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Jul 23, 2023

How the Teachings of Ayurveda can Empower Women’s Wellbeing

November 30, 2022 December 5, 2022 5 min read By Acharya Shunya

November 30, 2022 December 5, 2022 5 min read By Acharya Shunya

Ayurveda — the ancient art and science of health from India — may seem esoteric for modern living. Yet the reclamation of mind-body-soul well-being that Ayurveda supports is the first step toward living an empowered life. In our patriarchal world, it is particularly essential for all women and female-identifying humans to care for their bodies and well-being. I am an Ayurvedic teacher and bestselling author of Roar Like A Goddess: Every Woman's Guide to Becoming Unapologetically Powerful, Prosperous, and Peaceful — as well as Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom — and below, I share three traditional Ayurvedic lifestyle recommendations that can empower women's well-being.

Originating in ancient India, Ayurveda is the science of conscious living that supports a lifestyle to optimize health and well-being by addressing body, mind, self, and spirit, as a totality, in one stroke. It is rooted in the ancient Vedic culture — a spiritual way of life and tradition of conscious and progressive thinking, being and living; an inherently holistic life, in alignment with nature's laws and chronobiological rhythms. Though in practice for thousands of years, the teachings of Ayurveda flourish even today, and its influence on popular culture can be seen worldwide.

It provides sacred tools that enhance the divine feminine and can empower women's well-being. It helps seekers get in touch with their inner divine potential through deeper understanding, mantras and spiritual practices that include meditation, yoga and devotional practices towards the sun, moon and stars (which are considered an expression of Goddess Lakshmi, no less). No wonder Ayurveda is particularly popular among women and feminine-identified beings.

If you desire health, beauty, and well-being, this is the Ayurveda ritual to adopt as part of your self-care routine. Abhyanga has a myriad of transformational benefits that include, slowing down aging, overcoming fatigue, nourishing the skin, and improving complexion. It also helps to mitigate the effects of physical aches and pain. The best part? You can perform Abhyanga in 10 minutes, making it an easy addition to your daily morning routine.

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Take one cup of warm oil (sesame is recommended in winter and coconut in summer by Charaka Samhita, a foundational text or seminal guide on Ayurveda that goes back to the second century BCE. Sesame is a warming oil by nature whereas coconut oil cools the skin all naturally, reducing stress and combating the burn and fatigue of summer heat on the body). Lavishly apply the oil of your choice to your body while sitting. Close your eyes, and be mindful of your breathing as you massage your body with gentle strokes, away from the heart. Massaging the whole body is best, but you may choose to reserve massaging your scalp and hair for days when you have more time. Oil massages for your hair will wonderfully condition your hair, nourish your hair roots, and reduce the problem of frizzy hair and split ends. Wait for as long as you can (five to 20 minutes), then wash off the oil with regular soap or preferably an herbal scrub. The benefits have to be experienced to be believed!

Have you ever experienced the relaxation and healing properties of a warm botanical-infused, spirit-uplifting bath? Here are a few Ayurveda-specific botanical baths that you can experiment with at home.

Add botanicals to the bathwater directly, or for greater medicinal benefit, boil one-part botanical (fresh or dry) in eight-parts water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Simmer until you are left with only four-parts water. Add this reduced liquid (decoction), minus the cooked herbs (strain through fine cloth), to the bathwater. Bathe for a minimum of 20 to 40 minutes. You will benefit from this healing bath water only if you allow yourself time to soak in it. You may want to make some special time for this bathing ritual. Enjoy the soak!

Rose is a timeless symbol of beauty, love, and joy. In Ayurveda, the rose is known as shatapatri. The fragrance of fresh or dried rose petals, or oil-essence, has the ability to immediately boost your mood. A rose bath will soothe any feelings of irritability, exhaustion, and overstimulation, and counteract stress quickly. Rose refines our complexion, helps reduce redness, and leaves your entire body glowing.

In Ayurveda, this remarkable flower is classified as a powerful aphrodisiac. It is said that bathwater, fragrant with the petals of musk rose, naturally and pleasantly stokes sexual desire. Draw up a musk bath for yourself, and your significant other, and delight in the sexual potency of nature.

