If you are interested in learning more yogic ways to take good care of yourself,  you will be happy to discover the ancient medical tradition: Ayurveda. The term is derived from the Sanskrit ayur, meaning “life” or “longevity,” and veda, meaning “knowledge” or “science.”

Considered sisters and interconnected, Ayurvedic medicine and yoga are closely associated. Ayurveda’s goal is to keep the body and mind balanced so that the individual remains healthy, and yoga is a physical and mental practice that offers fitness as well as enhances one’s awareness.

Although the study of Ayurvedic medicine is a BIG topic, we can offer a few simple techniques that have worked for us.

Neti pot:

The Neti pot is a cute little vessel that looks like a tea pot or Aladdin’s lamp. The Neti pot originated in India in Ayurvedic medicine. Neti is Sanskrit for “nasal cleansing.” Cleansing your nostrils with a Neti pot can help with a variety of sinus issues. It’s a simple technique of running warm salt water through one nostril and letting it drain out the other. Some yogi’s have a daily practice and believe that using the Neti pot has great health benefits. If you want to breathe better…try it! You can purchase a Neti pot online and there are several recipes for making the saline solution. Most emphasize using sea salt and distilled water.

Tongue Scraper:

We highly recommend using a tongue scraper. It is amazing! It works way better than brushing your tongue with a toothbrush. I bought mine in the 80’s and it is still like new. Paying attention to the coating of your tongue can help you know when it’s time to detox. Tongue scraping helps remove bacteria and that helps to keep your teeth, gums and oral cavity healthy. It can help remove coating on the tongue that leads to bad breath, enhances the sense of taste and can improve digestive health.

Dry Brushing:

Dry brushing is another traditional Ayurvedic treatment called Garshana. (pronounced gar-shun-uh), is an ancient Sanskrit word which translates to ‘friction by rubbing.’ We have found this practice rather addictive as it feels so good to brush your skin and create circulation and exfoliation. It also stimulates the Lymphatic system which helps your system to detox naturally. When purchasing, select a natural bristle brush with a long handle so that you can reach your back. The bristles need to be firm but not stiff. It is suggested that you do this for about 10 minutes before your morning shower but you can do it anytime of day. It can be invigorating though, so it’s not recommended doing it at bedtime.  The method is to brush your skin starting with the soles of your feet and brush upward until you reach the top of your head. As you brush, remember to brush upward and always toward the heart to increase circulation. Always go lightly, just enough to leave you feeling energized.

We encourage you to give these a try and let us know your results.

Sue Anne Parsons 500 EYT, CYT – owner of Let It Go Yoga since 1986

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