Navratri

Honour the strength within YOU!!

Today’s century is Women empowerment. We daily observe such multitasking ladies around us.

But there are some lacunas in their personal life, which are related to physical and mental strength.

Let’s see a few examples –

  • I had participated in a full marathon before I had a baby. Now, I have totally lost that strength. I am not that obese but not that fit too.
  • I was fit and fine up to the menopausal period. Suddenly after menopause, I gained too much weight along with blood pressure.

According to Ayurveda, women have unique sets of physical as well as emotional strengths. Perseverance, empathy, adaptability, creation, nurturing ability, and intuitions are some of these unique strengths. These strengths are reflections of their excellent emotional and physical health. Maintaining a proper balance between physical and psychological health is very important for nurturing and balancing these strengths.

जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी ।
दुर्गा शिवा क्षमा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तु ते |

Meaning – Oh Goddess, you who are known by the names of Mangala, Kali, Bhadra Kali, Kapalinee, Durge, Kshama, Shivaa, Dhatri, Swahaa, Swadha, I pray to you.

The different names of Durga always represent features of either physical strength or emotional strength. These strengths are unique features of womanhood. This unique strength always makes women special.

Women are constantly facing changes in their bodies. From menarche i.e., Starting of the menstrual cycle to menopause i.e., the end of the menstrual cycle, women undergo many physiological changes. These changes always affect the tridoshic balance of their core health which again affects their strengths. Nowadays, Women face tremendous lifestyle changes, work stress, family responsibilities, etc. Post pandemic period increases this stress manyfold. Ignorance towards health, poor nutritional intake, negligence, and lack of proper exercise are making women more vulnerable to many lifestyle disorders at a very early age.

Ayurved has mentioned different phases of women’s life including Gouri, Rohini, rajaswala, Taruni, adhivruddha and vruddha. Each phase represents age-wise changes in women’s lifecycle apart from monthly menstrual changes. Every phase has a very particular dosha predominance which reflects through her health parameters.

Balavastha has kapha dosha Predominance.

Tarunya/ Adolescent age is pitta predominant, the Post-partum period is vata predominant, the perimenopausal period is primarily kaph-vata predominant, and the menopausal period is vata predominant. This predominant dosha if you get vitiated with the wrong diet and lifestyle then it always leads to different health problems.

Identifying prakruti, predominant dosha according to physiological phases and proper care of that dosha is called Streecharya according to Ayurveda. This Streecharya helps women to maintain their physical as well as emotional strengths.

Ayurveda, by Identifying prakruti, current imbalances of dosha, and its causative factors will always help to maintain this ideal lifestyle specially designed for women. Its unique diagnostic method, Nadi pariksha, assessment of physical and emotional health will give you more guidelines to achieve and maintain your strengths.

Here are some suggestions for maintaining tridoshik balance –

  • Adolescent age –

It is a period of pitta Predominance. There are many physical and emotional changes taking place during this phase. Proper nutritional requirements along with exercise and emotional support, understanding the expression of kids at this age is very important.
Pitta vitiation of vata-kapha imbalances always leads to problems like acne, PCOS, weight gain etc. So a healthy lifestyle is very essential.

  • Postpartum period –

It is a period of vata Predominance. Proper diet including ghee, milk, and protein is very essential for strength regaining and recovery. For balancing vata, it is very necessary to follow proper postpartum care like abhyanga ( massage), steam, dhupan etc.
Balant kadhe always plays an important role in maintaining vata dosha.
Vata vitiation always leads to back pain, leg pain, body ache and long term joint related pain. So proper care is very essential.

  • Perimenopausal care –

It’s a crucial period varying from months to Years depending upon individual. In this stage, imbalances always lead to sudden onset of many diseases. It is the period where tridoshik imbalances always leads to physical as well as emotional health hazards. Proper calcium rich diet, strength giving diet along with milk, ghee is very important.
Exercises of brain is very important for overcoming the changes. Hobbies, social activities help to retain good emotional health. Strength training for muscles, bones are very important to maintain physical fitness.

  • Menopause and old age –

It is the period of Predominance of vata dosha. After so many ups and downs, menopause finally ceases all the required hormones. Skin dryness, hair fall, irritability, and sudden weight gain are common problems.
These problems can be avoided by maintaining proper tridoshic balance. A good diet, exercise, and mental involvement are very essential which keeps bay diseases away.

Finally, strength is nothing but power. Respect that strength and nourish it for yourself, your family, and your nation.

Every woman should boost her physical and mental strength to gain healthy long and peaceful life.

