According to Ayurveda there’s actually an art to drinking water to make sure your body gets the most out of it.

Drinking water in big gulps and chugging it down will mean that most of it does not get absorbed or it may drain important salts from your body. Drinking too much water is actually not good for you. Instead, it’s important to sip water throughout the day at a steady rate. Here are some Ayurveda tips to get you started and find the right balance.

 Ayurveda tips for drinking water

•  Sit down to drink
•  Take small sips
•  Sip throughout the day
•  Do not drink too much during meals
•  Avoid drinking water straight after a meal
•  Drink warm water
•  Drink a glass of warm water upon waking
•  Sip hot water for a hot water detox
•  Ensure you do not get dehydrated
•  Drink when you’re thirsty

Drinking warm and hot water has long been a practice in Ayurveda. Sipping it between meals can help flush out toxins and prevent digestive problems. It is also known to enhance the radiance of the skin and calm skin conditions.

Warm or hot water helps to combat fatigue and balance the energy in your body. Cold water can slow digestion but warm or hot water can do the opposite and help nutrients be absorbed more easily.

Adding herbs and spices to water can help rejuvenate and help digestion. Both Fennel and ginger have been used to calm and settle the stomach. Basil leaves, mint leaves, cumin, lemon and rose buds can also be added to help balance your body with the three doshas.

We’re advised to drink 1.5 litres or eight glass of water a day. According to Ayurveda, the amount of water we should drink depends on many factors. There is no one-size-fits-all.
Depending on age, weather, workload and diet, the amount of water we should consume varies. But a good rule of thumb is to drink every time you’re thirsty, and continue to sip water throughout the day.

If you are interested in taking an Ayurveda holiday and practice Ayurveda techniques, visit this page to see what Neal’s Yard Holidays have available. Yoga goes had in hand with Ayurveda, see here also for yoga holidays.

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Desperate for a break but can’t hold out for the winter holidays?

You don’t need to. Treat yourself to a last-minute getaway and get some much-needed time off by picking one of our November retreats – from relaxing weekends in the UK, to sunny shores abroad.

Choose between weekend, week-long, and even longer holidays, at home and abroad. And if you want to know about upcoming escapes beyond our November retreats, let us update you with our monthly e-newsletter – it takes just a few clicks to subscribe.

Relax in Somerset, UK
At the Manor House near Glastonbury you’ll get the chance to rejuvenate with yoga, meditation and pure relaxation at the hands of AdventureYogi. Got better plans for November? Didn’t think so.
11-13 November, from £295 pp, sharing twin room

3 nights of five-star luxury in Sussex, UK
Head to Arundel in West Sussex for a Chillout Retreat, a special winter-warmer weekend, with Pilates, yoga, meditation, walking, and festive nutrition and a raw-food workshop.
25–27 November, from £350pp, sharing twin room

Weekend away in rural Dorset, UK
As the darkness of November starts to engulf us, Mellulah Holistic Retreats offer healing weekends, yoga, country walks, wonderful vegetarian cuisine, heated pool, sauna, and much, much more.
11–14 November, from £399 shared twin room; single rooms available

Luxury Costa Blanca retreat
This all-inclusive, 6-night luxury fitness bootcamp for women only. Come a life changing natural detox and weight loss, for fitness and wellness at this award-winning retreat and spa, courtesy of the Ultimate Retreat Company.
9–15 November, from £898 for 6 nights in a single room

Swim with wild dolphins in the Bahamas…
… make new friends and give yourself the gift of an unforgettable experience with the help of WildQuest. But hurry – one of our most exotic November retreats is nearly full, so book asap.
6–12 November, from $1,995 pp for 6 nights, sharing double room

Save on Ayurveda in Sri Lanka
Like getting more for your money? Try out the West Coast Ayurveda Resort in November, and get 10% off full-board accommodation. And a re-energising experience worthy of our list of November retreats, of course. Book early, availability is already tight at this popular resort.
8–30 November, normal price from £793 pp per week

This rounds off our list of November retreats that will boost your wellbeing and give you the energy to face the festive season. As always, there’s loads more holiday-browsing to be had on the Neal’s Yard Holidays website.