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This ancient herbal remedy is a skin purifier that is also antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic. Turmeric is known to be anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Add turmeric powder to bathwater — or make a decoction from its fresh root (rhizome) — to heal muscle and joint pain, and skin conditions. Don't be afraid of its deep yellow color — turmeric will wash away with time and without the need for harsh chemicals. Fun fact? Finely ground mung lentils (green gram) can be used to wipe away any residue.

According to Ayurveda, our health is more than the mere absence of disease — it is a fruitful, flourishing state of well-being. To tap into this abundance, we need to do more than visit the doctor when sick and take prescribed medications. We start by transforming ourselves from the inside out.

One of the simplest ways to do this is to add something detoxifying to your diet. Green lentils or mung lentils — in addition to cleaning turmeric out of the bathtub — are a classic Ayurvedic ingredient; a superfood that helps eliminate toxins, clear clogged-up arteries, improve our complexion and calm our mind!

Below is an especially great recipe to consume during the menstrual cycle, as it aids the menstrual flow. I am sharing this delicious recipe for Green Lentil Soup from my book, Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom (Sounds True, 2017).

Ingredients

1 tablespoon ghee or clarified butter

2 cups whole mung beans, soaked in 4 cups water for at least 3 hours or overnight

12 cups water

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

½ teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground cumin seed

¼ teaspoon rock salt (plus more, to taste)

1 teaspoon lime juice (optional)

2 teaspoons minced cilantro

Method

While you enjoy this delicious recipe, you may also feel encouraged to note that the suggestions and practices you are encountering in this article have stood the test of time. That is why Ayurveda is gaining converts worldwide and can empower women's well-being. I invite you to make every day a health-protecting and health-reclaiming day, simply by the art with which it is lived.

Photo Courtesy: Acharya Shunya

Acharya Shunya is the author of Roar Like A Goddess (2022), Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom (2017), and other bestselling books. She … Read more ›

February 13, 2023 February 14, 2023 5 min read By Tracy Vadakumchery

I’m at the gym. I’m on my grind. I keep telling myself that if I keep doing ‘X, Y, and Z,’ I’ll get results. Which is true — all the fitness gurus say so. The personal trainer I once had said as much. Yet, I forget to take a breather. I’m hoping for instant gratification, when I know the results I want — better energy, endurance, and metabolism — take time. I have to be patient with myself. So why do I feel pressured?

When I sit down to take a breath, I notice this idea of instant gratification weaves a common thread. I put pressure on myself to complete projects, quicker and faster. As a licensed therapist, my clients also talk about how they feel the pressure to do more work in a shorter amount of time, leading to longer work days and burnout. Some new clients ask, "How long does therapy take? Will I feel better after three sessions?" It's like those junk tabloids with headlines like, "how to lose 10 lbs in 10 days!" In an ever-changing, fast-paced world, there are expectations to do things faster and better. On top of that, a relationship with our body, our career, our mind, and yes, our therapist, takes time too. To wait for results can create an uneasy feeling. We can't trust the process if we don't see results right away. We’re focused on the destination rather than the journey.

I believe the same idea is being applied to dating and relationships too. I cringe and roll my eyes when I hear, "Dating is a numbers game." While it's true that you might have to meet many people before finding your person, this has caused some of my clients to ‘gamify’ dating: swiping right on every dating profile and trying too hard on the first date in the hopes of landing "the one." This prevents them from slowing down, truly seeing the person in front of them for who they are, and being vulnerable. My South Asian American clients feel the cultural pressure to settle down quickly and think they need to "catch up" with their friends who are getting married. They’re working very hard in the South Asian dating market, hitting up all the singles they meet, and finding instant chemistry with "the one."

But just like a fad diet, once you get the results, you’re back at square one. You gain all the weight back, and the person you fell in love with falls out of love with you. You start to feel demotivated and hopeless all over again. Relationships that build quickly tend to fizzle out quickly too.