Happy Navratri !!

Authors –
Vaidya Tejaswini Sameer Bhale (Ayurvedacharya, Nadi Pariksha Expertise)
Vaidya Gaytri Mulaye (MD Ayurveda)

 

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Navrang of Navratri

Navratri is the festival of Navdurgas that helps humans awaken from within. Navratri brings so many changes in weather as well as in daily routine. This mainly helps us to detox the human body.

Every cultural activity/festival has a scientific significance that positively impacts our mind, body, and soul.
For example:
Makar Sankranti | Chaitra Navratri | Shardiya Navratri

Shardiya Navratri:
This Navratri festival is celebrated in Sharad Ritu, which starts on the 26th of September 2022 and lasts till 5 th of October Dussehra. The duration of the Festival is nine days. Many people do fasts for 9 days and eat particular foods only. Even wear a certain colour clothes according to the day.

According to Ayurveda in Sharad Ritu pitta is provoked as Agni (digestive fire) is mand (low) and may lead to various disorders of the digestive system like Acidity, Indigestion, Nausea, Skin allergies, etc. The body needs detoxification to eliminate the toxins accumulated in the body. Fast should not be excessive as it may cause deterioration of body tissues( Dhatu Kshaya). Fasting is one of the ways to detoxify the body. Fast is of 9-day duration and could be of different types as below.

  • Dry Fast (No Food – No Water)
  • Fasting on Water
  • Fasting on Fruits
  • Fasting on Liquids (Herbal Drinks)
  • Fasting from Grains
  • Fasting on Sugar and Salt
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Circadian rhythm fasting [a time-restricted feeding (TRF) in which a person eats all of their food across a span of hours in the earlier part of the day].

According to Nutritional Science aspects, Fasting is one of the ways to healthy detox, rejuvenate and energise the body. Navratri food recipes are nutritious, Gluten-free, high in fibre and low in fats. This kind of fasting provides well hydration, and high vitamins, and minerals. Such kind of fasting imparts self-discipline as we develop healthy habits and reduce mindless eating. This Navratri fasting is not only useful in detoxification of the body but also useful in various disorders like PCOS, Hypothyroidism, high cholesterol, Obesity etc.

Navrang colours and their sequence will be different every year. Below is the list of this year’s colours and their sequence is as follows:

Day 1 (Colour – White) :
White colour foodstuffs are Milk, Curd, Buttermilk, Makhana, Cashew, and Varai (Kodo Millet).

Day 2 (Colour – Red) :
Red colour foods are Apple, Strawberry, Watermelon, Pomegranate, Plum, Mulberry, and Raspberries.

Day 3 (Colour – Royal Blue) :
Blueberry, Cowpea Flower infused Water.

Day 4 (Colour – Yellow) :
Banana, Sweet Lime, Lemon, Sweet Potato, Potato.

Day 5 (Colour – Green) :
Bhindi, Lauki, Cucumber, Mint, Green Grapes, Star fruit, Amla.

Day 6 (Colour – Grey) :
Singhara Flour, Sunflower Seeds, Chia Seeds, and Dragon fruit.

Day 7 (Colour – Orange) :
Pumpkin, Orange, Papaya, Carrot, Apricot.

Day 8 (Colour – Peacock Green) :
Pista, Guava, Green Grapes.

Day 9 (Colour – Pink) :
Kokam Juice, Pomelo (Papas), Groundnuts.

People celebrate Navratri by doing Pooja, Fasting, Rangoli and floral decoration at their places, Chanting Vedic Mantras of Goddesses and wearing particular colour clothes on particular days. This shows unity and brings us closer to nature as we are a part of this nature.

Diversity is the main important characteristic of Nature, and humans should adopt this characteristic in their daily routine by eating various colours of food in their diet. Nature has an ample collection of colours, which are due to different types of pigments. These natural entities have antioxidant activity which is helpful in the ageing process, and chronic disorders.

Navrang of Navratri (Nine Colours) enhances the physical beauty of the person as well as could make the mind and soul healthy through eating Navrang colour foods available in nature.

We recommend such innovative, Nutritious, Local but Low cal fast recipes for Navratri in our food plan at Atreya Innovations platform.

Do visit our websites www.naditarangini.com and www.atreyainnovations.com and know which recipes to consume to stay healthy as per your Prakruti & Vikruti changes.

You may also connect with us at +91 90214 14895, Call to know more Today!!

Authors –
Vaidya Shilpa Jamdarkhana (Wellness Coach – Ayurveda)
Mrs. Archana Patil (Wellness Coach – Nutrition)

 

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