Anti-Aging with Ayurveda: 10 Ways to Prevent or Reverse Signs of Aging
Updated: 8 hours ago
Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems, and in addition to providing you with a customized Ayurveda plan that will help you lead a healthier life, Ayurveda can also be used as an anti-aging treatment. One might consider Ayurveda the original anti-aging medicine!
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Anti-Aging with Ayurveda: 10 Ways to Prevent or Reverse Signs of Aging
Ayurveda's lens is the doshas. Dosha, is a Sanskrit term which can be translated as that which "darkens," "that which can cause problems" (literally meaning "fault" or "defect"), or that which accelerates aging and which refers to three categories of Vata, Pitta and Kapha. As dosha means that which ages, to slow down aging, to have good health, the doshas need to be reduce through a comprehensive Ayurveda plan which includes food as medicine, herbal remedies and Ayurvedic lifestyle.
Before turning to injectables and other potentially concerning and toxic treatments, consider how Ayurveda can help you combat aging naturally.
In this article on anti-aging with Ayurveda, we will explore:
What causes aging
Why Ayurveda is effective
10 ways to prevent or reverse aging with Ayurveda
Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!
Explore our personalized services and book your FREE discovery call today.
What causes aging?
Dosha is a Sanskrit term that literally means “that which darkens,” "that which accelerates aging," because when the doshas are out of balance, it accelerates aging, leads to health issues and disease.
When the doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha increase, we feel them, perhaps at first we just don't feel right, if the doshas are not treated, we may develop symptoms, and if interventions are not made, such as herbal remedies, we may end up with a diagnosis of a condition, syndrome or disease.
When the doshas are reduced and balanced, clients say, "I feel better than I have in years!" Why? Because with the restoration of balance, the impact of the doshas decrease.
Often people say, "Well, it's just aging" or, "It's just stress." That aging, that stress IS the increase of the doshas and therefore the acceleration of the aging process. Aging is a natural part of life, yet, where we can slow that process down, through comprehensive Ayurveda care, we benefit--inside and outside.
Aging encompasses much more than just wrinkles and sagging skin (although these factors are a primary concern for many people) — vitality, cognitive ability, flexibility, and overall well-being are also important factors to consider when looking at how to reserve and prevent signs of aging.
Before we delve into how to combat aging, let’s start by exploring what causes aging.
Here are the main factors that contribute to aging:
Dietary habits and nutrition
Physical activity
Non-restorative sleep
Emotional distress
Stress
Food toxins and air pollution
General lifestyle choices
DNA and genetics
Why Ayurveda is an effective anti-aging treatment
The way each person ages is unique and dependent on a variety of external and internal factors. As such, the way we approach anti-aging needs to be customized to the individual if it’s going to be effective short-and long-term.
Ayurveda is a natural, holistic approach customized to every individual and their specific needs. This means the treatment and Ayurveda plan you receive will be entirely different from anyone else’s.
It’s a tailored approach to health and wellness, curated especially for you, where you live, stage of life, constitution (prakruti) and present situation (vikruti) and the season. That’s why it’s effective. There is no one size fits all approach. Every factor influencing you is considered.
How does Ayurveda combat aging?
Ayurveda looks at your individual constitution (original doshic picture or prakruti) and your current state (vikruti) and restores balance to Vata, Pitta and Kapha dosha. This process gives you the tools needed to heal internally, which is then reflected in your overall appearance and stamina.
Ayurveda empowers you to maintain excellent physical and mental health — regardless of age — by decreasing the doshas, reducing symptoms, eliminating toxins (ama), boosting immunity, and keeping the energy within your body flowing freely.
“I feel ten years younger and at 76--that really matters. I feel much, much better. Amazing. Digestive issues are totally 100% gone. Not an issue at all. I feel great! Blood sugar and lifelong sinus issues, much better.”
-Kathy B., Minneapolis, Minnesota
10 ways to prevent or reverse aging with Ayurveda
1.) Establish a daily routine or dinacharya
Dinacharya is a Sanskrit word that translates to daily routine. According to Ayurveda, following a daily routine is important because it establishes a pleasing rhythm to your day. When your body and mind know they can rely on certain things happening, it creates stability and a sense of calm.
Also, dinacharya keeps you connected with the circadian rhythms of nature (the natural clock your body cycles through in a 24-hour period) and creates balance in your life.
