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Your Environment
Can Effect Your Health
Ways to make your home or
work
area help
your well-being
by Shreelata Suresh
Ayurveda, the 5000-year-old
system of healing from India,
has recommendations for making
your home or work space
conducive to your health and
well-being.
There are many factors that can
cause your physiology to move
away from that state of balance
in which you enjoy perfect,
complete health. One big factor
is environment.
Climate—temperatures outside,
amount of humidity or number of
sunny days, for example, the
altitude of the place where you
live, the levels and types of
environmental pollution, the
type of vibrational energy in
the environment and the presence
or absence of stress in the
environment are all factors that
can affect your health and
well-being. For many of us, the
place where we live may not
always be in our control, but
there is much we can all do to
create microclimates and
mini-environments in our homes
and workspaces to suit our
constitutions and needs for
balance. Here are some
suggestions to start you off;
tune in to your mind and body to
create even more individualized
healthful spaces.
1. Set indoor temperatures to
comfortable levels. If you are
trying to keep Vata dosha in
balance, you’ll want warm
temperatures and no drafts. Get
extra humidity in the home or
room by using a humidifier or
setting pots of water on the
radiator to counter the drying
effect of Vata. To balance the
heat of Pitta dosha, keep indoor
temperatures relatively cooler.
For Kapha, choose warm
temperatures and a dry
environment to counteract the
dampness of Kapha. Dress in
layers if you are trying to stay
warmer than other folks at home.
2. Living 24/7 in
climate-controlled environments
can gradually weaken natural
immunity, and resistance to
weather fluctuations, allergens,
pollutants and the like can
diminish over time. If possible,
let in fresh air into your
living areas once in a while
when it’s comfortable outside,
and let in natural early morning
sunlight as well.
3. Green plants
in living spaces are soothing to
the eyes and the mind as well as
suppliers of oxygen. According
to ayurveda, the Holy Basil
plant helps purify the
environment of garavisha,
environmental toxins. Holy Basil
can be grown from seed in a pot
on a sunny windowsill. Grow
culinary herbs such as cilantro
on your kitchen windowsill and
snip them fresh when needed for
garnish. Fragrant indoor
flowering plants offer aromatic
healing value. A quiet indoor
water feature offers serenity if
you are trying to balance Vata
or Pitta.
4. Try to maintain the integrity
of the different areas of your
home. Do not bring work or
entertainment into the bedroom.
Do not work at the dinner table.
If you exercise at home, get
equipment that can be put away
after use unless you can
dedicate a separate area for
exercise. Create personal
spaces, however small, for every
member of the family. Have a
quiet space for the spiritual
practice of your choice and/or
for meditation. This space
should be silent, clean and free
of clutter. Diffusing aromas
such as sandalwood can enhance
the meditation experience.
5. Aromatherapy
is a powerful means of creating
balance in your environment.
Aromas work through your sense
of smell to balance the mind,
heart and emotions. You can use
single aromas or aroma blends.
Use relaxing aromas such as
Sweet Orange, Ylang ylang and
Lavender to balance Vata,
soothing aromas such as Rose to
balance Pitta and spicy aromas
such as Rosemary or Basil to
balance Kapha. Aromatherapy is
useful in creating positive
vibrational energy in your
immediate environment and in
creating mental and emotional
balance when you are feeling out
of sorts. Aromatherapy at
bedtime can help promote sleep
and improve the quality of
sleep.
6. Colors and
décor have an important role to
play in the way we feel. If you
are trying to balance Vata,
choose relaxing but warm colors,
harmonizing tones, heavy
materials like silk or wool and
simple arrangements that don’t
distract the mind. Have a place
for everything and keep
everything in its place. For
fiery Pitta, choose cooling,
soothing colors, cool textures
and fabrics (cottons and linens
are ideal) and a clean, elegant
look. If you are trying to
balance Kapha, have fun mixing
it up. Choose a palette of
colors with plenty of contrasts,
warm lively tones, and whimsy or
a dash of frivolity in décor.
7. Finally, keep
your living and work spaces
scrupulously clean. Use natural
cleaning materials—they won’t
damage your health and won’t
damage the environment. A clean,
well-cared for home or work area
is nurturing for the mind, the
senses and the emotions.
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