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In the second part of our blog dedicated to spreading Ayurvedic Christmas spirit, we move away from indulging ourselves to indulging others.

And we reserve a spot for that less popular of Christmas pastimes – keeping fit, in both body and mind. So that you can start the new year with a spring in your step, rather than sluggishly roll into the office. We know. We’ve been there.

Be an Ayurvedic Santa

Looking for an appropriate gift for the Ayurveda-curious and the die-hard fan? Or simply want to surprise a loved one with a quirky, original present?

From vouchers for treatments near home to full-blown Ayurveda escapes further afield, there is plenty to choose from. Look up essential Ayurvedic oils, Ayurveda skincare gift sets, shiva lingam stones, organic herbs and spices, and even Ayurvedic Christmas decoration.

Then do a proper health-and-safety assessment and make sure you can actually fit through the chimney.

Stay healthy in body…

Get into a full-on outdoor fitness regime or go gentle on yourself with a wiggle to the Strictly Christmas special. Whatever you do, make sure you get a dollop of exercise. Even a little bit of it in darkest, coldest winter will do wonders for your wellbeing during and after the festivities.

Walking can do a world of good during a busy Christmas period. Image © Carla Cometto

Here is Banyan Botanicals’ advice: “It’s important to listen to your body this winter. If you’re feeling overextended and stretched, favor vata-pacifying types of exercise like walking, tai chi, or gentle yoga. If you’re feeling sluggish and heavy, give kapha a bit of a push with a more vigorous workout – perhaps a bike ride, a jog, or a challenging hike, snowshoe, or ski.”

…and mind

“Keep moving” is also the simple advice of Ayurvedic Yogi. And they put an emphasis on staying sociable in the cold, dark days.

It’s tempting to stay at home and clutch your cup of cocoa like it’s a sword against winter’s evil spirits. But whether it’s the local Christmas market or work outings, make sure you take part in social activities as well as physical exercise. That way you’ll be sure to shed some of the ghouls of the darker months and emerge feeling happier and more energetic on the other side.

And when your home is abuzz with the usual festive stress and excitement, don’t forget to take time to escape with some simple mindfulness and other meditation exercises to get you through. And if you think you’ve got no time to set aside for some peace and quiet just for you, this one-minute Ayurvedic meditation might be just the thing.

Got a bit more time? Try this popular guided meditation by the Honest Guys.

Did you enjoy our Ayurvedic Christmas tips? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter. And have yourselves a good one!

The post 5 simple steps to Ayurvedic Christmas at home – Part II appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

Think Christmas is all about waiting for the top button of your trousers to pop while you lounge out in a mince-pie coma, completely oblivious to day and night?

We know you’re smarter than that. So smart, in fact, that you long ago planned your wellbeing Christmas escape, leaving behind the festive hustle and bustle.

But even if a wellbeing getaway doesn’t materialise for you this winter, you can still make sure Christmas is wholesome, recharging, and enhances your wellbeing.

How? Well, as is so often the case, we look to Ayurveda for the answer. And if you can’t come to Ayurveda, then let Ayurveda come to you – with five easy steps brought to you in this two-part blog post.

Ayurvedic Christmas food with all the trimmings

An authentic Ayurvedic getaway is unlikely to include turkey. Or roast potatoes. And you can guarantee there will be few (ok, no) gingerbread houses to devour one wall at a time.

But opting for an Ayurvedic Christmas this festive season doesn’t mean shunning hearty, warming food that punishes the chill and keeps you toasty. On the contrary – well-planned Ayurvedic winter dishes will make you warm and comfortable to the core.

The gingerbread house makes way for all kinds of deliciousness at Ayurvedic Christmas time. Image © Carrie Stephens

The Life Centre’s Xenia Bolomiti advocates seasonal steamed vegetables in place of raw food, and swapping cold water for lemon and ginger tea. Try soup lunches that are at once easy to digest, yet hearty and satisfying.

A few specific dishes caught our eye – great either for an Ayurvedic Christmas dinner or throughout the holiday season. Try out Joyful Belly’s acorn squash recipe, detox dal by Food: A Love Story, and, to round things off, sweet carrot halva courtesy of Ayurvedic Yogi. Now get those aprons out!

