As Easy as 1, 2, 3 . . . Get Healthy - With Ayurveda and Yoga Sharon Kapp


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iving healthy is easy. Just use these Ayurveda and yoga tips as a guide. Physical, emotional or mental stress triggers a fight or flight response, activating an adrenal response which releases endorphins into the blood stream that raise blood pressure and otherwise stress the body. How does one counter- act stress? Shut off the stress response through Pranic breathing, yoga, herbs and lifestyle adjustments. The original yoga and Ayurvedic texts were written long


before the wheel or television came around to make couch potatoes of many of us. Today we need to work out at least 40 to 60 minutes per day, three times a week to make a positive difference in your health and fitness levels. To help you lose weight, always allow two hours after eating before practicing yoga. Get some early morning sun between 6 to 10 a.m. to get your Vitamin D. Warm up with gentle stretches, then, under the guidance of a teacher, prac- tice the following.


Yoga asanas/poses: Sun salutations


Warrior pose Locust


Half spinal twist


Breathing exercises: • Kapalabhati/Breath of fire helps to burn away excess fat by heating the body internally and toning abdominal muscles.


• Right nostril breathing - increases metabolism and sharpens the mind. Ayurveda is an ancient science of healing and herbal medicine from India. Originating thousands of years back, it’s still followed by the masses alongside allopathic medicine. Ayurveda advises one to:


• Wake up early and drink warm water with honey - to help detoxify the system and encourage weight loss.


• Eat only when you are hungry. • Give yourself 3 to 5 hours between eating. That is approxi- mately how long it takes for your meal to digest. If you get hungry before the next meal, simply enjoy a hot cup of gin- ger /lemon tea.


• Avoid snacking. • Each one of us is blessed with the correct measurement for


www.naturalawakenings-houston.com natural awakenings Palm tree pose


Forward bend in sitting position Fish Camel Cow


Cobra Shoulder stand


Half moon position Bow position


eating. At each meal, eat only as much as fits in the palm of both hands cupped to form a bowl shape. This includes appetizers to desert.


• Lunch should be your largest/main meal of the day; breakfast, the next largest.


• Add spicy, hot, bitter and astringent herbs to your foods to improve your metabolism. Use sweet, sour, salty tastes spar- ingly.


• Eat before dark. Your body will break down your meal and digest it quicker.


• During the cold months, avoid eating between 6 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. Avoid cold, heavy, sweet foods during this time of the day, e.g.: bread, butter, cheese, jam.


• Drink warm/room temperature water whenever possible. Cold water interferes with digestion. • Go to bed by 10 p.m.


Life style changes: • Avoid daytime sleep. • Do not sleep immediately after eating food. • Do not exercise or exert yourself for an hour after meals. • Do not sleep more than 7 - 8 hours daily. • Avoid alcohol, caffeine and smoking. • Do a daily dry body rub with a loofah before bathing. • Follow a seasonal detoxification routine under the guidance of your Ayurvedic Specialist to remove any toxins (ama) from the body and strengthen your digestion.


Herbs to help lose weight:


• Triphala: This rejuvenates the membranes lining your diges- tive tract and contributes to effective cleansing of the colon.


• Trikatu: This three spice mixture stimulates the fat-burning cells. Take one capsule before food or as directed by your Ayurvedic specialist.


• Guggulu: This resin gently scrapes and loosen toxins from the digestive system, thereby allowing for proper digestion, absorption and assimilation of nutrients.


• Punarnava: This is herb allows nourishment to reach the tis- sues and rejuvenates the kid- neys and adrenalin glands.


Contact the Houston Yoga & Ayurvedic Wellness Center for more individualized informa- tion. Schedule a personal con- sultation to find out what works best for your body type/Dosha. See their ad, page 36. i


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