Why Self Care?
Why should we spend extra time taking care of ourselves? I believe that the subject of self care in our society is shifting, but in the not so distant past, self care has been seen as selfish, and anyone who routinely practices self care can be seen as “stuck up” or out of touch.. Before I became a massage therapist I always assumed that massage and self care was just something that “rich people wasted their money on”. I was totally oblivious to the importance of taking care of yourself. I was working a job that I hated, not allowing myself the time to go on vacation (I didn’t go on one for almost 10 years!), and not taking the time to relax and destress. Yes I ate healthy, but unresolved stress from not taking the time for self care can wreck havoc on your health.
Society has also taught us to not feel good about ourselves. No one can capitalize off of someone who loves themselves, and who is completely confident in their own skin. Endless marketing strategies try to sell us products which tell us that we are too fat, too thin, too tall, not tall enough, not this, not that.
One of the first ways I started on the self-care journey was by going to a yoga class once a week. I had already practiced yoga at home for some years, but until then I had always avoided class because I thought I “wasn’t good enough”. I ended up loving yoga class so much that I would always make time for my weekly class no matter what else was going on. After some years of this, I discovered massage therapy and the world of self-care. I went to massage school and started a career that would end up changing my life. I seriously loved being a massage therapist and helping others put themselves first. Unfortunately years of being an LMT was taking a physical toll on my body, so I had to quit. Knowing that I needed a new career, I soon discovered health coaching and Ayurveda and fell in love. I feel like through my past experiences the universe was seriously preparing me for a career in Ayurveda. It encompasses every random interest that I’ve ever had— yoga, spirituality, philosophy, energy healing, massage, nutrition, exercise, biology, etc.
During my journey through self care I’ve learned that we are individual expressions of the universal consciousness. By taking care of ourselves, we are literally taking care of the whole universe. If we feel bad, sick, slow, sluggish, stressed out, then how can be able to take care of others? By taking care of ourselves we are able to open up to endless possibilities of taking care of others.
What is Self-Care?
Self care is a term that can be applied to anything you do to take care of yourself— body, mind, and spirit. This can be eating healthy, working out, practicing self massage, or getting regular professional massages, going to yoga class, getting enough sleep, etc. Self care also encompasses things we already do on a daily basis, such as brushing your teeth, taking a shower, brushing your hair, putting on make up (if it makes you feel good), etc. Pretty much anything that makes you feel good about yourself. In Ayurveda, there are many different ways of self-care that are highly suggested that one performs on a daily basis.
Practicing Self-Care
Even though self care goes beyond just taking care of your physical body, it’s still a good place to start if you are new to a self care routine. Chances are, if you are like most people in the westernized world, caring for yourself can be a new concept. Starting with the physical body allows you to overcome any stress that you are carrying due to events in the outside world. Below is a list of self care practices and a description of how to perform them. You don’t have to do every single one every day, but incorporate the ones you feel as though you need into your daily/weekly routine.
Dry Brushing- Dry brushing not only helps exfoliate your skin, it also helps with lymphatic drainage, and can give you an extra energy boost. Start by finding a brush with firm, all natural bristles, such as this one. Starting at your feet, brush in long or circular motions toward your heart until you have covered your whole body. Light strokes are best— be sure not to press down too hard with your brush because this can damage skin and leave red marks. Follow with abhyanga or shower and repeat daily.
Abhyanga– In today’s busy society, few people get the amount of massages that are recommended. What if you could get the benefit of a full body massage every day? Abhyanga is sanskrit for “Oil Massage”. In Ayurveda, it is suggested that you take the time to perform self massage with oil once a day. Ideally you should perform this before you take a shower. It takes 10-20 minutes to do a full body massage, however, if time is short, it is suggested you do the head and the feet rather than nothing at all.
Start by massaging the scalp in circular motions with the fingertips. Working down the neck, massaging the shoulders, focusing on any tense spots. Work this way on the rest of the body with long flowing strokes toward the heart until you finish the massage, ending with the feet. A shower afterward to wash the oil off is recommended.
Tongue Scraping– Ama, or undigested food that stays in the body and acts as toxins, can manifest itself as a white coating on the tongue. It is important to clean this off the tongue daily, preferably in the morning after brushing. This also helps clear it of any unwanted or potentially harmful bacteria, helps freshen breath, and makes food taste more vibrant. It is also thought that this can help end cravings. For example, if you ate a lot of sweets the previous day and it turns into ama on the tongue, then the taste can linger, and this could make you want more the next day.
To start, find a metal tongue scraper, such as this one. After brushing, stick your tongue out and, starting from the back, pull the scraper forward until it reaches the tip. Rinse the scraper off and repeat 2-3 more times, or until any residue on your tongue is gone. Wash with soap and water. Repeat daily after brushing for maximal benefits.
Oil Pulling– This helps pull bacteria and other toxins from the gums, and from between the teeth that brushing alone will not get. Measure out approximately 1 tablespoon of oil, such as sesame seed or coconut oil. Swish in your mouth anywhere from 5-15 minutes and spit out, being careful not to swallow. Rinse your mouth out with water, and repeat 2-3 times a week.
After you have successfully incorporated physical self care into your daily routine, allow yourself to dive deeper into the mental/emotional/spiritual aspects of self care. Try out a yoga class, a meditation class, make an appointment with an acupuncturist or Ayurvedic Practitioner. The only criteria when it comes to self care is that it has to make you feel good about yourself!
Self care isn’t about saying that you are better than everyone else, it’s about saying that you are EQUAL to everyone else. Practicing self care helps us realize that we are enough. We shouldn’t define ourselves through our friends, who we are around, or by what we think society expects us to do. The only way to be truly happy and content is to always look within first!
