by Karie Wik, LMBT, CYT

As we roll into the last few weeks of summer, many of us might be sending children back to school, shifting out of a flextime work schedule or simply returning from vacation time into a more consistent workweek.

When the seasons outside begin to shift and adjust, so do we. In addition to being an excellent time for detoxification and renewal, the transition into fall also allows time to check-in on our daily routine.

In Ayurveda the Sanskrit name for daily routine is Dinacharya. Din can be translated as 'day' and acharya means 'to follow' or 'close to'. Some say that this simply means “to be close to/or follow the natural rhythms of the sun, moon and universe,” which also includes our own internal rhythms, cycles and desires.

Practicing Dinacharya is an excellent strategy for staying in balance and increasing immunity. Hearing the ayurvedic version of a healthy daily routine is daunting to most of us in the West, who have been so strongly conditioned to follow an external and somewhat arbitrary rhythm of life - motivated by anything but our true body’s and spirit’s needs.

Below are some of the key elements to following an ayurvedically balanced routine:

Waking Up

--Persons of all doshas are recommended to rise before the sun, but generally
Vata: needs plenty of rest - best to rise by 6am
Pitta: more moderate - best to rise by 5:30pm
Kapha: needs to get up and going well before the Kapha hours begin - best to rise by 4:30am

Cleaning and Preparing the Body

--Drinking a room temperature or warm glass of water rather than coffee first thing will serve to stimulate the kidneys, and cleanse the G.I. tract.

--Scraping the entire length of the tongue stimulates the internal organs, helps digestion, and removes dead bacteria. Stainless steel, gold or silver tongue scrapers can be purchased online or in some health food stores.

--Performing a brief self massage - whether with a dry brush or using oil - Abhyanga is a great way to stimulate both the skin and the nervous system prior to bathing in the morning.


Exercises - Mental and Physical

Yoga, and Meditation as part of your morning routine can greatly enhance your outlook all day.

--Yoga
for Vata - gentle and slow movements to ground and center the energy
for Pitta - cooling and calming exercise that focuses on a moderate pace
for Kapha - vigorous warming movements at a rapid pace that open the body and move stuck energy

--Meditation
a brief, but regular sitting practice complements individuals of all natures; try opening your practice by offering gratitude for everything you currently enjoy in life, or by setting a conscious intention for things you’d like to invite in.

We will discuss additional elements of the daily routine in coming months.

Rather than become overwhelmed by introducing massive changes to your already hectic morning routine, in the interest of promoting balance try one or two of these suggestions to begin cultivating your own personalized Dinacharya.

And always listen first to your own internal responses for the most balanced, healthy practice.

By Karie Wik, LMBT, CYT

No doubt about it. Pitta, dosha, derived from Fire element is raging this summer. Pitta season is characterized by the warmest temperatures of the year - coinciding with Summer.

How Pitta dominant your individual nature is (see our webpage, “What is Ayurveda,” if you are still not sure) and also how you cope with the extreme temperature might affect how oppressive the recent heat wave has been to both your bodily comfort and also your mood.

Things that may exacerbate or indicate rising Pitta levels in the body/mind:

+ Eating too much spicy or acidic food, or drinking dehydrating alcoholic beverages.

Remedy: Choose light crisp vegetables and salads, juicy fruits, and cooling, rehydrating drinks instead

+ Burning, drying or irritating skin.

Remedy: Enjoy an Ayurvedic massage, for relaxation but also to soothe the skin - we can use a pitta-friendly oil to rehydrate and protect tender skin this summer.
If you are Pitta dominant and prone to sensitive skin, wearing appropriate cover-up clothing/hats is always wise when enjoying the beach or the pool or your own garden.

+ Getting caught up in projects (personal or work-related) or being sucked in to “road rage” mentality while traveling.

Remedy: Take breaks often to calm potentially escalating intensity. A two to three minute breath-centered meditation can be used throughout the day. Spend time in the water (be it a pool, the ocean or a bath at home) Aromatherapy is often very effective in cooling the mind/temper. Try Rose Oil or Lavender in a bath, lotion or misting spray.

Whether this is your favorite time of year or your least, take some time to enjoy the activities you cherish with the ones you love this summer. Stay Cool and Be Well.

by Karie Wik, LMBT, CYT

Kapha Dosha increases naturally in the spring, and in the northern hemisphere, that corresponds to the months of March, April and most of May.

The earth itself thaws, melts and eventually blossoms with new growth in the spring. Our bodies also, in a way, begin to thaw out, melt down and disperse accumulated matter into the circulatory and lymphatic systems and out to the tissue.

This melting effect naturally lower the body's internal digestive fire, which can lead to an increase in Kapha-related symptoms such as a productive cough, sinus congestion, and hay fever.

As we finish out the spring and move into summer, the following practices may aid in balancing Kapha in the body:

* massage, traditional ayurvedic treatments or western massage
* regular physical activity
* gargling with warm water
* using a neti pot, or steam treatments

Why is it important to increase the internal fire, and flush the stored matter out of our bodies as we transition between seasons? So that just like the earth, we can maintain a fertile, healthy landscape in our bodies, encouraging new growth (be it physical, emotional or spiritual) and vibrant balanced health as we move into summer.

EASTER WEEK SPECIAL!
Thursday, April 1 - Saturday, April 10:

$15 off all treatments!!!!($75 value and above).
Book online at www.ayubwc.com click "book now" on any treatment menu.

Spring is Here! What has felt to some of us like a long and harsh winter is finally yielding to more spring-like temperatures.

Springtime introduces Kapha season in our region, and with the seasons shifting comes a major opportunity for detoxification, balance, and deep cleansing of our bodies, inside and out.

One of the easiest ways to promote wellness is to pay closer attention to the largest organ of the body - the skin.

"In spring, toxins inside the body start to liquefy naturally, and your body works hard to cleanse itself. Some toxins are expelled through the skin, so you need to focus on deep exfoliation and cleansing to keep it looking clear and radiant through this season."

Bringing awareness to our individual nature, and customizing care for our skin can not only make us more radiant and clear on the outside, but actually helps facilitate detoxification from the inside out.

Visit Prana Holistic Skin Therapy and we will analyze your skin and design a customized facial and blissful sensory experience to address your individual concerns. Suzanne uses only the finest and most proven products, (Bindi ayurvedic products and Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare) which are all-natural, containing no artificial or aggressive chemicals.

Call Suzanne to schedule a consultation and treatment today, and maximize your wellness this spring.

Suzanne Voss, Prana Holistic Skin Therapy
(919) 345-9872


For more reading on spring rituals, and skin care:

http://www.mapi.com/ayurveda_health_car ... _skin.html
http://www.ayurbalance.com/beauty_springskincare.htm