To create your daily routine, select a few morning and evening Ayurvedic lifestyle tools that are supportive, comfortable, and pleasing for you. Think about which tools provide you the greatest return on your investment.
Here’s an example of a morning dinacharya:
Brush teeth, floss, and massage gums
Drink a warm glass of lemon water
Have bowel movement
Eat a nourishing meal
Practice diaphragmatic breathing for 5 minutes and follow our guided practices
Your dinacharya will set the tone for your day, keep your energy aligned and reduce stress and anxiety. In turn, you will experience more vitality as you move through each day. You will see your natural energy increase and your need for cup of stimulation decrease.
For detailed guides and inspiration for creating your Ayurvedic routines, read:
Ayurvedic Morning Routine | 6 Rituals for a Calm and Centered Day 10 Ayurvedic Evening Rituals for a Calming Night
2.) Love up your liver
Your liver plays a central role in your health. It breaks down fat, produces energy, regulates chemical intake, cleanses the body of harmful toxins, and balances sex hormones, thyroid hormones, cortisone, and other adrenal hormones. To learn more about thyroid health click here.
As such, it is key to how you feel AND look. Show your liver love by nourishing it with wholesome foods and herbal remedies.
Whenever possible, choose organic, fresh, and locally grown foods. Dark green leafy vegetables, avocados, apples, asparagus, and mung beans are especially good for detoxifying the liver and promoting health. Visit our recipe box for liver loving recipes.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Ayurveda uses food as medicine, and what foods are best suited for your unique doshic combination (and liver!) click here and book your free phone consultation.
“A year ago, after some lab tests, I was told I had an "abnormal" liver. I thought of my mother, who had died fairly young from liver disease. Veena's ayurvedic recommendations, which included herbs and healthy foods, turned things around in less than six months. My liver was retested, and each lab result was in the "normal" range. This testifies to my longstanding mantra: In Veena I Trust.” -- Don, Golden Valley, Minnesota
3.) Drink a large glass of hot lemon water
Dehydration is a cause of premature aging, adverse skin conditions, and lethargy. When the body doesn’t have enough hydration, it isn’t able to eliminate toxins (ama) or maintain stamina.
As a result, dry skin, discoloration, premature wrinkling, poor kidney function, and exhaustion can occur.
Fortunately, dehydration is 100% preventable! To keep your body hydrated, start each morning with a large glass of warm lemon water.
Not only will this keep your skin looking healthy and smooth, but the vitamin C found in the lemons will also give you an immunity boost and protect your skin from damaging free radicals.
4.) Clean your bowels in the morning
When you sleep, your small intestine and colon go to work processing everything you consumed from the previous day. Upon waking, your body clock triggers the colon to contract and squeeze harder than at any other time of the day.
As a result, you likely feel a greater urgency to have a bowel movement in the morning. Follow this urgency and clean your bowels in the am. Don't suppress the urge as it undoes nature's intelligence. Doing so will drain your energy and may cause cramping and general discomfort. You don’t want to walk around with yesterday’s waste in your intestines!
Upon waking, drink a cup of hot water. This encourage healthy elimination. Even if your body is not ready to produce a bowel movement, sit on the toilet for a moment to begin to create the habit. In time, with correct eating and a good Ayurveda plan, it will happen.
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5.) Get enough sleep and according to your Ayurveda dosha
Establishing an Ayurvedic sleep routine is key to looking and feeling refreshed. Sleep deprivation causes your body to release cortisol — a stress hormone. Too much cortisol breaks down skin collagen (leading to premature aging) and can cause anxiety and depression.
While the exact amount of sleep you need is dependent on your dosha, aim to get at least 8 hours per night. In general, Vata needs more sleep and Kapha can do with less, but it depends on what is happening for you specifically. Read more here about the doshas and their impact on your life.
Ideally, you create a consistent sleep and wake schedule based on your constitution and current state. This will enable you to ride the natural energy waves and feel (and look) much better as you move throughout the day.
Ayurvedic Morning Routine | 6 Rituals for a Calm and Centered Day
10 Ayurvedic Evening Rituals for a Calming Night
6.) Eat wholesome Ayurvedic foods
You’ve probably heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” It’s a popular phrase because it’s true.
With fad diets and endless sources of conflicting information on the internet, clients are relieved to have a clear direction with a food program designed just for them. They report that their food program is not restrictive, but in fact, they eat a wider variety of foods.