Chin-chin with an Ayurveda twist

Ayurveda in winter is all about keeping warm. Which is also, incidentally, one of the best excuses for a sip or three of good mulled wine.

And the secret to mulled wine is none other than spice. Spices, to be correct. This is where Ayurveda comes into its own. No stranger to wine as a remedy for winter chills, Ayurveda is also fantastic at unlocking not just the flavours of a myriad sipces, but their warming, healing and soothing properties too.

For inspiration, check out Joyful Belly’s spiced wine recipe, and get invigorated on the inside.

Spices are the key ingredient of mulled wine © Sara Marlowe

Not so bothered about food? No problem – you can still have an Ayurvedic Christmas with these handy ideas.

The post 5 simple steps to Ayurvedic Christmas at home – Part I appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

Many of our brilliant wellbeing holidays provide a great range of activities, treatments and accommodation at affordable prices. So how can you tell which ones offer the absolute best in terms of low cost and great service?

Good question. So good, in fact, that we’re starting a new series of blog posts, all about our best-priced escapes* – cheap retreats that also offer great value.

To give you plenty of time to pack, we begin with cheap retreats that offer amazing value this August. It’s a peak time for holidaymakers around the world, and especially all of us in the UK who’re trying to bag a bank-holiday bargain.

We travel across Europe, where the weak euro and warm sun beckon. And we stop off in Asia, where August’s monsoons are offset by low prices and the best period for Ayurveda treatment.

August cheap retreats in Europe

Sun and surf
Small classes for yoga and Pilates, surfing, white sandy beaches and a rugged volcanic landscape – all packed into this neat retreat on sunny Fuerteventura. See image at top.
From €465 for 7 nights.

August cheap retreats in Asia

Time for Ayurveda
Head to Sri Lanka for authentic Ayurvedic treatment at the best time of the year for this type of healing.
From £698 per week.

Looking for something different in August, or going away at another time? Check out all our great holidays by activity, date and destination, as well as our current offers and discounts.

Next week we look at luxury summer retreats – escapes that don’t only rejuvenate but pamper you in style too. Catch you then!

* How did we come up with the list? We looked at factors like quality of accommodation, board, choice of activities, airport transfers and other add-ons. We then compared these with length of stay and price to come up with a list of retreats that are not just fantastic getaways but are good for the wallet too.

The post Top 7 cheap retreats this August appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

Practising yoga and meditation is a key part of keeping physically fit in the Ayurveda tradition. But an everyday exercise that requires even less preparation and planning – walking – can also go a long way towards improving our health and wellbeing. So here’s our Ayurveda tip.

It seems like stating the obvious – and it is! And yet it may well be a blasé attitude towards the most straightforward form of exercise that means we don’t make the most of walking and the benefits it can have.

Why walk?

Walking is a big part of a wholesome, ayurvedic lifestyle. Let us walk you (sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves) through why we’ve picked this as our current Ayurveda tip:

• Walking is singled out as a way to gently achieve balance in the three doshas, or human biological energies: vata, pitta and kapha.
• It’s proven to reduce the risk of heart disease – as well as stroke, diabetes, and many others.
• Taking time to walk is taking time to reflect. It encourages mindfulness and helps us become more focused.
• Walking reduces stress and improves your mood – something that is so easy to forget when we’re in the thick of it and can’t be physically removed from our desk chair.

And let’s not forget that walking doesn’t involve any special kitting out. Plus, it’s completely free!

But walking is a luxury – I’m too busy

The vast distances we have to cover every day, and the need to get to places quickly or at short notice, mean that we often choose an alternative to walking.

We become more and more reliant on public transport and our cars. Even when walking is an option, it might not be the first one we think of.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Taking a moment to slow down and reintroduce walking into your day can make a world of difference.

You could choose to really delve into it and match your walking routine to your body type in Ayurveda terms.

And here are some other quick tips on rekindling the connection with your own feet. See which ones are the most practical for you:

• Walk to the shops, instead of driving.
• At lunch time, go for a walk with a colleague instead of staying at your desk
• Use the stairs, not the lift
• Make it a family thing – weekly walks through the woods or in the neighbourhood.
• Escape on a walking holiday and bring back inspiration for change in your everyday routine.

