5 WELLBEING PRACTICES TO TRY RIGHT NOW

Having to stay home and social distance can take its toll on our mind-body, so now is the perfect time to incorporate some nurturing practices to support your wellbeing now and in the long term. Here are some of my favourites — inspired by Ayurveda and other holistic health philosophies.

1. TONGUE TINGLING

AKA tongue scraping, Tongue Tingling is the first thing I do every morning. It’s an Ayurvedic practice designed to rid the tongue of the fuzzy buildup that happens overnight. Done using a U-shaped copper tool, this 10-second habit helps prevent bad breath, as well as infections.

2. SOUND BATHING

Over lockdown, for the first time, I took my sound baths online with the launch of my downloadable sessions. Each is themed for a different purpose, all you need to do is lay back and “bathe” in the healing tones of crystal bowls — they offer an easy form of guided meditation that you can use at any time, whether it’s to wind down from an evening or to counteract stress or upset in the middle of your day.

3. ABHYANGA SELF-MASSAGE

The spa is right. There. In your bathroom! Treat your frazzled nerves to a warm oil self-massage. Another Ayurvedic practice, Abhyanga is a great way to check in with your body, and to show yourself some love and care while the world feels scary. It also increases circulation, stimulates organ function, helps your body detox and improves sleep, among many other benefits.

4. WALK BAREFOOT

If you’re able to get to a green space while we’re on lockdown, try kicking your shoes off and walking barefoot for a bit. This practice, known as “earthing,” is an easy yet powerful way of reconnecting to nature. Walking barefoot on a natural surface has been proven to increase antioxidants, reduce inflammation and improve sleep.

5. SAGE-CLEANSE YOUR SPACE

We’re all spending a LOT of time indoors, so it’s never been more important to create a supportive home environment. Cleansing your space by burning sage — or smudging — is a lovely, meditative way of doing this. Sage cleansing is a traditional practice that originates from several native American tribes and is believed to rid a space, objects or people of negative energy and evil spirits, and bring back purity and positivity.