Wellness industry: “It’s all about gut health, intermittent fasting, self-care and the mouth microbiome.” Ayurveda: “Hold my drink”.
Whilst Gen Z may be forgiven for thinking they invented the (at least) 3000-year-old practice, it’s never too late to start tapping into Ayurveda's wisdom and for wellness expert Jasmine Hemsley, it’s been nothing short of transformative.
“I discovered Ayurveda via a few different routes, such as yoga and meditation in my early twenties, but it was after battling chronic acid reflux that I started doing research into alternative ways to treat it,” says Jasmine. “Back then, people weren’t really talking about Ayurveda or ‘gut health’, and I was a little sceptical that such an ancient system could rival modern medicine, but each time something worked, I found myself incorporating more into my life, and now it’s part of my day-to-day living.”
Here, Jasmine shares her most valuable (and wholly achievable) ayurvedic life lessons.
Daily Ayurveda practices for better health
Tongue TLC
“I first learnt about tongue scraping from my meditation teacher over 15 years ago, and it’s what first pushed me to dive further into Ayurveda. It’s such a simple but powerful wellbeing tool that I will never stop waxing lyrical about it.
"We brush our teeth every day, so why not clean the rest of our mouth? (I’ve been known to use credit cards after forgetting mine on a trip, as it just feels wrong not to do it) In Eastern culture, the tongue reflects the health of your entire body, and after you start tongue scraping, you begin to notice what your tongue is telling you; I can see if I’ve got a cold coming on or haven’t had enough sleep.
"In Ayurveda, tongue scraping removes the build-up of metabolic waste at the source, gives your taste buds a clean so you don’t crave salt-laden foods with a kick to them while freshening the breath and improving overall health. Science has finally caught onto the fact that our mouth and gut microbiome are directly linked and I’ve started following lots of biological dentists on Instagram. I love oil pulling too, but that can be a bit more laborious.”
Lunch like a King
“Digestion and gut health are a huge focus for overall wellbeing in Ayurveda, where keeping our ‘Agni’ or digestive fire balanced ensures the food we eat is broken down, absorbed and excreted properly.
"Ayurveda isn’t a fan of breakfast-ing like a king unless you’ve been up before dawn working the land. For the rest of us who are waking up to our alarm clocks and rushing through our daily routine before our digestive fire has had a chance to get going, adding in a meal or big gulps of smoothies means your body can’t make the most of your food and affects everything from your energy levels to food satisfaction.
"Science is now verifying the ancient Ayurvedic knowledge that our internal biological clocks (even our gut microbiome has its own circadian rhythm) like to be in sync with the sun, with peak digestion corresponding to the peak of the sun. It can be difficult to implement as modern life has shifted everything to the evening, but trying to keep your main meal and foods which are harder to digest, such as raw foods and meat, to lunchtime, you’ll notice what a huge difference it can make to how you feel.”
© Getty ImagesSkip the snacks
“Trying to leave a minimum of three hours between eating and stopping grazing was the second thing I started to implement in my late 20s and it’s been life-changing. Having a Vata-Pitta constitution means that I have a high (but often erratic) metabolism, plus I’m also a stress eater, so I do find this one really hard, and there’s always the tendency to think that a biscuit will sort everything out.
"But once you’ve broken through, you realise how much better you start to feel. Going back to the Agni, it’s like topping up a pan of water you’re trying to bring to the boil with cold water. If your body is constantly trying to digest food, energy is being diverted away from your limbs and brain, so it actually ends up draining you. It’s also a great way to help distinguish between actual hunger and the other reasons that drive us to eat, like boredom or our emotions.”
Eat dinner early
“Switching to an early supper has had the biggest impact on my acid reflux. In my 20s, my main cooked meal of the day would be at around 8.30 pm, but my acid reflux got to the point that I was willing to try anything so I decided to give eating earlier a go.
"At first, I was worried I’d wake up in the night hungry, but it had the opposite effect. I found myself sleeping better, having more energy in the mornings and no longer being absolutely ravenous the minute I woke up. But most importantly, it totally sorted out my acid reflux. In Ayurveda, sleep is all about rest and rejuvenation, not digesting your food.
"The idea is that your digestion goes down with the sun, so you need a light, easy-to-digest meal to see you through until sleep, which is the intermittent fasting period we now know to be so good for our health. Once you’ve got into a rhythm, you can start introducing the odd late dinner, but I always prioritise waiting up an hour or two to make sure it’s digested over trying to get eight hours, as sleeping on a full stomach is counterproductive to a good night’s sleep.”
Glisten Up
“Sneha translates as both love and oil in Sanskrit, which shows just how important oil is in Ayurveda, and Abhyanga - the practice of applying and massaging oil into your body – is a major self-care ritual. In the West, massage is reserved as a treat or a gift for someone you love, but self-massage is an act of self-love and a brilliant way to be in touch with yourself and your senses.
"At first I found it really hard to incorporate into my daily life as it’s messy and time-consuming and you don’t see instant results, but when I started to do it regularly, I began to notice the tone of my skin and muscles changing, and it’s been shown to lower blood pressure, increase circulation and aid detoxification.
"Ayurveda understands that as our biggest organ, the skin is both a protective shield and a gateway to nourishing our body through our pores. We tend to lump rest in with sleep rather than setting aside time to wind down, but sleep starts in the body rather than the mind, and touch is much more grounding than counting sheep.
"Different oils are used at different times of the year for their warming or cooling properties, and I do it for my kids as part of their bedtime routine. Gently warm the oil in your hands before using long strokes on your limbs towards the heart and round strokes on joints. You can extend it to massaging and cleansing your face and oiling your hair.”
© Getty ImagesJasmine’s wellness wins
East By West Tongue Tingler, £12
“Opt for a stainless steel or preferably copper tongue scraper as they’re antibacterial over plastic ones.”
Fushi Wellbeing Chyawanprash, £20
“A traditional Ayurvedic tonic of balancing herbs for rejuvenation."
Earthen Living Ginchip, £4.50
“Excellent for kickstarting digestion or for when digestive fire is low.”
Biona Organic Raw Virgin Coconut Oil, £4.69
“Great for massage and oil pulling in summer.”
Kama Ayurveda’s Bringadi Scalp & Hair Oil, £65
“Perfect for hair oiling and nourishing the scalp.”
Ancient and Brave True Hydration Sachets, £19.20
“Electrolytes and minerals for summer hydration.”
Hunter And Gather Foods Grass fed Organic Ghee, £17
“An important anti-inflammatory ingredient in Ayurveda.”
