The 3 Daily Self-Care Practices for Radiant Beauty (and Health!)
Today we are very excited to introduce all of you to our guest blogger, Paul Galloro; Divine Wellness Coach and Thai Yoga Massage Practitioner! Paul will be talking about the importance of natural, daily self-care rituals and how you can easily fit them into your routine! Take it away Paul!
Relax and Rejuvenate with Three Ayurvedic Techniques – Paul Galloro, Divine Wellness Coach and Thai Yoga Massage Practitioner
Who doesn’t love getting pampered? Taking care of our bodies is so luxurious, and the after effects of rejuvenating ourselves are immense – being able to perform our tasks from a full charge makes everything better. But all that good stuff aside, when we take care of ourselves, we radiate a healthy glow that makes us not only feel, but look our best!
Thanks to the science of Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical tradition, the following techniques will leave your physical body feeling cleansed, hydrated, and glorious, allowing your mind to follow suit.
Nasal Irrigation (Neti)
Our nose has a natural filtration system, and just like a car, furnace, and water purifier, it needs a clean filter to function at its best. If you’re not already practicing neti or nasal lavage (also known as nasal irrigation), you will want to incorporate this into your daily routine right away. For me, it’s the equivalent of brushing your teeth, but for your nose.
Neti, as known in Ayurveda, is an important part of a series of body cleansing techniques. Designed to flush out debris from the nose, the yogis credited neti with many physiological benefits, as well as being helpful for the mind, personality, and even believed it helped with intuition and clairvoyance.
Whether you agree with the yogic beliefs or not, many doctors, especially ear, nose, and throat specialists, recommend nasal irrigation to their patients to clear away any residue after surgery. Research also shows this technique is an effective way to relieve facial pain and congestion from allergies, as well as any symptoms of sinusitis and other nasal issues. Biologically, neti helps the cilia, the hair like structures inside the nose that move mucus out of the body, become stronger to be more effective in the elimination process on its own.
It takes a few tries to get use to it, but once you get the hang of it, it’ll be just another part of your daily routine. I like to use neti everyday, especially when I feel a cold coming on, just before, during, and after allergy season, and any time I travel or find myself in dry environments. The solution is wonderful for lubricating and moisturizing the inside of the nose.
To see how to perform neti, click here. My favourite products to use are:
- Neti pot by Lumière de Sel
- Himalayen Crystal Neti Pot Salt by Lumière de Sel
Oil Pulling (Kavala Graha)
Although it seems to be a new craze in oral care, oil pulling has been around for thousands of years before the invention of the toothbrush. Another technique that comes from Ayurveda, Oil Pulling (or kavala graha) is the act of swishing oil in your mouth for up to 20 minutes. The oil binds to bacteria and debris in the mouth during the process, and at the end of the swish session, it’s spit out into a waste bin and your mouth is left clean and fresh.
I began oil pulling two years ago, exactly six weeks before I went for my regularly scheduling teeth cleaning. Considering my last cleaning was two years prior since I didn’t have a dental plan, my Dental Hygienist was impressed with my teeth. In a recent visit, she said my oral hygiene was exceptional, noting “the tartar deposits are minimal and the tissue tone is optimal.” With that, she increased my visits to 9 months, instead of 6 months, where most adults fall into the 3-4 month category.
When asked what I was doing, I was honest: “I’m doing this thing called oil pulling, and brushing with natural toothpaste.” My Hygienist advised me to keep doing what I’m doing, and with my regular visits to her, my teeth are whiter, feel cleaner, and I notice a much more pleasant feel in my mouth throughout the day.
People have reported many different benefits of oil pulling, including detoxifying the body, healing different health ailments, and curing cellulite! I have yet to find research to support those claims, but there have been studies done to show regular oil pulling is responsible for a reduction in bacteria that causes tooth decay, plaque and plaque-induced gingivitis, and halitosis. It’s has also improved bleeding gums, cracked lips, gum and jaw strength, and whitens teeth.
Different oils can be used for the process, including coconut oil (antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral), olive oil (antioxidant), and sesame oil (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory).
The proof in my experience shows that oil is a wonderful compliment to regular brushing, flossing, and visits to your dental hygienist. My Hygienist does caution on the type of oil used when pulling. “Depending on the process used to extract the oil, the pH level will vary. While coconut oil is naturally alkaline, which is favourable, the pH of coconut oil that has been extracted with heat will become acidic, which may cause acid erosion of the enamel.”
Watch how to perform this technique here.
My favourite products are:
- Native Nurture Vitality Coconut Oil
- Maison Orphie Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The Oil Cleansing Method
Everyone I ever talk to about this technique always say it sounds counterintuitive, but the oil cleansing method is probably the best technique I’ve found to balance and cleanse my skin. This technique uses natural oils to clean away debris and hydrate the skin off of your face and neck.
The idea of like-attracts-like is why this method works. The natural oils applied to the skin attach to the oil and dirt in the pores of the skin and are then rinsed away. There is no use of soap, and the type of oil used is important – specific oils have particular benefits for the skin and will yield different results.
The technique is simple and you can watch it preformed here.
The most cleansing oil we can use for our skin is castor oil. This naturally astringent oil is wonderful for pulling impurities out of the skin. It is also anti-inflammatory and beneficial for acne prone skin as it will both sooth irritation and clean bacteria out of the pores. Be sure to mix it with other hydrating oils as castor oil alone will over-constrict the pores and eventually dry out the skin. This will cause the skin to overproduce its natural lubrication, creating the appearance of oily skin.
With castor oil as the base for your “cleanser,” you can then blend different hydrating oils like jojoba, avocado, sweet almond, sesame, or olive oil. Depending on your skin type, your ratios between the oils will vary. See the chart below. I also like to add in pure essential oils from time to time to feed my skin with other nutrients. Adding one to two drops of frankincense, patchouli, lavender, rosemary, or tea tree will clean, soothe, or hydrate your skin in different ways.
You will begin to notice a huge shift of your skin tone and elasticity after some time using this method. As your skin begins to return to it’s natural state, your skin will produce less oil to stay hydrated, your pores will begin to shrink, and fine lines will begin to disappear or soften as your skin becomes more and more naturally hydrated. Over time, the oil recipe you use will change, and you may notice you will need less castor oil as your skin begins to balance itself.
My favourite hydrating oils to use are by Aura Cacia Brand, and my favourite castor oil is by Heritage Store Brand.
By incorporating these natural self-care techniques into your day, you’ll be tuning your body to nature, allowing it to naturally heal itself and return to a state of optimal health. Try incorporating one of these techniques at a time into your current routine for a more natural approach to daily rituals.
Paul Galloro, E-RYT 500 – For more information on Paul, please clickhere!
Paul Galloro is a hug in human form! As the founder of Paul Galloro Wellness, he has taken it beyond health and fitness to a heart-centred practice that focuses on spirit as much as strength. Paul is a Divine Wellness Coach, Thai Yoga Massage Practitioner, and a Senior Master Trainer for YogaFit Canada. | Breathe. Sparkle. Love.
