Balancing the Doshas in the Himalayas
(What I learned about Ayurveda while trekking through Nepal during a natural disaster.)
I recently spent two weeks trekking through Nepal. The initial goal was Annapurna base camp. However, due to climate-change, Nepal experienced unseasonal monsoonal rain, flooding, and landslides that washed away bridges, roads, and villages, and made it impossible to take the route we had planned. Thanks to our fantastic local team, it was a brilliant adventure. After the experience, I have a few Ayurvedic reflections to share.
Balancing Vata
Key Takeaways:
Breathe. Take a pause. You are already free.
Practice the things that ground you and connect you to the good Earth. Good sleep hygiene, snacks whenever you need them, and steady, controlled breaths in fresh mountain air. There is always time to take a break and tend to yourself. The company of good and grounded people will also do you well.
The Story:
I love being outdoors and travelling because it makes me feel very free and alive. As someone with a Vata-dominant constitution, I find myself getting anxious when I don’t have an outlet for my energy and imagination. But when placing myself in wild environments (think monsoonal rain, land-slides, and floods), and highly-stimulating streetscapes (think chaotic traffic, lively crowds, and gorgeous art and colour all around) it was important to take things down a notch every now and then and practice good (basic) self-care stuff. If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t need an exclusive or complicated wellness program. Instead, you might find that keeping your nervous system calm and you health topped up with good sleep, good snacks, good breath awareness, and good company does the trick.
Balancing Pitta
Key Takeaways:
Breathe. Take a pause. You are already free.
Practice the things that ground you and connect you to the good Earth. Good sleep hygiene, snacks whenever you need them, and steady, controlled breaths in fresh mountain air. There is always time to take a break and tend to yourself. The company of good and grounded people will also do you well.
The Story:
I love being outdoors and travelling because it makes me feel very free and alive. As someone with a Vata-dominant constitution, I find myself getting anxious when I don’t have an outlet for my energy and imagination. But when placing myself in wild environments (think monsoonal rain, land-slides, and floods), and highly-stimulating streetscapes (think chaotic traffic, lively crowds, and gorgeous art and colour all around) it was important to take things down a notch every now and then and practice good (basic) self-care stuff. If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t need an exclusive or complicated wellness program. Instead, you might find that keeping your nervous system calm and you health topped up with good sleep, good snacks, good breath awareness, and good company does the trick.
Balancing Kapha
Key Takeaways:
Breathe. Take a pause. You are already free.
Practice the things that ground you and connect you to the good Earth. Good sleep hygiene, snacks whenever you need them, and steady, controlled breaths in fresh mountain air. There is always time to take a break and tend to yourself. The company of good and grounded people will also do you well.
The Story:
I love being outdoors and travelling because it makes me feel very free and alive. As someone with a Vata-dominant constitution, I find myself getting anxious when I don’t have an outlet for my energy and imagination. But when placing myself in wild environments (think monsoonal rain, land-slides, and floods), and highly-stimulating streetscapes (think chaotic traffic, lively crowds, and gorgeous art and colour all around) it was important to take things down a notch every now and then and practice good (basic) self-care stuff. If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t need an exclusive or complicated wellness program. Instead, you might find that keeping your nervous system calm and you health topped up with good sleep, good snacks, good breath awareness, and good company does the trick.
