Ayurveda and sports

Part 1

Ayurveda and sports

In Ayurveda, health and movement are one. Regular exercise leads to good muscles, strength and posture. Body fat is reduced, the digestive power/digestive fire (Agni) and the entire metabolism are improved, the immune system is strengthened, the aging process is delayed and radiance is improved.

A special feature of Ayurveda is the knowledge of cyclical and constitutional influences, which can be used to optimise training. Nutrition and behaviour in everyday life also have an influence on fitness.

10 tips from Ayurveda for optimal training:

• The best time of day for exercise is in the morning between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.
• Warm up briefly before exercising to avoid injury, e.g. gyrate joints
• A gentle daily increase in performance is better than going full throttle once a week, which wears you out.
• Exhausting 80% of the individual’s potential allows for a sustained increase.
• It is better to do 15-30 minutes a day than two hours once a week.
• A balance of endurance – strength – stretching should be considered in training
• Always have a recovery phase of 5-10 minutes
• 3 hot meals a day, 1/3 of which should be raw food for vital substances and minerals. No large meals 3 hours before training, ½ hour before training a small snack such as a banana or a power ball. Protein in the form of quinoa, rice and lentils are good plant-based nutrients for building healthy muscles.
• Professional athletes should take dietary supplements
• Regularly oil the body with sesame oil (warming) or almond oil (cooling and nourishing) or a therapeutic herbal oil in a self massage

Recipe idea: Power balls (ideal for half an hour before or after exercise)

• 120 g dates
• 50 g sultanas
• 50 g sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp ghee or olive oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• 120 g cashews
• 2 tbsp oat flakes fine
• 3 tbsp puffed amaranth
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 1 pinch each of ginger and vanilla1 pinch of salt

Put all ingredients in a blender, add a little water if necessary and form the mixture into small balls.

For more details on Ayurvedic cures in Switzerland and how Ayurveda works, see:
Ayurveda by Giardino

The hotel to the story:
Hotel Giardino Ascona