Ayurveda for Mental Wellness: A Deep Dive into Online Courses
Prioritizing mental health is extremely important in this fast-paced world. Ayurveda emphasizes the need to attain a perfect balance of mind, body, and soul. Many studies have also shown that deteriorating mental health severely affects the immunity of an individual too. ‘In this blog ‘Ayurveda for mental wellness: A deep dive into online courses, we’ll discuss ways we can use Ayurvedic guidelines for mental health by the top Ayurveda College in Kerala.
Ayurvedic Approach to Mental Wellness
The Ayurvedic methods of mental health management primarily focus on gentle intervention and not stigmatizing mental health. As we are human beings with
emotional aspects, it's common that we all go through cycles of feeling lethargic, productive, and restless.
When you look into Doshas, known as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha regarding mental health, you can see that when they are balanced, the mind will attain peace of mind. We have one or two dominant Doshas. An imbalance in Dosha will have a severe effect on an individual. According to Ayurveda, Vata imbalance causes anxiety, restlessness, and fear. Meanwhile, anger and irritability are the cause of Pitta imbalance and Kapha imbalance manifests as lethargy and depression.
A well-trained Ayurvedic practitioner assesses the physical, physiological psychological, and genetic history of the patient. However, most of the Dosha imbalance can be alleviated via measures like herbs and modification in lifestyle & nutrition as well as with therapies like Abhyanga, Shirodhara, etc.
Ayurveda has some amazing techniques to boost your mental health. They're not just some random practices, but well-researched ones. For instance, a Harvard study found that just 8 weeks of meditation can change the grey matter of your brain. And if you're feeling anxious about COVID-19, another study recommends practicing Yoga to calm your nerves. So, why not give these techniques a try and see how they can transform your mental well-being? Now let’s take some of the Ayurveda techniques in detail.
Abhyanga
Abhyanga is a popular and traditional Ayurvedic massage therapy. The procedure of the treatment involves the application of warm oil to the body and massage. Even though the procedure is largely known for its physical health benefits, Abhyanga is also known to provide a positive impact on mental health by reducing stress and issues with anxiety.
Since stress and anxiety are caused by an imbalanced nervous system, the gentle and rhythmic strokes of the massage will help to reduce the sympathetic nervous system
and promote parasympathetic dominance, inducing a state of relaxation. Regularly performing Abhyanga can lower tension, promote better sleep, and enhance overall emotional well-being, making it a valuable holistic approach for maintaining and improving mental health. Want to learn more about Abhyanga? Reach out to our experts at The School of Ayurveda and Panchakarma, offering comprehensive Online Ayurveda Course. Including an online panchakarma course.
Shirodhara
In this treatment, a continuous stream of warm, medicated oil is poured gently onto the forehead for an extended period. This therapeutic practice helps calm the mind, reduce stress, and alleviate anxiety by promoting a deep sense of relaxation.
The rhythmic flow of oil creates a meditative and tranquil experience, which can significantly reduce mental chatter, balance neurotransmitters, and stimulate the release of feel-good hormones like serotonin. Shirodhara also enhances overall mental clarity and focus while reducing symptoms of insomnia and depression.
Yoga and Meditation
Yoga and meditation offer powerful tools for improving mental health by providing a holistic approach to finding inner peace and balance. Yoga combines physical postures with deep breathing, fostering physical strength and flexibility while calming the mind, reducing stress, and alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression. Meditation, on the other hand, trains the mind to focus, cultivate mindfulness, and manage thoughts and emotions. This practice helps individuals gain better control over their mental processes, leading to reduced stress, enhanced emotional resilience, and an overall sense of well-being. Together, yoga and meditation empower individuals to build mental and emotional strength, offering natural and effective ways to promote and maintain good mental health. If you are interested in pursuing a course regarding Yoga and Medication, the School of Ayurveda and Panchakarma offers a certified course on Yoga and meditation for people who are interested in gaining more insights about the practice.
Ten Ayurvedic tips for enhancing mental health
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Practice Self Care
According to Ayurveda, practicing self-care is integral to improving mental health as it helps balance the mind and body. Ayurveda encourages individuals to align their daily routines with (dosha) to maintain harmony, as imbalances can lead to mental distress. Overall, Ayurvedic self-care fosters a sense of inner peace, clarity, and balance, contributing to enhanced mental health and emotional resilience.
2. Balance Agni and Doshas
Ayurveda recommends keeping your Doshas in balance in order to keep a happy and peaceful mood. Within the various subtypes of doshas, prana vata, sadhaka pitta, and tarpaka kapha are linked to the mind. Any imbalance in these doshas can lead to mental and emotional disturbances. So, achieving balance in these doshas is crucial in stabilizing the aspects that pertain to the mind and heart.
3. Adequate Sleep
Sleep is the key to maintaining the cognitive skills of an individual like memory, learning, and attention to detail. Poor sleep can disrupt the delicate balance and can ruin our day. When we get sufficient, high-quality sleep, it allows the body to repair and rejuvenate, promoting optimal cognitive function, emotional stability, and overall mental health.
4. Balanced Lifestyle
Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of maintaining harmony between mind, body, and soul and a balanced lifestyle is the answer to it. This balance is achieved through various practices, such as eating a wholesome diet tailored to your dosha, practicing regular exercise and yoga, getting adequate sleep, and managing stress through meditation and mindfulness.