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Modern life throws a lot at men—work deadlines, social pressures, family issues, and the constant hustle—it’s no surprise you’re left feeling drained and sluggish most days (if not all of them). Living in this rut can cause you to move away from your true Self, which is a state of good health, happiness, and peace. What if there was a natural and holistic way to get back into sync and stay there?
That’s where Ayurveda comes in. The ancient Indian system of medicine enriched with over 5,000 years of wisdom isn’t just about treating symptoms. It also helps focus on healing your mind and body by healing from the level of your unique mind-body constitution (dosha), that gives you your unique individuality, tastes, and physical and mental character.
It’s always good to know your dosha as it helps you personalize your lifestyle, diet, and other plans when it comes to achieving optimal health status. Find out yours here.
Food is the cornerstone of life. It’s never only about calories, it’s also about giving your body the right nutrition as per your dosha. For example, you may think salads are healthy for the body but for those with vata dominance having raw salads daily can spell disaster.
Agni, the digestive fire within everyone, is the engine that processes your food. If your agni is balanced, digestion is good and energy levels stay high. Conversely, a weak agni leads to discomfort and multiple illnesses. Choose foods that are easy to digest and support your dosha.
Ayurveda also believes in eating locally and seasonally. One Ayurvedic tip to stay healthy is to have generous helpings of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Summer calls for cooling fruits and vegetables like watermelon and cucumber, while winter demands warming foods like stews, pulses, and root veggies. Winter calls for warming foods like root vegetables and stews.
Ayurveda incorporates spices across all facets since they have a variety of health benefits. Ginger, cumin, and coriander can be used freely by almost everybody, but hot spices like chili peppers should be used judiciously by pittas as they tend to have a fiery constitution.
Exercise is crucial for everyone, but especially for men’s health. Ayurveda emphasizes finding the right kind of movement for your dosha.
Although exercise is important, you should listen to your body’s signals. Don’t push yourself to exhaustion. If you’re feeling drained and out of it, don’t hesitate to take a rest day. Exercise should energize and make you feel good about yourself, not drain you.
Lastly, it’s okay to sweat. It’s your body’s natural detoxification process. Go for exercises that leave a healthy glow, not like you’ve just showered!
This one’s a common tip; do not compromise your sleep hours. It is essential to get enough sleep so your mind and body have time to refresh and rejuvenate.
Develop a bedtime routine that relaxes you. Vata men should consider a warm bath with calming essential oils like lavender. If you’re a pitta man, walk or read a book before hitting the hay. Kaphas should avoid heavy evening meals and do light stretching or meditation at bedtime to calm the body and mind.
Another tip you could practice is to ensure your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. This creates a soft atmosphere that is conducive to deep sleep. Also, invest in some quality natural fiber sheets and blankets, as well as comfy pajamas.
Avoid screen time before bed. The blue light emitted by your devices tends to disrupt your sleep cycle. Opt for picking a book to read or indulging in calming breathing exercises to unwind and calm yourself at night. And finally, try to get to bed by 10:00 pm and awake by 6:00 am.
Some stress is a natural part of life, but chronic stress can wreak havoc on your health via your body and mind. Ayurveda has a few meditation practices to keep that at bay.
Meditation is a sure-shot way to manage stress. In just a few minutes a day, meditation helps vatas ground their scattered energy, pittas cool their fiery nature, and kaphas break out of mental sluggishness.
Pranayama, yogic breathing exercises, are fantastic for stress management. Practices like alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana) can calm the mind and promote relaxation.
Don’t know where to start? Try our meditation retreat.
Ayurveda endorses an array of herbs to support overall health for the body, mind, and soul. Some key herbs for men’s health include
Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of cleansing the body of accumulated toxins. Panchakarma is a traditional Ayurvedic detoxification process that involves therapies like massage and enemas. It’s to be noted that it’s best done under the guidance of a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.
Simple everyday practices like drinking warm water with lemon immediately upon waking can help stimulate your digestive fire and eliminate toxins. Practice seasonal cleanses so your body can transition with the changing seasons. These cleanses may involve dietary adjustments and herbal remedies.
You can explore a new level of physical and mental well-being with Ayurveda. Start small, find what works best for your dosha, and be on your way to becoming the healthiest version of yourself. You might just surprise yourself with how good it feels to be a man, the Ayurvedic way.
