Recently clients and friends have been asking me how they can deal with their "hunger" when they get home from work. Sometimes the hunger is real because they've had a light lunch that didn't have all 6 tastes we learn about in Ayurveda nutrition and a snack of some trail mix or a sweet fruit with a cup of herbal tea can be a useful quick antidote. However, often the hunger is linked with emotions. We may be feeling tired because we have been giving/serving all day. We need to do something to quell our "hunger".
For example, one friend and client I recently met with commented how he feels the need to eat something when he gets back from work and finds that in the evening he eats the most amount of food, something he would rather avoid.
As I listened I thought about how this reaction would be interpreted in Ayurvedic terms. During the day when we work we are serving, constantly giving. Many of us spend the day constantly busy interacting with colleagues, clients and customers or working on projects that require a lot of mental energy. After a day working like this we may either have a lot of nervous energy or feel drained. When we get finish work we often feel the need to give something to ourselves, to nurture ourselves in some way because of all we have been giving out but it's important also to manage our energy levels.
In Ayurveda nutrition the sweet taste is associated with love, affection, nurturing so the most simple and instinctive way we have of nurturing ourselves is to eat something, usually something sweet to give our cells a boost. Sometimes we grab something to eat because we feel physically hungry but even after the hunger pangs have gone we continue to eat to satisfy a possible emotional hunger. So I'd like to share with you 7 simple strategies to to nurture yourself when you get back from work/in the evening that don't necessarily involve eating but will help you move into a space to nourish yourself regularly on a more sustainable level.
Lie down and do a relaxation exercise - start from the head and silently instruct each part of your body to relax. "I am relaxing my ... [insert part of the body]. [insert part of the body] is/are relaxed" If necessary record the instructions with your own voice and then listen to them. This autosuggestion technique is effective and will take you about 10 - 15 mins
Do some physical exercise - go for a walk, run, swim, cycle on your own
Have a quick shower - water is a good way to wash away the tensions of the day
Listen to a relaxing piece of music or sing a few of your favourite songs.
Do 6 rounds of alternate nostril breathing
Have a massage or give yourself a massage
Drink a cup of freshly brewed tulsi tea - tulsi is one of my favourites!
To improve your health and wellbeing, a simple, effective diet is needed to prevent disease and promote health. Appropriate nutritional strategies help you to easily attract the health wealth you desire with little time & effort.
Discover what you need to know about nutritional strategies now by visiting http://keystovitality.nutrijyoti.com for your free e-course to help you understand how simple holistic strategies can boost your energy levels and leave you feeling free to enjoy life.
Janet Gomez is a wellness & nutritional consultant specializing in teaching busy professionals a holistic approach to food so they experience fuller health with improved energy levels.