What foods are optimal for us, depends on stage of life, current condition, constitution, location and the season. Foods in an Ayurvedic food program, bring in the qualities that balance each person's doshic picture. Through the specificity, clarity is gained and positive outcomes often quickly realized.
“I cannot begin to express how thankful I am to have found Veena. After four plus years of dealing with the consequences of antibiotic-caused digestive issues and no improvement from medical interventions, I was in dire straits. It was then I tried a new path…….Veena. She is wonderful…..a breath of fresh air. After following her guidance, within two weeks I had improved immensely and continue, and I can barely remember the misery of before. She is easy to work with and I really have no words to convey my gratitude for making life enjoyable again. So seemingly simple, so outstandingly effective! 5 stars are not enough!” -Sylvia Taulbee, St. Paul, MN
The food you consume ultimately improves your health or harm it. What people often don’t realize is that it's the small daily choices made over time (such as the choice to habitually skip breakfast or eat greasy food) that are the most impactful.
Opt to eat whole foods such as fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and legumes as these foods retain their natural fiber, vitamins, and nutrients. As a result, they will support your body’s nutritional needs and provide fiber for healthy elimination.
"Eat food as nature made them or as close to their natural state as possible." --Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
Explore More:
Vata Soothing Kitchari: Cleansing and Grounding
Ayurvedic Recipe|Lose Weight While You Eat Kapha Reducing Kitchari
Ayurveda’s Healing Trifecta: a Framework for a Balanced Life
7.) Use Saumya Ayurveda’s digestive detox tea
Saumya Ayurveda’s daily digestive detox tea will balance digestion and cleanse your body from the inside out.
Customized to each individual client o balance your doshic picture, our digestive tea supports gut health, eliminates undigested food, supports healthy hormone systems, blockages and gas while promoting nutrient absorption which enhances health and vibrance.
8.) Learn diaphragmatic breathing and change your life
Time to reclaim your calm by shifting from flight-fight-freeze mode, to the rest, restore, relax side of our nervous system.
Learn Diaphragmatic Breathing and Change Your Life is one of the most important things you can do to slow the aging process, cleanse, and feel your best.
Explore our personalized services and book your FREE discovery call today.
9.) Nourish Your Skin with Our Ayurvedic Facial Products
Which is the best anti-aging Ayurvedic oil?
Kukumadi Oil, the name originates from its leading ingredient red-gold saffron which has long been the world's costliest spice by weight. We are pleased to offer our clients this precious formulation.
Our traditional oil is a mix of 20 precious ingredients, including red sandalwood, lotus flower stamen, goat's milk, and rosewater, and saffron.
In ancient times, it was said that massaging your face at night with Kukumadi Oil would make your face glow like gold. Following an ancient Ayurvedic recipe for radiant skin, our Kukumadi Oil will help even skin tone and texture, repair early signs of aging, minimize dark circles, and treat blemishes and scars.
Breathing links us both to the mind and the body. And the more we pay attention to breathing by way of a gentle awareness, the more we can relax and find our mind concentrated. That’s where diaphragmatic breathing exercises come in.
Change my breath and it changes my life? It may seem an overly dramatic claim, yet it is not. Without breath, where is life? There are many sayings in English about breath, we lost our breath, we catch it, we hold it, we take a deep breath--yet the breath of life--meaning something one depends on, is among the most profound. Breath is not something we tend to connect with consciously yet is foundational in Ayurveda and to life itself.
Once diaphragmatic breathing is re-established as a habit, additional pranayama practices can be considered.
The benefits of pranayama practices are far-reaching. In addition to bringing your mind and body into the present moment, pranayama also encourages the pranic (life) energy to flow in a balanced way.
For example, Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) will purify your airways, improve concentration and promote oxygenation. As a result, you’ll experience greater levels of mental clarity, decreased stress and more lustrous skin.
Which pranayama is correct for you depends. It is important to be trained in these practices by a knowledgeable person as harm can be created by practicing incorrectly. Veena is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and meditation teacher, and monk and her Ayurveda consultations include training in pranayama.
Dive Deeper: Ayurveda Breathwork Pranayama
9.) Practice Ayurvedic intermittent fasting
While Intermittent Fasting is a hot new health trend and weight loss tool, it is actually a practice that has been around for centuries, rooted in the 5,000+ year old holistic system of Ayurveda, the knowledge or science of life.
