By: DR. DEEPA APTÉ
The principles of Ayurveda have been in practice for centuries in order to help heal the mind, body and spirit. As our lives have become increasingly busy and stressful, more recently the ancient practices of Ayurveda have been incorporated in order to relieve stress. Dr Deepa Apté is an Ayurvedic practitioner, who is also fully qualified as an Indian medical doctor and yoga practitioner. She runs The Ayurveda Pura Health Spa & Beauty Centre, and below she shares her expertise of incorporating aspects of Ayurveda, such as food, yoga and massage, in order to manage stress.
Hectic modern lifestyles have caused an increase in stress disorders. The kind of jobs people do not always cause the problem; sources of stress may come from family, friends or social life. Ayurveda looks at external influences and how they affect a particular body type. How a person reacts is down to their internal constitution. Anything that affects the mind will affect the body. Stress is caused by impatience and an inability to find solutions.
Stress is seen as a Vata (air) and Pitta (fire) imbalance. The increase in heat in the body causes sweating and breathlessness - that is fire and air together.
Food
- Spicy, salty and bitter increase feelings of restlessness and as the heat in the body increases.
- Sweet and sour help to pacify and restore balance. Sweet flavours from nature such as fruit and vegetables rather than from chocolate or cakes are better.
- Drinking cumin tea is good for stress and high blood pressure and reduces air and fire. Ginger and Lemon tea is also very good to combat stress.
