Ayurvedic Stocking Stuffers

Give the Gift of a Healthy Morning to Someone You Love

Yoga and Ayurveda are sister sciences that developed together and have repeatedly influenced each other throughout history. One of the powerful tools of healing and change in Ayurveda is dinacharya (a healthy morning routine).

Ayurveda recognizes that when we change our mornings, we change our days -- and our lives change too! Yoga Simple spoke with Erin Casperson, from the Kripalu School of Ayurveda (KSA), who shares her favorite budget-friendly Ayurvedic products that also make ideal stocking stuffers.

Nasya Oil ($11)

'Tis the season for dry and runny noses, as well as head colds. Avoid this with Nasya Oil, which lubricates the nasal passages during the dry months of winter.

This is my favorite ayurvedic product for the winter. I keep it in my bag, in the office and at home. It is also phenomenal for travel in airplanes!

To use, place 1-2 drops of oil into the nose in the morning and before bed. Massage the inner nostrils with the fingers and then sniff the oil up into the nasal passages.

Tongue Scraper ($8)

While sleeping the body goes through a detoxification process that leaves a coating of material on the tongue. If this coating is removed in the morning, it will not only freshen your breath and enhance your ability to taste, but also stimulate the organs of digestion and elimination.

To remove it, use a tongue cleaner moving from back to front 3-5 times, rinsing between each scrape.

Abhyanga Oil ($12)

Winter is the cold and dry season. This leaves the skin -- cold and dry. The solution is simple: massage oil into your body every day to thwart the onslaught of the winter weather.

I recommend a high quality sesame oil (which is best in winter because of its warming quality) from the oil section of your local health foods market or through Banyan Botanicals directly.

Keep a small jar of oil in the shower and when you are done soaping your body, massage the oil into your skin. Perform long strokes on the long bones; circles on the joints, on the abdomen and low back. This will replace your daily lotion or moisturizer!

Consider giving thoughtfully this holiday season with Ayurveda's healing power. We all benefit by helping others help themselves.