Well-being at Work: 6 Tips for Natural Self-Care

Do you remember that old advertising slogan for a yogurt brand: “I feel good on the inside, and it shows on the outside”? It sums up the philosophy of yoga when it comes to beauty and health…

When you have mild pain, before taking a pill and passively waiting for it to take effect, why not try to actively relieve the pain yourself? If it’s muscle pain in your neck, for example, start by doing some yoga stretches to try to ease it and see if, after an hour, your condition still requires medication. The real secret to long-term well-being is to adopt a preventive approach—for example, by strengthening your back to ward off pain before it starts…

Instead of reaching for medication at the slightest ailment without considering its cause, try to make the connection between certain symptoms and their more or less immediate roots in your lifestyle, diet, thoughts, and emotions. Do you suffer from eczema? Acne? Constipation? Heartburn? Insomnia? Back pain? Try to connect the onset of these symptoms with what you’ve eaten or done in the past few days, or with episodes of stress or intense emotions, to identify recurring patterns.

To take it a step further, you can even try a few experiments on your own: if you’re consistently tired and hungry by mid-morning at the office even though you usually eat white bread and jam for breakfast, try replacing that with oatmeal or whole-grain cereal for a month and see if you notice a difference in your energy levels. Do you have trouble digesting food but love salads and raw vegetables? Replace them for a month with cooked vegetables and grains, and see if you notice an improvement.

Do you always get the same skin rash when you're stressed? Instead of jumping straight into topical treatment, try doing some yoga to relax, identify the situations that cause you anxiety and find a solution, then see if your condition improves. In short, recognizing the direct effects of your diet and emotions on your body is the most sustainable way to prevent everyday ailments.

If you eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and don’t smother your face under a heavy layer of makeup, your skin should have a lasting glow. However, every body type can suffer from imbalances that eventually show up on the skin. Lifestyle guidelines tailored to your profile can also help you balance these excesses and restore harmony to your skin.

To maintain a natural glow, it’s best to use cosmetics sparingly and let your body’s natural processes take over. Avoid overloading your skin with complicated products and rediscover oils and floral waters: with little risk of allergies, easy to absorb, completely natural, and with intoxicating scents, they’re great for your skin. For example, to remove makeup, virgin coconut oil applied to a cotton pad will tackle even the most stubborn makeup (yes, even waterproof mascara) and leave your skin perfectly soft. For a toning and purifying lotion, try lavender or cornflower water. And to moisturize your skin and combat aging and pollution, rediscover argan or sesame oils, and rose water…

To treat yourself naturally, discover the benefits of essential oils (peppermint for migraines, chamomile for insomnia, lavender for stress, eucalyptus for respiratory infections, ravintsara for viruses, and more), which you can easily find at pharmacies or in organic shops.

You can keep them in your travel kit to tackle all those little everyday problems and, depending on the oil, take them orally with a spoonful of honey, use them in a diffuser for inhalation, apply them diluted in a carrier oil, or diffuse them around the house…but be sure to follow the instructions for use, as they are extremely concentrated and potent, and can be toxic if used improperly.

In India, they say that our medicine cabinet is right in our own backyard. It’s true that spices and herbs play a major role in Ayurvedic medicine. Many concoctions made from spices, herbs, or roots can be prepared to address a wide range of health issues.

Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan and add pieces of crushed ginger root, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 4 cloves, and 1 tablespoon of unrefined cane sugar. You can also add herbs, such as fresh mint or thyme, if you grow them on your balcony. Let it boil for about ten minutes before straining and drinking it hot.

Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan, then add 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds, 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds, some crushed black pepper, and 2 lemon slices. Let it boil for about 10 minutes, then strain and drink while hot.

One of the oldest and most surprising rituals practiced by yogis is tongue scraping every morning upon waking! Yes, you read that right! The goal is to remove impurities secreted by your digestive system and deposited on your tongue overnight, so you don’t swallow them back in the morning—and, as a bonus, to enjoy fresh breath. Traditionally, a small copper tool—a tongue scraper—is used to gently scrape the surface of the tongue without causing any harm. You can also use the edge of a spoon.

Another way to care for your mouth and teeth: the ancient Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling… using vegetable oil. It’s hard to translate this“oil pulling”technique into English, yetit’s very simple: every morning, on an empty stomach, put 1 teaspoon of extra-virgin coconut oil in your mouth and swish it around for at least 5 minutes, and ideally for 20 to 30 minutes.

Long before seawater sprays and other nasal decongestants for the common cold, yogis made a habit of cleansing their noses every morning. This cleansing method is particularly valuable in our polluted environments, which make us increasingly sensitive to dust and germs. To prevent congestion, and as soon as you start sniffling, grab your “neti pot”—a ceramic or plastic device that looks like a tiny watering can—and fill it with warm purified water and a pinch of salt. Insert it into your left nostril and tilt your head to the side until the water fills your nostril and a trickle of clear water flows out of your right nostril, then switch sides. The perfect solution to say goodbye to your tissues.

A comprehensive and regular exercise routine like yoga is an excellent way to boost your immune system. Feeling a cold coming on? Sweat it out, as they say, to flush out toxins and regain your energy. Also do some twists to boost your immune system, and then make sure to stay nice and warm.

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