So take a hike, walk the walk, or choose any other idiom you like. But whatever you do, don’t walk away from walking.

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Red roses, heart-shaped chocolate boxes, expensive dining, mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards…

You get the picture. One of the most commercialised holidays of the year is just around the corner. Right about now you might be thinking about how best to shield yourself from the usual Valentine’s Day paraphernalia. Regardless of whether you are your own Valentine or there is a significant other in your life.

So we thought we’d help you reclaim February 14 and make the holiday your own. We’ve selected for you some of our favourite wellbeing getaways this Valentine’s Day. More than just an escape, they are sure to help you rediscover romance and time just for you.

Here’s our pick of holidays, to suit different budgets and with a great variety of activities.

Wellbeing escapes for a fulfilling Valentine’s Day

1. Luxury yoga retreat, West Sussex: Love yourself and escape on a five-star Valentine’s-weekend spa break. With holistic therapies and indoor pool. From £325 for 3 nights.
2. Ayurveda and yoga in South Wales: The right combination to help you relax and unwind, surrounded by ancient woods and beautiful countryside. From £495 for 3 nights.
3. Wellbeing yoga retreat in Oxfordshire: Nourishing yoga, meditation and massage in stunning, peaceful surroundings. From £265 for 2 nights.
4. Yoga holiday in Sri Lanka: Ready for some winter sun and yoga? No better place for it than the stunning Bentota Beach. From £725 for 10 nights.

And you can find even more February retreats and Valentine’s Day escapes on our website.

The post 10 getaways to love Valentine’s Day again appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

Are you eating on the go? Or are you tired after a meal?
Try these simple Ayurveda tips for good digestion.

Ayurveda relies on balance of the three doshas – vata, pitta and kapha – for good health.  A healthy digestive system therefore relies on balance of the doshas and in particular – pitta, which governs the metabolism and digestive system.

Digestive problems are common and usually caused by a combination of poor diet and eating ‘on the go’. Many people rarely take the time to eat a good breakfast, usually eating a slice of toast in the car on the way to work, or not eating anything at all. Lunch time is much of the same with people eating at their desks or wolfing something down quickly before their next meeting.

Ayurveda can help improve our digestive health by not only focussing on what we eat but how we eat it. Ideally we should eat in a comfortable, relaxing environment or at least sitting down without distractions. This helps us to focus on the food, the taste and smell, and when we focus, we eat slowly, which helps digestion.

Another way to aid digestion is to stimulate the digestive fire or ‘agni’

Another way to aid digestion is to stimulate the digestive fire or ‘agni’, which is controlled by the pitta dosha. If the agni is weak, then this can make us tired after eating. If it is too strong, then it can ‘burn’ the food. Ayurveda recommends finding a balance so we can digest efficiently. To boost your digestive fire, try eating a 1-inch pinch of fresh ginger with a drop of lemon before meals.

Mixing cold drinks with hot food can cause stomach cramps or bloating so one way to help balance the agni is to avoid food or drinks that are too cold. This means drinking water or juices at room temperature and avoiding ice. Think of it like a burning fire – you don’t want to extinguish the flame!

Agni is strongest between 12-2pm, so Ayurveda recommends that lunch is the largest meal of the day. Eating too late at night can also mean the agni struggles to digest food, leaving you feeling tired in the mornings, so try to eat dinner before 8pm.

Another tip for good digestion is to have a yoghurt drink called lassi during or after meals. Lassi contains lactobacilli or ‘good bacteria’ and helps to lubricate the intestines for smooth digestion. It is made with fresh yoghurt, water and sugar to taste.

If you find that your agni goes too much the other way and you have excess acid, try eating a spoonful of pomegranate chutney before meals as this is known to control stomach acid and decrease digestive gases.

