Issue link: http://www.bodysensemagazinedigital.com/i/1351228
massagetherapy.com—your resource for all things bodywork 9 3. CLEAN YOUR TONGUE Your tongue can tell you a lot about your digestion. First thing in the morning, note how coated your tongue is. If there is a foul smell and a lot of coating on the tongue, it's a sure sign you have not properly digested last night's meal. This coating means there is much ama or toxicity lingering in the system. Don't reabsorb the bacteria into the body. As you awaken, use a stainless-steel tongue scraper to gently remove this coating. Begin scraping from the back of the tongue forward, rinse, and repeat as necessary (usually several times). Scraping also sends an indirect signal to the internal organs and stimulates digestive enzymes. A healthy tongue is pink and clear. 4. NOURISH THE SENSES WITH SELF-MASSAGE Let's face it, nothing can quite replace the healing touch of professional massage. But did you know you can help sustain those healing benefits with your own daily self-massage? Ayurveda recommends a daily abhyanga "oil bath" for self- care and sensory nourishment. The Sanskrit word sneha translates to "oil" and "love." There is an inherent connection between nourishing the body with oil and love, and it can be a very grounding experience, giving a sense of stability and warmth. If you don't have time for a full-body self- massage, just massaging the scalp, ears, and feet will address major acupressure points, tonify internal organs, improve circulation, and move out inflammation. Gently massage oil into your skin, working from the top of the head down, then slip into a bath. Creating a steam room with your bath opens the pores and allows the oils to penetrate deeply and moisturize the skin. You might even add your favorite essential oils to your bathwater for a healing aromatherapy experience. 5. FAVOR A LIGHTER, DRIER, LESS OILY DIET THIS TIME OF YEAR It's always a good rule of thumb to "eat the rainbow" with a plate full of vegetables all having specific phytonutrients. During the spring, heavy dairy products (cheese, yogurt, and ice cream) should be reduced since they tend to aggravate kapha. Favor more pungent (such as ginger, turmeric, cumin), bitter (such as leafy greens, asparagus, and cruciferous vegetables), and astringent (legumes such as yellow split peas, red lentils, and garbanzo beans) tastes, as these can help balance mucus production and purify the channels of elimination. Eat fresh foods, but not necessarily raw. If you slightly warm and cook the vegetables, it's much easier for the digestive system. Also, favor warm herbal drinks, especially after your meal. A cup of hot water and honey help balance kapha during the spring. But never cook honey as it acts as a toxin in the body. By adjusting a few of your daily routines and aligning with the rhythms of nature, you can support your body's natural ability to heal itself in any season. Remember, self-care equals self-love. Note 1. E. S. Epel, "Meditation and Vacation Effects Have an Impact on Disease-Associated Molecular Phenotypes," Translational Psychiatry 6 (2016): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/27576169. Angie Parris-Raney, LMT, has been practicing massage therapy and bodywork in Colorado since 2001. She is a Chopra Center Certified Instructor in meditation and ayurveda lifestyle, and cofounded the nonprofit Project Inti, providing outreach and education to low-income families and children in Peru. You can learn more about her work at projectinti.org or goodhealthlivingforyou.com.