Winter is a great time to strengthen your immune system. By regaining it throughout the winter, you can refill your energy for the new year. It is the season when the digestive fire is at its all-time high. The onset of winter is not only accompanied by humid, cold weather, but it also brings with it a sense of dark, brooding, heaviness. Ayurveda acknowledges that winter is typically considered to be a season-high on Kapha and Vata, causing Kapha and Vata-dominant individuals to feel the harsh effects of the season. This is precisely why a winter fitness routine is so important and helpful.
Ayurveda believes winter is the season where you can strengthen your immunity. It focuses on bolstering the second level of immunity, which varies with the seasons. Consuming immunity-boosting foods and following a lifestyle in accordance with Ayurveda will ensure that your body and mind acclimatize to the different seasons and that the body's homeostasis does not get altered.
With a few changes in your diet and lifestyle, it is possible to not only look and feel good while beating the chills but also have an abundance of positive energy.
Here is a winter fitness routine to help you maintain a healthy mind, body, and spirit!
Regulate Your Sleep Cycle
The quote – “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy and wise’’, can do wonders for your physical and mental health during the upcoming winter months. It will keep you feeling fresh and energetic all day, while also helping you establish a healthy sleep routine.
Self-Massage (Abhyanga)
Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of daily oiling and massage in order to maintain healthy joints, toned muscles, and a stable body temperature. Any Vata-type person will benefit from sesame oil, which is also the best oil for self-massage in the winter.
Start each morning with a gentle massage of Sesame Oil on your body followed by a warm shower. This not only keeps your body warm and nourished; it also keeps your body movements smooth throughout the day.
Daily Exercise
Exercise improves blood circulation, enhances your appetite, and raises your body temperature. Jogging or brisk walking pumps up your heart rate and makes you both mentally and physically ready for your workout.
Surya Namaskar, also known as the sun salutation is also an excellent form of exercise comprising eight different postures that are sequenced in a 12-step flow. This exercise stretches your entire body, fosters the immune system and improves overall health.
Keep Yourself Hydrated
Start your day with a glass of warm water to activate your digestive system. For an extra boost to your health, you can also add herbs and spices like ginger, turmeric, and cloves to your warm water.
Consume Warm Food
Winter is the season for warm, well-prepared meals seasoned with gastrointestinal-friendly spices, according to Ayurveda. Not only are they comforting on cold days, they also help you to digest heavy food and keep your body in tune with the external weather conditions.
Include Healthy Herbs
Digestive fire is strong at this time of year, which is why we are usually more than happy to eat a little more than we might in the summer. Specific herbs and spices can help warm the body, boost energy and maintain digestive fire.
Boost Your Ojas
Ojas can be translated as ‘vital essence’ or the body’s vigor and energy. During times of seasonal change, Ojas is hampered leading to physical and mental weakness, decreased digestive fire and depleted energy levels. To replenish your vigor and keep levels of ojas and boost energy this season, add this superfood to your diet on a regular basis, - Vedistry Prash.
In order to increase vigor, vitality, and stamina, Vedistry Prash is a wonderful combination of herbs from Chyavanprash enhanced with Gold, Silver, and Pearl. It is an excellent energy booster and daily health tonic for strength and energy. An individual with weakness and fatigue, general debility, recurrent infections, low vigor, and vitality should consume this supplement daily. It contains Amla, Ghee, Giloy, Pippali, Nagkeshar, Shunthi, Talis, Chitrak, etc. which help to improve energy and strength, promote stamina and endurance, boost immunity and metabolism and improve vitality and vigor.
Amla is a well-known anti-aging, anti-oxidant herb and a rich source of Vitamin C. This fruit is one of the best-known Rasayana (Adaptogen) and natural sources of antioxidants in the Ayurvedic pharmacopeia. Ghee provides nourishment and boosts energy and vitality. Giloy improves metabolism and enhances immunity. Pippali promotes digestion and improves absorption.
Along with the combination of these potent herbs, Vedistry Prash is fortified with precious metals and gems like Gold, Silver and Pearl which enriches its rejuvenating properties. Gold and Silver are excellent nervine tonic that bolsters our immune system. Pearl helps reduce the levels of cortisol which is a stress hormone and thereby attenuates stress and provides peaceful sleep. It is crucial to reduce different aging symptoms and give the skin a healthy glow.
Thus, Vedistry Prash is a strengthening herbal-mineral supplementation that provides deep rejuvenation to all seven of the body’s dhatus (tissues) and all three doshas, contributing to its wide range of benefits and making it a great fitness enthusiast guide for practically everyone in the winter season.