Tips for an Ayurvedic Festive Season

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. The entire family comes together, you eat together and spend time together, but the holidays can also be a stressful time. In addition to the stress of buying gifts, we often end up overeating. For many people, eating too much can make you feel sluggish and tired and can cause digestive issues.

Here are a few tips on how the holidays can be less stressful and more enjoyable thanks to Ayurveda:

Regular meals

Even if it is tempting to nibble on a few Christmas cookies every now and then, try and stick to regular meals. Our bodies are creatures of habit. Therefore, we should have three meals a day and always eat them at the same time. If we skip a meal or eat too much, the Agni, the digestive fire, weakens and can lead to digestive problems.

One main meal

The main meal of the day should be ideally taken at noon. The best time would be between noon and 2 p.m. because this is when our Agni is at its strongest. Eating the main meal at lunchtime and only a light meal in the evening is conducive to a good night's sleep.

Don't overeat

As mentioned earlier, it is tempting to snack on Christmas delicacies. Sometimes we lose control and eat until we burst. Unfortunately, this is not beneficial for our digestion.

Support Agni

The digestive fire Agni is important so that our body can process and utilize the nutrients that we ingest through food, but there are many things that interfere with Agni like artificial food dyes or flavours. This is why it's a good idea to cook meals at home from scratch.

Another way to promote Agni is to use sugar in limited quantities and eat mainly freshly prepared dishes. The Ayurvedic life force or Prana enters our body through the air we breathe and also through the food and water we consume. Food that has been warmed up has much less Prana.

Ayurvedic gifts

Rest and relaxation play a central role in Ayurveda. Ayurvedic skincare, massage vouchers and warming and delicious teas or spices, are a few gifts we could give that encourage a calm and peaceful holiday season.

Exercise helps

A person can only be really balanced when the body and mind are in harmony with one another. Of course, this only works if we also take care of our bodies. Listen to your body: if you feel sluggish and heavy, a little exercise is perfect to get you going. Taking a walk is always a good idea!

Find peace and rest

The holidays are a hectic time when many people find little opportunity to rest. It is wonderful to pursue social activities, after all, they bring so much energy and joy, but it is just as important to find peace. Make sure to take time for yourself during the holidays. Find a place and time where you can focus on your inner centre again.