Remember, Ayurveda tips for digestion:

1. Eat in a calm environment, without distractions
2. Sit down and focus on the taste, smell and texture of the food
3. Avoid food and drinks that are too cold
4. Have a yoghurt drink that contains lactobacilli during or after meals
5. Eat a piece of fresh ginger with lemon before meals to increase digestive fire
6. Eat a spoonful of pomegranate chutney to decrease digestive fire and control acid
7. Make lunch the biggest meal of the day
8. Avoid eating dinner after 8pm

For more Ayurveda tips, see our previous blogs on Ayurveda tips for drinking water and Ayurveda tips for better health.

For our holidays where you can practise this ancient tradition of Ayurveda, see this page

The post Ayurveda Tips for Good Digestion appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

It’s relatively common to feel sluggish in the morning, lethargic in the afternoon and restless at night. According to Ayurveda, to have good health and feel energised, we should live in tune with nature’s cycles. By implementing a simple morning and night routine, you can achieve harmony.

Ayurveda recommends morning and night time practices called Dinacharya. The morning routine promotes focus, a calm outlook and sustainable energy to help you throughout your busy day. The night time routine will help you wind down and prepare you for sleep.

Ayurveda Morning routine

Waking

According to Ayurveda, before sunrise is the ideal time to get up in the morning because of the vata dosha – a subtle energy. The atmosphere is still quiet at this time, which also makes it easier to meditate. Energy after the sun rises, is heavy, which can make you feel heavy and tired.

Washing

Clean out your nostrils using a warm saline solution of warm water and sea salt in order to flush out germs, pollution and dust that has accumulated overnight. According to yoga tradition, it equalises the flow of breath between the nostrils and balances your energy.

Ayurveda also recommends tongue-scraping to get rid of toxins that lead to illness. Then, before you brush your teeth, drink a glass of warm water flavoured with a slice of lemon or lime. This helps to flush the digestive tract and kick-start your metabolism.

Massage

According to Ayurveda, massaging your body with warm, pure oils promotes detoxification and moisturises skin. Just 10 minutes in the morning is enough. Start with your temples, face and neck then work your way down using circular motions. If you have time, let the oil sit for a few minutes, then shower.

Ayurveda Evening routine

Wind down

As the sun goes down, keep lights dim. Lessen your exposure to electronics and don’t use any at all an hour before going to bed. It’s time to tell your body to ‘switch off.’ Light some candles or a stick of incense fused with vanilla, which has a calming effect. Add some essential oils to a bath and have a relaxing soak.

Soothe

Give yourself a foot massage with a drop of sesame oil for ten minutes. There are several pressure points in the feet that correspond to the whole body, which means you can relax within just a few minutes.

Drink

Before bed, heat some organic milk (or rice milk or similar) and add ground cinnamon and nutmeg. Warm whole milk is used in Ayurveda as an insomnia remedy, so it’s perfect to help you drift off to sleep.

Breathe

Just before going to bed, or before evening meditation, practice nostril breathing known as Nadi Shodhana. Do this by using your thumb and finger to open and close each nostril, while you breathe through the other. This will help you transition from activity to stillness, which will relax the body and mind.

Following this Ayurveda routine can help you focus, energise and relax when you need to. You will experience more peace of mind and it’s an opportunity to focus on yourself. Start with just one or two of these practices and gradually build more into your daily routine. You’ll feel better in no time.

To see what Ayurveda holidays we have available, click here.

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Looking for winter sun and where to go for Christmas?
Here is a selection of our Best Christmas Retreats.

Christmas always seems like a long way off and then suddenly catches up with us. If you want to swap the festive stress and cold weather with a rejuvenating retreat of yoga and warm sunshine this year, there’s no time to waste. Some of our most popular Neal’s Yard Holidays retreats are already full, and many others will get booked up by mid-October.

If you are tied to a Christmas at home, or only have a few days to spare – not to worry. We’ve also got some lovely short breaks on offer, right here in the UK. So you can still escape for a relaxing and rejuvenating few days before the start of the new year.

But first, let’s talk about sunshine:

In Sri Lanka, you can truly get away from it all at Srimal Plantation Villa. Off the beaten track and surrounded by nature, you’ll wake up to the sound of tropical birds, enjoy a tailored programme of Ayurveda treatments and while away your days exploring the local villages and rural countryside.

Will you choose winter sun? In any case you can make this your best Christmas. See more choice of Christmas and New Year retreats.

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