Here's how South Asian American singles should stop shaming themselves for being single, this Valentine's Day season, and try dating with intention. At the same time, this therapist has some thoughts on how we South Asian singles could be dating better. If you’re single this Valentine's season and wondering, "when am I going to find my person?" you’re going to have to challenge some long-held, societal beliefs about dating, marriage, and relationships, both within and outside of our culture. It means:

Dating is not a game to win! Forget about the "numbers" game. You are also not trying to "trick" anyone into being with you. That shit is not cute. Show up authentically and don't be afraid to be "caught off guard." After changing their perspective, some of my clients tell me, "I haven't found a decent quality person!" Yeah, that's kind of the whole point. You could go on a ton of mindless dates and have your time wasted, or you can have one or two quality dates and feel fulfilled. Pick one.

Because some South Asian cultures have a much faster timeline with marriage, you might find yourself trying way too hard to impress your first date in the hopes that it will rush the chemistry high. Dating scenarios that start this way burn out once things get serious. Looking for chemistry too soon is like chasing a temporary high. Be patient and take your time getting to know someone because chemistry takes a long time to build.

We’re all putting our best foot forward on a first date. What do they talk about? How do they talk about other people? Does the conversation feel superficial? Does it feel like a performance? Do they take an interest in you? Are they sharing anything about themselves?

Superficial qualities aren't an indicator of how good of a partner they’ll be in the future. Having a high income doesn't mean they’ll contribute to your relationship or the family you both build. However, their financial decision-making can indicate what they prioritize and what they value. And while physical attraction is important, there is no fountain of youth. Will you still want to share your life with this person when they are 60? Or will they annoy the shit out of you?

Marriage is not just a blending of two families; it's a ‘business contract’ between you and your spouse. Would you go into business with this person? Would you want to share physical space with them? Share a bed with them? Your parents are not the ones who are going to bump uglies with them, and at some point, your parents will no longer be around. Whose decision do you want to be stuck with?

There is no such thing as "Mr/Mrs. Right." Let go of the idea that there is someone better out there. Dealbreakers are important because they indicate what you have tolerance and patience for, and this can affect intimacy, but don't write someone off for something workable. Think about the things that give you the "ick" versus things that don't give you the "ick." If someone's qualities are only mildly imperfect but overall don't give you the "ick," then it shouldn't be a dealbreaker. If it's something that can be changed, then maybe it's worth being flexible. If it's something that can't be changed and you can't get over it, then you’re wasting your time and their time too.

As a South Asian American who is also single, I am pressured by my family to get married quickly too. I know that many people in my situation would either give in to their demands or take matters into their own hands. They might date to appease their parents that they’re "working on it." But I refuse to give in to the pressure. When I date, I date to enjoy the person in front of me. I see the person for who they are, not some idea I cooked up in my head for the outcome I’m trying to achieve. I put my most authentic self forward. If this doesn't result in a relationship quickly, I’m okay with that.

If this therapist can be patient with her process, then why can't you? Like exercise, relationships take time, and you could be doing everything right and still not getting exactly what you want. You won't be a good fit for everyone, and likewise, not everyone will be a good fit for you. But don't close yourself off from the world. This Valentine's season, learn to trust the process. Tune out the noise; the idea of "instant gratification," Be patient, be honest, and be yourself. And don't forget to take that breather.

Photo Courtesy: Tracy Vadakumchery

Bio: Tracy Vadakumchery, LMHC is a licensed South Asian American therapist in New York and Florida who specializes in treating … Read more ›

February 7, 2023 February 7, 2023 4 min read By Sneha Challa

Photo credit: @golibtolibov

In July 2022, Sania Khan's life was ruthlessly taken from her by her ex-husband. Sania was a young, vibrant South Asian woman – a creator and photographer who had the courage to step out of an abusive marriage, even in the face of community norms that discourage women from speaking out. While this tragedy seemed to stir a consciousness in the South Asian diaspora that we can no longer justify the status quo, it is far from the only such incident. Just months later in December of 2022, Harpreet Kaur Gill was stabbed to death by her husband in Vancouver. While the most extreme cases like those of Sania Khan and Harpreet Kaur Gill are highlighted by mainstream media, a small body of research provides evidence that intimate partner violence experiences are equally, if not more, prevalent in South Asian communities than the general population in the US or Canada. That's why we need to do more as a community and throw light South Asians and intimate partner violence.

