Pillars of wellbeing -Part I
Pillars of wellbeing:
In the last 6-7 months, our world has changed drastically and everyone is more focused on improving their wellbeing and health in general which totally makes sense. Prevention is always better than cure. At the same time with so much information available on and off the internet, it is very easy to get overwhelmed. Hence, I am writing this article to offer a very simplified approach to wellbeing with the hope that it will help you to take charge of your wellbeing and be in control. As I have been trained in both western nutrition and healthy living along with Perfect health Ayurvedic lifestyle I am able to bring the best of both the worlds to you.
This is a vast topic and as I want to cover it in detail, I will be publishing the article in 2 parts. In part 1 we are going to review 3 key components that are completely integrated with our topic of Pillars of wellbeing. It is very important to understand the impact of pillars of wellbeing on our hormones and our health. At the same time, it is important to customize these pillars of wellbeing as per your unique Mindbody (Dosha) constitution to receive the optimum benefits from the knowledge.
Our body is very intelligent and it has the capacity to heal itself but the sad part is that we hinder its capacity by our self-sabotaging habits. Focusing on Pillars of Wellbeing will help us to get the power of healing back to our body. Before we go into the main topic, I wanted to discuss a few concepts so that it becomes easy to understand and incorporate the pillars of Wellbeing into our daily lives.
Our Hormones
Hormones are chemicals secreted by our endocrine gland and their role is to coordinate and control physiological activities. Hormones play a vital role in our wellbeing as they directly affect our weight, blood sugar levels, sleep, hunger, stress, growth, and lot more. The pillars of wellbeing help us maintain healthy hormonal levels in our body. Key hormones to keep in mind are Leptin, Ghrelin, Insulin, Growth Hormones, Sex Hormones, Thyroid Hormones (T3 and T4), Melatonin, Stress hormones (Adrenaline, Cortisol, and Norepinephrine), and feel-good hormones (serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins).
Dosha or our Unique Mindbody constitution
This is the 2nd factor to keep in mind when we are discussing pillars of wellbeing. According to Ayurveda, the 3 Doshas or 3 types of unique Mindbody constitution is derived from 5 elements of nature. Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. These 3 Doshas are Vata (The Creative one governed by Space and Air), Pitta (The Leader governed by Fire and Water), and Kapha (The Nurturer governed by Water and Earth). Click here to schedule an appointment to determine your unique Mindbody Constitution or Dosha) Western medicine calls these as Ectomorph (VATA), Mesomorph(PITA), Endomorph (Kapha)
Rhythms of Nature
Rhythms of Nature are the 3rd factor to keep in mind which will help us determine the pillars of wellbeing for an individual. There are Five primary rhythms (Circadian Rhythms, Seasonal Rhythms, Lunar Rhythms, Tidal Rhythms, and Celestial Rhythms) that govern distinct patterns within the human body. We will explore the effects of Circadian and Seasonal rhythms on us and how the pillars of wellbeing can help us adjust our routines to be in harmony with the Rhythms of Nature. We will mainly discuss how to align ourselves with Circadian Rhythms (Dincharya) and Seasonal Rhythms (Ritucharya) for optimal wellbeing.
• Circadian rhythms: the 24-hour cycle of night and day
6 AM - 10 AM - Kapha Time (Early Morning time right before the sunrise where everything in nature has just started the day. The body feels Slow and sluggish hence it is important to exercise during the morning Kapha time to remove the sluggishness and energize the body so that we can start the day filled with the energy.)
10 AM - 2 PM - Pitta Time (Digestive fire is at the peak hence lunch should be your largest meal)
2 PM - 6 PM - Vata Time (If you have had nutritious healthy lunch, Brain will be fueled and nourished with the meal we consumed at lunch and creativity will be at the peak)
6 PM - 10 PM - Kapha Time (Immediately after sunset. Winding downtime. It is important to understand that this is winding downtime. If you exercise or perform any mentally stimulating activity during this time, you will have difficulty falling asleep. Digestion is slow and sluggish hence eat a very light dinner)
10 PM - 2 AM - Pitta Time (Repair and renew time. The body uses this time to digest experiences, emotions, and food, and to repair and renew itself. If you do not sleep by 10 – 10:30 PM, you are reducing your body’s healing capacity)
2 AM - 6 AM - Vata Time (Light, Subtle, and filled with movement. Hence people who wake up during this time have difficulties going back to sleep)
Seasonal rhythms: 12-month cycle of the Earth around the sun
Kapha Time - Late winter and Spring
Pitta Time - Summer and Early Autumn
Vata Time - Late Autumn and Winter
Whenever there is a seasonal change, our body goes in minor shock to adust with the temperature fluctuations and hence people are more prone to flu and respiratory track related illnesses during late fall and winter while allergies during spring and early fall or skin rashes, heat strokes, dehydration, and migraines during summer. To maintain optimal health follow a seasonal routine ( Ritucharya). Continue to follow the Ayurvedic daily routine and the diet which is specifically designed for your Dosha and unique body type. When there is a change in the season, incorporate minor alterations in your lifestyle to follow a seasonal routine.
In our next article, we shall discuss the importance of pillars of Wellbeing and also discuss each pillar briefly. Till then hang in tight. I would love to add value to your life and guide you through your journey to wellness. Click here to schedule a 15 minutes discovery call.