelm and burden. But what I absolutely love about how author Siolo Thompson interprets the card is that there is an inherent positivity to it as well: “In the end, this is a good card that celebrates recent successes and heralds a new beginning.”