Violence prevention researchers have long used traditional gender roles to explain intimate partner violence in South Asian countries. These norms are deeply entrenched beliefs in society about appropriate roles for people based on their gender. In South Asian communities, these norms typically privilege men in intimate relationships. These beliefs are further perpetuated by mainstream media. For example, despite historic criticism for its depiction of harassment as "romance" or abuse as "lovers’ quarrels," Indian cinema has only normalized toxic masculinity and violence as a form of conflict resolution with its hundreds of millions of viewers.

Despite the identification and investigation of these norms in South Asia, there's so much we still don't know about diaspora communities, especially in relation to South Asians and intimate partner violence. In the US, South Asians have become one of the fastest-growing populations, but we remain unaware of how the stresses of raising a family in a different culture, and the weight of growing up between two worlds, affect these norms, expectations, and experiences among South Asian immigrants, the second generation and beyond.

In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at how these norms are enacted to influence intimate relationship dynamics, discuss the recent rise in intimate partner violence, and explore the work that researchers, policymakers, and program implementers can do to address violence in South Asian diaspora communities.

Why does it take catastrophic events to serve as a call to action? For one, the "model minority myth" continues to portray South Asians in America (who originate from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) as a healthy and wealthy group. As a child of Indian immigrants, I always thought this was just a frustrating trope that lived rent-free in my head next to the eternal question, "Log kya kahenge?" (What will people say?) However, I have realized that this constant worry is not just an innocent preoccupation. It's the result of a dangerous spiral beginning with the portrayal of South Asians as a model minority and the need to maintain that well-to-do image. This only reinforces the traditional gender norms that overlook men's perpetration of violence and encourage women's silence, crippling any efforts to understand the scope of the problem and draw attention and resources to address it.

Prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the frequently-uttered phrase among researchers, practitioners, and advocates alike was "one in three" — one in three women ages 15-49 experiences physical and/or sexual violence inflicted by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Under the cover of the COVID-19 pandemic however, rates of violence against women rose dramatically, prompting UN Women to call for recognition of this "Shadow Pandemic." During the height of the pandemic, the social isolation that came with lockdowns and quarantine procedures to curb the spread of disease made home a more dangerous place for an increasing number of women. As communities seek to rebuild, the inequities in access to and use of potentially lifesaving services have deepened. Now more than ever, it is critical that we shine a light on the many intersections of our society to prevent South Asian women's experiences of intimate partner violence from being pushed even further into the shadows.

First and foremost, to better understand South Asians and intimate partner violence, we need better data disaggregated by racial/ethnic group. Since the 1980 Census, only those of Indian origin have had a fill-in bubble. All other South Asian groups have to write something in, decreasing their participation. South Asian communities in the US are not a monolith and they are certainly not all of Indian origin. This perception, fed by our lack of data, likely privileges the Indian community in America and limits the visibility of other South Asian communities.

More accurate information will help us better understand where the need is greatest. We can make a stronger case for more equitable resource allocation, improve South Asian language materials for survivors, and enhance provider training programs, accounting for the specific cultural implications of disclosing and seeking treatment for violence in South Asian communities. Public health researchers should increase efforts to understand the prevalence of experiences of violence, the environmental factors that make South Asian women in America vulnerable to experiences of intimate partner violence, and how it impacts their health.

While outstanding organizations such as Narika in California and Sakhi in New York are leading the charge in raising awareness, running active helplines, and providing support, they cannot be the sole safe space for survivors. While the system's failure to protect Sania is not an isolated incident, it has served as a wake-up call.

All South Asian women in America should be able to be healthy and safe and lead lives free from violence, coercion, or abandonment. To achieve this, we need better data, more research, culturally-tailored resources, and appropriate legislative action that will allow for prevention, screening, and treatment efforts to finally take root.

