Cultivating self-love with Ayurveda

Feeling beautiful is more than about what’s on the outside. Real beauty comes from within, and that feeling of being in love with yourself is the most beautiful thing of all.

Self-love’s soul-nourishing, spiritual, and deep emotional connection affects people from in the most positive and promising way. It also impacts other relationships in your life.

Every healthy relationship(whether platonic or romantic) starts with self-love, which is one of the reasons why loving yourself before looking for love is key.

With Valentine’s Day almost here, we thought we’d shine the spotlight on how Ayurveda helps us to maintain the most important relationship there is – the relationship with yourself.

Ayurveda and self-love

The history of Ayurveda teaches us many things, with its key principles influencing everything, from our diet and exercise regime to our skincare routine and daily activities.

It focuses on enhancing and connecting the mind, body and soul in the most holistic way, and brings balance to all the elements to ensure we feel as whole as possible.

This path to wholeness is very similar to the path to self-love. It’s a journey that helps us to boost our self-esteem and confidence, so we can love every part of ourselves, including the bits we’re not so fond of.

This connection means that many Ayurvedic principles can be used to cultivate self-love, and ultimately pave the way to a healthier, happier, and more contented life.

Love yourself every single day

As any die-hard fan of Ayurveda will know, dinacharya is a routine that ensures self-love, self-care and self-awareness are part of our every day. Yogapedia offers a succinct explanation of this age-old practice:

“The morning Ayurvedic practices of dinacharya are intended to both calm and energize the body, preparing the practitioner for the day ahead. The evening ones are to help the practitioner relax before sleep.

The recommended timings for these practices are in tune with the natural cycle of the sun. Although the dinacharya practices are thousands of years old, advocates of Ayurveda say they are as beneficial in the modern lifestyle as ever before.”

Just as nature has a cycle, so too does your body. Like nature, our lives should have structure and predictability.

Dinacharya ensures your body, mind and soul have the consistency needed to thrive, whatever the day throws at you.

However, you choose to personalise your dinacharya, practice your routine with love.

Express self-love through massage

The Sanskrit word ‘Sneha’ can be translated as ‘oil’ and ‘love’. So, it will probably come as no surprise that massage is a recommended part of dinacharya.

Oiling and massaging the body is an important practice in Ayurveda. In many Ayurvedic teachings, daily self-massage is said to protect the body from injury and even minimise the signs of ageing.

Its incredible healing power however doesn’t just work wonders for the body. Self-massage is a powerful act of self-love.

Here’s an Abhyanga or self-massage routine to get you started.

Looking to indulge yourself a little bit more? Check out the Ayurvedic treatments everyone should try – you deserve it!

Celebrate your uniqueness

Indulging your individuality is what Ayurveda is all about. Ayurvedic practices tend to be dosha-specific, meaning those with a certain Ayurvedic body type have different rules to follow to ensure they stay well balanced. By working with, not against, your dosha, you have all you need to stay balanced and love your body for all its incredible qualities.

Not sure whether you’re Vata, Pitta or Kapha? Take our Ayurvedic body type quiz to find out the best way to celebrate your uniqueness.