Beating the Winter Blues with Ayurveda - Dr. Prasanna.

Winter, seen as a season of dismal cold and gloomy days is not a weakening season but actually the best season to improve immunity says Ayurveda.

Winter is a season of Kapha accumulation and reflects in our tendency to hibernate during these months.
Ayurveda points out the value of managing Kapha during winter by adapting naturally to appropriate food and lifestyle activities that help in counteracting lethargic and depressive phase.

Food & Drink
•    Prefer warm and larger portion of cooked food.
•    Plenty of soups made of Mung bean, Adzuki beans, Pumpkin, Carrot, Ginger, Chicken.
•    Don't skip meals. Eat pure, fresh foods - stay away from canned or processed foods that contain additives and chemical preservatives.
•    Cook with spices - they're not only great flavour enhancers; they can help you stay healthy and beautiful. Use energising and digestive herbs and spices like Ginger, Mustard, Cumin seeds, Cardamom, Black pepper, Basil, Sage, Rosemary, Turmeric, sesame seeds.
•    Honey and Agave syrup are healthier sweeteners.
•    Drink warm through the day and warming Herbal teas containing Ginger, Liquorice, Cardamom, Peppermint, Sage or Basil.

Homecare tips
•    Self massage using Sesame or Almond oil before bath keeps body warm and energised.
•    Use soap free cleansers on the skin to protect skin and also use coconut butter as a natural moisturiser.
•    Give your skin lipid support from within by including soaked and blanched almonds, soaked walnuts and ghee (clarified butter) in your diet.
•    Choose natural fibres such as wool or silk for protection-natural fabrics allow the skin to breathe better. If your skin tends to chafe with wool, try thick cotton. Always dress in layers, so you can add or remove layers for comfort. Bundling up too much can cause moisture loss through sweat.

Exercise
•    Regular vigorous exercises, Swimming, Yoga and Pilates.

Supplements
•    Ayurvedic Herbal jam, Chyavan Prash that comes from the amalaki fruit (Indian gooseberry), is one of the richest natural sources of Vitamin C, antioxidants and has immune-enhancing effects. Recommended having a couple of teaspoonful once a day.

Treatments
•    Udvartana, herbal powder massage helps to kick start metabolism and improves circulation and leaves you invigorated.
•    Hot stone massage brings warmth in to the muscle tissue enhancing circulation.
•    Padaghata, pressure by foot massage helps to reduce lethargy.

In moderation
Dairy, cheese, red meat, shell fish, mushrooms, alcohol.

Avoid
Day sleep, late dinner, deep fried food, cold food and beverages

Introducing the new Winter Package from Ayush Wellness Spa at the Hotel de France, leaders in Ayurvedic wellness.
We live in a fast paced, stressful society which means that our immune systems have to work harder than ever to keep us healthy. There are several alternative ways to help combat the symptoms of colds during winter one of these is Ayurveda, the oldest natural healing system originating from India which offers many preventative and curative measures in line with nature.

Winter (Dec-Jan-Feb)

Re-Educate and Lose Weight from £295

The wrong diet, habits and lifestyle, incompatible food combinations, seasonal changes and stress factors all combine to alter the balance of the body's tissues which result in ill health. This programme provides a cleansing procedure along with individualized diet plan to help the body eliminate toxins and re-establish essential balance and control.

• In depth Ayurvedic consultation with our ayurvedic physician
• Udvartana herbal body massage to aid digestion and break down fatty deposits
• Ayush Hot Stone therapy, feel the energy from hot stones while enjoying a deeply relaxing massage
• Delicious Ayurvedic Lunch cooked using healthy herbs and spices

For more information about our Winter Package call Ayush Wellness Spa reception on 01534 614171.

Sleep well to be revitalised. Advice from Dr. Prasanna.

Sleep is a natural state of body and mind allowing us to become well rested and revitalized. A number of vital tasks carried out during sleep help maintain good health and enable people to function at their best. Individuals vary in their need for sleep. Some people require nine or more hours of sleep per night, while others may not feel deprived after just five hours of sleep. However an average adult requires seven to eight hours of sleep per night.

It is becoming increasingly common to find people struggle to get a good nights sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to variety of repercussions like reduced work performance, emotional turmoil, cognitive and behavioural changes and may have a devastating effect on one’s health and well being. Many researches indicate that chronic sleep deprivation can lead to serious health problems including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and diminished resistance to infections. Though there is a growing awareness about nutrition and exercise many people may recognize lack of sleep as not being of much consequence, and as a result go through life with both mind and body always performing at less than optimal levels..

Here are few tips to get that good night’s sleep and enjoy life fully:
• Have a glass of warm milk with a pinch of ground nutmeg before going to bed.
• Have a herbal tea containing calming herbs like liquorice, chamomile or cardamom.
• Be relaxed before sleep and create the right atmosphere to induce sleep by listening to music, reading and using pleasant aromas in the bedroom.
• Self massage of feet and scalp using calming coconut or almond oils with a couple of drops of essential oils like Sandalwood or Chamomile is a relaxing ritual to induce restful sleep
• Regular Meditation practice helps to prepare better to beat stress and to induce blissful sleep.
• Reduce caffeine and alcohol and avoid them before retiring to bed.
• Regular exercise is essential, spend at least 20 minutes a day exercising.
• Regular eating pattern helps to keep our biological rhythm. Avoid late, heavy evening meals.
• Ayurvedic treatments like Shirodhara; deeply relaxing oil pour on the third eye, Abhyanga; rhythmic and synchronized two therapists oil massage, Padabhyanaga; restful foot ritual, Shiroabhyanga; Indian head massage are very beneficial to gain peaceful sleep.
• Ayurveda recommends the use of Herbs like Ashwagandha, Gotu kola and Brahmi to induce natural sleep.
• Use of herbs and spices like Nut meg and Poppy seeds on a regular basis that aid deep sleep.

Tel: 01534 614171