What I value most in this precious life is health. Health to me means absence of disease, stable energy levels and emotions, steady appetite, regular bowel movements and a daily urge to be creative. My definition of health is strongly influenced by my practice and study in Ayurveda over the last few decades and I continue to appreciate the practical wisdom she offers. Each year I’m more aware of its value and try to do my best to protect the health of my body and mind with simple daily routines and mindfulness. If you are like me and value health, consider some of these practices to weave into your daily routines:
Morning Self-Exam:
— Scrape your tongue to remove bacteria in the mouth and look for unusual color or smell that might indicate ama (undigested food matter or low digestive fire)
— Rinse eyes with water or special Ayurvedic products
— Apply Nasya Oil to your nasal passages to the moisten tissue and add a protective coating to avoid inhaling undesirable particles in the air
— Hydrate with room temperature or hot water (with lemon if you tend towards constipation
— Bowel movements tell you a lot about how you are digesting your food. Look for consistency in shape and ease in elimination.
Meditate – A practice of 5 minutes counts and once that is doable for a few weeks or month, consider moving up to 10 minutes. The key here is consistency.
Move Your Body – Yoga stretches, walk, head to the gym.
Eat when you are hungry and increase warm meals as we move closer to the Autumn Season.
Take regular breaks from your desk or from looking at screens. You body NEEDS to move in order to stay healthy.
Hydrate before lunch with warm non-caffeinated teas.
Eat lunch in the sunshine or away from your desk. Take time to enjoy something tasty and rest if possible for 10 minutes after eating.
Hydrate and take a walk to enjoy the late afternoon light. Be creative.
Eat a lighter dinner at least 3 hours before going to bed (preferably with company).
Treat yourself to foot and scalp oil massage before bed.
Regular bedtime (if possible by 10pm)
I hope you see the possibility of incorporating these health-promoting practices into your daily routines and feel the power of healthy habits. If you are already doing all the things I mentioned above, congratulations on taking such great care of yourself! May others always benefit from our practice. Wishing you all much health in the season transition ahead.
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Experience Yoga for healthy aging and Ayurveda for deep healing with Baxter Bell and Melina Meza in one of the most beautiful places on earth, the Feathered Pipe Ranch. Along the way, we’ll be storing up wisdom to support three pillars of a happy and fulfilling life: a sustainable yoga practice, a wholesome diet, and a healthy lifestyle – August 10 – 17, “Living Well: Yoga, Ayurveda, and the Power of Nature.”
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About Melina Meza:
Melina Meza, eRYT500, BS Nutrition, Ayurvedic Health Educator, Certified Yoga for Aging Teacher, is an avid hiker, tennis player, biker and nature photographer and has discovered many magical places around the Feathered Pipe Ranch since her first visit in 2013. She has shared her knowledge of Hatha Yoga, Ayurveda, and whole foods nutrition with yogis around the world for over 20 years, She is attuned to the five elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether, which she weaves into her rich Ayurvedic teachings. Melina pioneered Seasonal Vinyasa, an innovative multi-disciplined approach to well-being, and is the author of the Art of Sequencing books and the creator of the Yoga for the Seasons: Fall Vinyasa DVD. Since 1997, Melina has been teaching yoga at 8 Limbs Yoga Centers in Seattle, Washington, where she also is Director of their 200- and 500-Hour Teachers’ Training Program.
Currently residing in Oakland California, Melina facilitates many yoga and Ayurveda workshops and leads retreats each year. Her continual growth as a teacher and practitioner has been influenced by studying with numerous instructors, including Dr. Robert Svoboda, Scott Blossom, Jin Sung, Sarah Powers, Gary Kraftsow, Kathleen Hunt, and Baxter Bell, MD. Retreats and sabbaticals are also vital to Melina’s personal practice and bring her deeper reflection and inspiration.
Melina holds a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from Bastyr University, where she deepened her interest in the world of whole foods nutrition, and is a certified Ayurvedic Health Educator from the California College of Ayurveda. While attending Bastyr, she found what her body, mind, and spirit had been waiting for — yoga. From her very first class in 1993, she has never stopped exploring the physical, mental, and spiritual practices passed down from the ancient sages. Yoga has been the “launching pad” — as her teacher Gary Kraftsow describes it — that has rocketed her into a life journey of cultivating the disciplines necessary to gain insight and wisdom integral to being healthy, compassionate, and radiant, while sharing those gifts with others.
Check out Melina’s unique offerings on the Yoga Anytime, YogaUonline, or at Gaiamtv and practice from the comfort of your own home.
Learn more about Melina: melinameza.com