|
Ayurvedic Insight
Issue #33, July 2004
In This Issue
Nurturing Ourselves
by Shannon Mooney
Nourishment is a powerful way to fully experience the
richness of life on earth. Our mothers are the first ones
who nourished us, beginning in the womb where we received
our nourishment through umbilical cords. Then, as small
children, we began to transition from complete dependence to
self care. We were taught how to feed ourselves, drink from
a cup, care for our bodies and how to laugh, love and play.
As adults, we sometimes need to relearn or remember how to
continue to nourish ourselves in our daily lives, how to
find a balance of self care and receiving nourishment from
others. Our relationships, our diets, where and how we
choose to live are all a reflection of the harmony we create
in our lives. Choosing to nourish ourselves supports us in
our affirmation of being alive. It is a way to show our
appreciation of the gift of life.
Although breathing is the most basic act of life which
occurs automatically, we can use it as a source of
nourishment. Taking in deep, full breaths energizes and
oxygenates all parts of our bodies. We can direct the breath
into areas of our bodies that are holding tension or
feeling fatigued, breathing in prana, new energy, and
exhaling any stress, allowing the body to soften. Slow, deep
breathing can dispel anxiety, promote relaxation and help
the body to let go. Practicing mindful, healthy breathing
provides a sense of serenity and nourishment to our bodies.
Our eating habits and food choices reflect our attitudes
about providing ourselves with nourishment. We can create a
more nurturing relationship with food by becoming more
intimately connected to our food source. Here are some
ideas:
- Grow your own veggies in the backyard, or in containers on
the porch.
- Join a garden community.
- Join a Community Supported Agriculture farm (CSA) and have
fresh, local, organic produce delivered to you throughout
the growing season.
- Find your local farmers' market and shop there.
- When eating out, find restaurants that are members of the
Slow Food Movement, supporting local farmers and
serving organic foods.
These are just a few examples of ways to foster a more
healthy relationship with food. They are also ways to become
conscious of everything it takes to get our food from the
earth to our plates- the sun, soil, rain, farmers, pickers,
grocers and our own efforts and ingenuity in preparing the
food. By bringing awareness to the beauty, bounty and
vitality of our food, taking time to notice how certain food
makes you feel and how it supports your being alive, eating
becomes a sacred act. Offering gratitude before meals and
sharing food with people we love strengthens our connection
to each other and the rest of the planet.
Notice the practices in your lifestyle that nourish you.
Here are some examples:
- Daily oil massage
- Yoga, meditation, or spiritual practice
- Artistic expression, such as playing music, singing songs,
drawing and painting
- Playing with children
- Gardening
- Taking a walk in nature
- Feeling the sunshine on your face
- Spending time with elders
- Preparing food
- Wearing beautiful clothes
- Resting
Making our homes a sanctuary gives us a space in which we
feel comfortable and permits us to practice nurturing
ourselves. Invite in fresh air and sunlight. Clear away
clutter and discard items that are no longer needed.
Surround yourself and nourish your senses with beautiful
things. Display fresh flowers or hang a painting or picture
that represents health, life, and beauty. Create an altar in
honor of all things that nourish and support you. Find
things in nature that represent this relationship. Begin to
create and work in the kind of environments that truly
nourish you.
Physical contact is a human need. It is important to
surround ourselves with supportive people who we love and
trust, people who know how to listen and laugh. Learning how
to receive from others is an important way to nurture
ourselves. We need people to hug or sometimes, just be
there.
Whether we exercise, dance, play, practice martial arts or
yoga, movement is nourishing and energizing to the body. The
best types of exercise are the ones that allow us to be
mindful of our bodies as we move. This allows to meet our
bodies' physical needs by keeping the energy flowing.
Exercise also invites our bodies' to express their inherent
wisdom. We can begin to understand our bodies' language and
what it is saying to us by how it is moving, locating where
there is holding or constriction and where it feels open,
free and fluid. When we move our bodies with awareness, we
learn about our limitations, helping to us develop a sense
of acceptance, humility and reverence for our human
capabilities. Movement helps bring our minds and bodies into
alignment. Movement can be a meditation and spiritual
practice. Moving gently and in nourishing ways can be a
joyful experience, a way of practicing compassion in our
bodies.
The Buddhist meditation teacher, Pema Chodron, explained
when asked why we forget to do what is best for ourselves,
"We forget and remember, forget and remember. That's why
it's called practice." So, we must practice everyday,
retraining our minds and hearts to nurture and love
ourselves to the best of our ability. Let us extend our
imaginary umbilical cords out into our lives, drinking in
all that nourishes us. Soon, the most alive choice we make
will become the most natural step, from one moment to the
next. By nurturing ourselves, we are supporting our health,
moving towards wholeness and saying, yes, to life.
Recipe: Jicama - Tangerine Salad
Sattvic, - Vata, 0 Pitta, 0 Kapha
- Juice of two lemons (about 1/3 c.)
- 2 tsp. raw honey
- 1 tsp. ground coriander
- 2 T. sesame or sunflower oil
- 2 c. jicama, peeled and sliced thinly
- 2 c. sweet tangerines, peeled and sectioned
- 2 T. fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
- Salt to taste (optional)
Prepare the dressing by mixing together the lemon juice,
honey, ground coriander, and oil.
Toss about 1/2 cup of the dressing with the jicama and
tangerine. Add salt to taste. Put in a pretty serving bowl
and garnish with cilantro.
Recipe reprinted with permission from Ayurvedic Cooking for
Westerners by Amadea Morningstar, Lotus Press, P.O. Box 325,
Twin Lakes, WI 53181.©1995 All Rights Reserved.
Return to newsletter index. |