These days, intermittent fasting is hyped as an easy way to lose weight fast, but that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of what Ayurvedic Intermittent Fasting can do for your physical, mental and spiritual self.
In Ayurveda, the digestive system is considered to be crucial to a person’s wellness and vitality. When the digestive system is unable to work optimally, toxins, ama, build up and cause imbalance before eventually leading to symptoms and disease. Fasting promotes a steady release of those toxins and fosters proper regeneration of energy and digestive power. In addition to the physical benefits, mental clarity increases.
To get started, carve out a 12-hour fasting window every day. This will enable your digestive system to rest and rejuvenate. As a result, your digestive system will be able to properly digest meals, eliminate toxins and keep you looking and feeling healthy. Saumya clients, naturally intermittently fast every day. Taking a lite evening meal before 6pm and breaking their fast around 8am. This daily approach to Ayurvedic cleansing yields benefits on going.
Fasting, in Ayurveda, is not simply intentionally skipping a meal or two. Fasting Ayurvedically, is an extension of practicing pratyahara, withdrawal of the senses —in Sanskrit praty means against and ahara means anything taken into the body. Ayurvedic fasting is a spiritual practice aimed at understanding one’s self and developing spiritual strength.
Ayurveda teaches us that intermittent fasting is not about the food, but about the spaces between the meals. Intentionally skipping a meal is an opportunity to perform tapas, to exercise discipline.
When we choose to practice pratyahara through intermittent fasting, we deliberately choose what to put into our body, or, in this instance, not put into our body. We create a commitment to not eat and through that experience, we gain determination on our spiritual path. It’s a lot like exercising and gaining spiritual muscle.
Explore More: Ayurveda's Approach to Intermittent Fasting Spiritual Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
10.) Abhyanga Ayurvedic Self-Massage
Abhyanga massage - a type of Ayurveda massage done with warm oil - can nourish your body and improve your overall wellness. Best of all, you can use Abhyanga oils to do self-massage at home. Daily Abhyanga practice can boost your energy levels and help you keep the doshas in balance.
This massage will help your body remove toxins (ama), and keep your skin looking radiant and smooth.
A self-care, dosha balancing, relaxing way to start or end your day. Abhyanga, Ayurvedic oil self-massage, is a key herbal treatment tool. Include it in your morning or evening routine.
Ayurveda Anti-Aging Herbs
How to feel and look younger according to Ayurveda? Plant nutrition.
Ayurvedic herbal medicine target and support specific tissues, channels, and organs. It’s important to note, however, that your custom herbal protocol isn’t designed to treat specific symptoms. It’s designed to treat the dosha imbalance at the root of your imbalance.
Rather than treating the body, mind, and spirit as separate entities, Ayurveda recognizes the interconnected nature of one’s whole being. While clients may have a long list of health concerns - from poor sleep, to constipation, to menstrual pain - these seemingly unrelated issues are often tied to the same dosha imbalance.
By targeting imbalances at their roots, we restore equilibrium to the whole person. Often, this results in multiple symptoms clearing up at the same time – even those which have been accepted as “part of life.”
As with all herbs, the tenet of Ayurveda is that what works well for one person may be incorrect for another. Herbs are listed for informational purposes only.
To know what herbs are correct for you, explore our personalized services and book your FREE discovery call today.
There is a saying, "The mind is more in the body, than the body is in the mind." The Saumya 3 Step Meditation Process shifts us from fight-flight-freeze mode, to rest-restore-relax mode. Give it a try for forty days and observe the changes. The more grounded and relaxed we are, the smoother life flows.
"The breath is the connection between the mind and body, so by training the breath, we become calm, focused, and grounded, we slow down the aging process by decreasing stress. These practices are so simple and easy to have as part of our daily life. We actually feel and look younger."
- Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
1. Learn Diaphragmatic Breathing and Change Your Life. When we re-learn to breath diaphragmatically, we move from the flight-fight-freeze mode, to rest, restore, relaxation mode from where we want and need to live.
