Ayurveda

Welcome autumn when school begins, the number of evening hours increase, and vata dosha characterizes the new season. September marks the perfect time to reinstate routine into our lives, as we walk in autumn air that cools our cheeks. For some, the idea of routine might sound restrictive. In reality, routines help balance vata dosha, leading to a sense of being grounded, nourished, and supported. Cherishing the differences of each season and altering our self-care routines accordingly paves the way for smooth and joyful transitions allowing us to appreciate all that nature offers.

Thousands of years before the advent of modern medicine, Ayurveda taught humans that everything in nature is interconnected and interdependent and that human beings, blessed with a sound body, mind, and spirit, are inseparable from the natural world, are an integral part of the living, intelligent, and self-regulatory entirety.

Nearly every family struggles to meet the demands of work, school, domestic responsibilities, and extracurricular activities. Combined with the unpredictability of another pandemic-influenced school year, many families are feeling anxious and overwhelmed. While external factors and uncertainties cannot be changed, there are things that can be done to mitigate their influence.

“Rest if you must. But don’t you quit.” – Edgar A. Guest

Many of us have had conventional massage that works to release tight muscles and create relaxation. In Western medicine, massage can be used for specific issues, such as musculoskeletal sports injuries and performance, massage for lymphatic drainage after cancer surgery, or for certain pain syndromes.

A core teaching in Ayurveda is that your personal body is inextricably connected to the environment around you. The environment can also be thought of as your extended body. So, whatever is happening outside in nature is expressing itself through you as well.

When I find myself stuck – in work, relationships, even daily routines – I often feel too lazy, uninspired, or fearful about taking steps to ignite my passion. It is when I find myself in a such rut that I desperately need new ways to connect with others, feel curious, and be open to new possibilities and relationships.

Every month, Dr. Sheila, Chopra’s Chief Medical Officer will be answering questions from our followers. If you have a general question for her around health and wellness, please send us an email to askdrsheila@chopra.com, and your question may be the one she answers next month. This month, Dr. Sheila answers a question about Ayurveda for people who have periods.

I was born on the South Side of Chicago where the city blocks are wide and the cookouts are live. My parents raised four children and I am the youngest. Growing up I spent every weekend and every summer at my great grandmother’s house. I called her “Grandma.”