Super Supple Stress Strategies – how to feel Somehow more Alive

 

Want to feel younger, more super supple and somehow more alive? Here are some Super Supple stress strategies

Stretch it out, breathe,  and oil it up!

I practice yoga everyday…the sun salutations  and some breath-work, at least to keep expanding and opening up the spaces that can get tight and creaky all too fast. 

Here are some basic Ayurvedica ways to get some of that effect.

Internally — Create more Ojas. Remember that one? The super-fine by-product of great nutrition followed by great digestion? Read here to see how to develop more juicy yummy ojas.

Externally — Oil it up.

Body:  After your shower use a fine quality oil and give yourself a massage. This is in addition to that morning body brush and massage ritual– a second dose of oil later in the day and/or after a shower.   For the Body: Start at the bottom and work your way up, always massaging towards the heart and always in circular motions over the joints. Use sparingly at first to see how much oil you actually need. This way you can avoid that oil- slick feel. I use Heavenly Body Balm in the mornings and sometimes late day if I want to avoid an oily feel as this is a combo of nut butters and coconut oil formulated to have a dry finish.  But I often use therapeutically formulated Intoxicating body oils for dosha type …or just selected by what I am feeling I you need: invigorating? Nourishing? Stimulating?

Feet: A little Sesame oil applied to the soles of the feet and massaged in between toes, up the sole over the top and ankles too,  before bed promotes sleep (put on socks to avoid staining sheets and carpets and slipping around.)  I use this as an opportunity to stretch out my toes by intertwining my fingers between each toes and doing some flex and stretch exercises.  Releases a whole lot of tension and my feet just look better.

Scalp: Oil the scalp with Coconut oil and massage to stimulate the follicles which is said to stimulate hair growth but at very least releases the amazing amount of tension we hold on the scalp. Neem oil (useful for so many healthful things as an antibacterial, anti-fungal, curative agent), will help with scalp health issues…cradle cap, dandruff, itchy-scratchies (and even lice..yuck.)  Any oil  from coconut to olive with increase sheen and health of hair.

Mouth:  The by now famous art and practice of oil-pulling should be on your radar. Give it a try.  Even a few minutes every morning should make a difference to gum health and tooth whiteness.  But give it a try:  your own experiment.  Read here how…

Nose:  Called Nasya Nasal Oil, this is the practice of getting a pinky full of oil  gently inserted  in the nostrils, rub it around, sniff in a bit.  This can follow Neti Pot rinsing or not.  I most diligently use Nasya Oil when traveling to keep the membranes lubricated and resistant to rampant bacteria on long plane journeys.  But this practice is also said to improve mental clarity and relieve tension since it treats the nasal passages, making them more efficient for the intake of a healthy flow of breath…which is Prana…the life force we all thrive on!  (Try one of the “Well-Snap” Breathwork practices and see how it feels once you have lubricated the passages with Nasya oil!)