2. Daily Guided Practices: 11 minutes in the morning and in the evening, as anchors of your daily Ayurveda routine.
3. Ayurveda Daily Routines: Ayurvedic Morning Routine | 6 Rituals for a Calm and Centered Day 10 Ayurvedic Evening Rituals for a Calming Night
"Choose a couple of practices from the routines that provide you with the greatest support. Perform them while applying our two minute meditation technique and your mundane tasks, just transformed into a mellifluous meditation. This is meditation applied to daily life." - Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
“Veena was able to help me regain my energy in just a few months and I’m feeling like my “young” self again! I love the food plan she designed for me, and all the supporting practices (am/pm routines, breathing techniques, herbs, and spice mixes) are so enjoyable to incorporate into my day. I highly recommend Saumya Ayurveda if you want to feel better and have more vitality.”
-Molly Rossini, Minnesota
Explore More: Ayurveda Breathwork Pranayama
“Veena has literally changed my life. I was struggling with mental and physical symptoms that my doctor had no answer for. I thought I was going crazy and just making symptoms up.
With Veena’s guidance, with herbs and diet changes, I soon realized that my symptoms were very real. After making the changes, I made small victories along the way, and became better with each appointment with her.
Now almost 6 months later, I am a completely different person. I still have some things to work on, but with Veena’s help, I know I will be able to take control of my health and not leave it to Western medicine that was giving me little to no help and covering up my symptoms with another medication.
I highly encourage getting the half year package, especially if you are working with challenges with your monthly cycle. Working with Veen has been the best decision I have made for my health. You won’t be disappointed!” -- Maria Fumagalli, San Diego, California
“Saumya Ayurveda has helped me beyond my expectations! Veena is a wonderfully astute and thorough practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine's healing principles and therapies. She is exceptionally intuitive and empathic and can "see" my body and accurately assess my ailments and condition through virtual visits. She can quickly determine courses of treatment for my health concerns that have produced excellent results for my body and mind.
I have received treatments for chronic fatigue and pain, dry skin, brain fog and more. I am 59 years old, and my body and mind are gradually wearing out. The Ayurvedic formulations, along with Veena’s specific instructions are slowing my aging process and bringing my body and mind back into good alignment.
I have vastly improved with Veena’s care. I will continue to trust Veena and her clinic with my health concerns even before consulting "traditional" health care providers. She has been of immense value helping me alleviate chronic health issues that my regular doctor could not. I would highly recommend Saumya Ayurveda to everyone! -– Paul Kellett, St. Paul, Minnesota
Anti-Aging with Ayurveda: 10 Ways to Prevent or Reverse Signs of Aging, book your FREE discovery call today.
Discover the Saumya Ayurveda Way
When we gain clarity about what to eat, we can cook and eat with confidence knowing we are turning our food into medicine and with Saumya Ayurveda, you'll know what to do. As Julia Childs put it, "This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook—try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above all have fun."
We all want to be heard, understood, and cared for as whole beings, not a set of isolated symptoms. True health is more than the absence of disease, which is why Western medicine so often leaves us feeling hopeless and unseen.
Deep down, you already know what you’re searching for: a new framework for living – one that brings your entire being back into balance. With Saumya Ayurveda, you’ll receive individualized guidance to create the physically, mentally, and spiritually vibrant life you crave.
Saumya Ayurveda provides concierge, top-notch, award-winning Ayurveda care. We strive to keep it simple, so you can focus on you! Opt for virtual consultations and we'll come to you.
Our practice model is client focused, we’re not in the retail herb business. We’ll guide you where to order herbs directly online. Our top-shelf Ayurveda oils and herbalized ghees are the best in the land and we’ll ship your care package right to your doorstep.
Our effective multi-appointment consultation packages provide you with experienced Ayurveda care, enthusiastic guidance, and inspiring support.
Explore our personalized services and book your FREE discovery call today. Psst! Our clients say it best – so read and watch our client's stories
Veena is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and meditation teacher, and monk.
She is President Emeritus and teaching faculty of the Meditation Center.
Veena fell in love with the traditional medicine used in her family’s home, learning herbal remedies at her grandmother's knee.
These childhood experiences were the seeds of a lifelong passion. For over 30 years, Veena has dedicated her life to the world’s oldest healing system: Ayurveda.
She draws on this ancient wisdom to help others find their compass to a healthy life – and support those left wanting by Western medicine.
An experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Veena’s deep, intuitive knowledge of Ayurveda empowers her clients to reclaim their fullest, most vibrant lives –mentally, physically, and spiritually. Veena individualizes treatment plans to each person, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, so it fits your life and becomes woven in your lifestyle, naturally.
