Ayurvedic self-care tips for staying grounded and healthy during the holidays
It’s December and the season to be merry and jolly is here.
After a couple of years of Covid restrictions, it’s time to celebrate the season with family and friends once again. Many of us are finally getting together with loved ones after a tough couple of years and we’re busy counting down the days until Santa arrives.
It’s also the time of the year where we tend to over-commit to holiday parties and over-indulge in treats and alcohol more than usual. And the season itself can feel stressful and overwhelming with gift shopping, travelling or hosting Christmas dinner and all the preparations that go along with your celebrations.
This year might feel particularly stressful and painful if you’ve suffered any loss in your relationships over the past year or so. A mix of emotions can leave you feeling unsettled, low on energy and unsure of how to get through this month.
When we overextend ourselves, or feel out of sorts for whatever reasons, it invariably leads to sickness. That dreaded seasonal cold, cough or flu can knock us out hard. Ugh.
How do you ensure you stay grounded, healthy and avoid getting sick this holiday season?
An Ayurvedic approach to wellness involves ensuring all five mahabhutas or elements of nature are in balance. These five elements are within us and around us at all times. Let’s explore them as they relate to the festive season:
Space
We live in a field of space and we are part of the universe which is comprised of greater space. When the space element is cluttered around us, it leaves us feeling unsettled and grounded. Hence the phrase, “feeling spacy”.
Having space surrounding you grounds your mind.
Take a look at the space around you.
Is your home environment cluttered? Before putting up your holiday decorations, take some time to clean out your home. Donate items to charities; many of them are looking for gently used warm winter clothing and household items at this time of the year.
Take a look at your workspace. If you’ve got mountains of paperwork surrounding you, it will add to your stress levels. As the year end approaches, mindfully clear out project files no longer needed and get organized. Start the new year with a clean slate.
Free up space in your calendar. Make time in your schedule each day for YOU. Do whatever gives you a sense of feeling grounded: a daily walk, a yoga class or a run, or reading a book with a cup of tea. Shut off your cellphone for a little while each day. Use your favourite essential oils like frankincense, myrrh, lavender and peppermint to uplift your space and clear your mind. Scheduling in time for self-care will ensure the season doesn’t wear you out and will keep your energy strong.
Air
The air element brings life to all living things on the planet, including us. When we don’t get enough oxygen, we can feel light-headed, scattered and ungrounded. An imbalance with the air element can also mean feeling bloated and uncomfortable.
Notice and take care of the air element within you. Start by taking time to breathe through any and all stressful situations, especially over the holidays as you rush from one commitment to another. Counter any feelings of anxiety, overwhelm and shallow breathing with deep belly breaths.
Mindful, deep belly breathing instantly settles the mind and body, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system so you begin relaxing at all levels.
Make it a point to get some fresh air daily. Go for a short walk, irrespective of the weather and breathe deeply as you notice the beauty of gently falling snowflakes, fresh footprints in the snow and holiday lights in your neighborhood. Fresh air builds strong and healthy lungs!
Fire
This is the energetic element that represents heat and light. Our inner fire, or agni as it’s called in Ayurveda, refers to having a strong digestive system. Keep your digestive system strong over the holidays by eating warm, hot foods and sipping hot beverages. Consume your largest meal at lunchtime when your digestive fire tends to be the strongest.
Keep your inner fire burning bright and strong by keeping warm and detoxifying periodically throughout the festive season. Sit in a hot sauna, take in a hot yoga class, get a hot stone massage or take a warm bath with Epsom salts. Self-care with an emphasis on keeping warm and cozy will keep you grounded, health and strong well into the new year.
Water
Water is the element that’s essential to all living things on this planet. When we don’t get enough water, we tend to wilt and feel withered, just like house plants.
Dehydration can also trigger the onset of many chronic health conditions.
This holiday season, drink as much water as you can and to counter the effects of alcohol, sugar, salt, caffeine and heavy foods that you wouldn’t typically eat during the year.
By drinking water in plentiful amounts, you’re also flushing away toxins from the body.
When the water element is balanced within us, we are able to flow easily with whatever joy or challenges this season brings us.
Earth
The earth is often the main element people consider when it comes to grounding. Within each of us, the earth element is our physical body. To ground your body means you’re connecting it with Mother Earth.
While it’s likely too cold to walk barefoot on the earth (one of the best ways to ground yourself), there are still lots of ways to get grounded outside. Take walks or hikes in the snow, hit the ski slopes, skate on an outdoor rink or build a snowman like a kid. Hug a tree, yes, even in the winter!
Leave your cellphone at home when you’re outside grounding yourself – let the earth’s miraculous energy detoxify you from the accumulation of positive ions from your tech gadgets and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and 5G surrounding us daily.
Eat more root vegetables to harness the earth’s energies through your meals. Add lots of carrots, beets, parsnips and sweet potatoes to your favorite dishes with your holiday turkey or ham.
Take the stress out of the holiday season with these simple tips to keep your five elements in balance. And if you occasionally overindulge or slip off the self-care wagon, don’t beat yourself up. You have next month to start over with a fresh clean slate.
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas, happy holidays and a very happy new year!
I’ll be back in January with inspiring new content to kick off 2023.
If you’d like to learn more about Ayurveda and grounding techniques, check out my first book, The Little Book of Grounding: 75+ simple ways to restore balance to your mind-body-spirit using Ancient Ayurvedic teachings for today’s world. Available on Amazon and all major bookstores worldwide. And it makes the perfect gift for the person in your life who’s super stressed out!!
Have a blessed holiday season!