Intimate Partner Violence Resources:

Sneha holds a PhD in Global Health and is currently a researcher at the University of California San Francisco working … Read more ›

March 28, 2023 April 2, 2023 7 min read By Anise Health

By: Anise Health

The Covid-19 pandemic and feelings of uncertainty, which have been prevalent across the globe, had lasting effects on all of us. One of the more positive impacts has been on the mental health industry, particularly the normalization of mental health challenges and a more open dialogue about mental health. There have been discussions in the workplace, in schools, and even on Hinge profiles, but what about in South Asian communities? Though some progress has been made, mental health stigma is still widely prevalent among South Asians, impacting individuals’ desire and comfort in seeking help. As a result, the South Asian community reports lower rates of seeking mental health services. And of the individuals who do seek out mental health services, many face challenges in finding therapists who are equipped with a multiculturally competent skill set to understand the South Asian client's concerns. This is why it's important to recognize and become aware of the intersections of mental health and South Asian communities.

Although there is an overlap between the mental health concerns of South Asians and other communities of color, there are also unique intersections between culture and mental health that I want to bring to the forefront of this conversation. As a South Asian psychologist, who is both a researcher and clinician, I have firsthand experience examining how our individual cultural context impacts our emotional experience. If we can understand, or at least consider, how the cultural context impacts us, we can better understand ourselves and feel seen by others too. We, South Asians, are a diverse group in terms of ethnicity, language, food, religion, traditions, and so much more. So, while learning about the "state of mental health in South Asian communities" is much more complex and nuanced than what I can cover in just one editorial, I believe starting the conversation about issues that don't get talked about nearly enough is an important first step towards destigmatization.

Here are some numbers to set the stage, based on research done on South Asian communities. One in 5 South Asians currently reports experiencing mood or anxiety disorders. South Asian youth and young women, in particular, are at greater risk of having suicidal thoughts and behaviors compared to other groups. Only 24 percent of South Asians diagnosed with a substance abuse problem sought treatment. And South Asian Americans express greater stigma toward mental illness than other ethnic groups. How often are facts like these discussed? Not often. Since South Asians are often mixed in with the larger Asian American population, these issues and their nuances are rarely discussed within mental health communities. This underrepresentation can make the reality of our emotional experiences easily misunderstood and make our needs feel invisible. Relatedly, concepts like "model minority" lead outsiders to often assume that South Asians are well-adjusted. And even within the South Asian community, stigma and beliefs about the causes of mental health issues (e.g., mental illness indicates problems within the family, a sign of weakness, etc.) lead all these facts to continue being ignored.

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While mental health concerns are prevalent among my clients from all backgrounds, these common concerns intersect with culture to create an individualized version of the issue that requires specialized attention and care.

Within the South Asian community, there are cultural differences in alcohol and drug use and the discussion of these topics. Alcohol is prohibited in Muslim and Jain faiths which makes open dialogue about substance abuse and its prevalence even more of a challenge within these communities. Admitting you have a problem can be hard and adding the cultural taboo can make it more difficult.

There is a tendency in the South Asian community to highlight that only linear careers in financially stable or ‘reputable’ fields — such as medicine, engineering or finance — will lead to success. This expectation not only impacts career decisions but also mental health, self-esteem, and self-confidence. Even if we think we are not influenced by outside factors in our career choices, how do we know that subconscious messaging is not impacting our decisions? I personally was pre-med for as long as I can remember and was apprehensive if my parents were going to accept my desire to go into psychology and mental health instead of medicine.

Caring for loved ones, who are aging or ill, is emotionally challenging for most people. What makes this stress unique for the South Asian community? South Asian communities are collectivistic and therefore rely strongly on interdependence well into adulthood. Therefore, caretaking and providing for elders is an integrated part of our lifestyles. Pursuing personal goals can sometimes be seen as selfish and therefore South Asians feel the need to sacrifice personal desires. This can make setting boundaries in relationships or making decisions focused on one's own needs especially difficult and not as straightforward as may be suggested by Western psychotherapy interventions.

Romantic relationships can be especially stressful for South Asians because of the need to navigate between one's own desires and family expectations. Older generations pass down messages that people should focus on their careers instead of dating, which can lead to not dating or secret dating and youth navigating romantic relationships on their own. Then, suddenly, the conversation shifts to the need to get married by a certain age, which seems especially difficult when you have not been allowed to date or when it is not something you want in your 20s. South Asians may also experience family expectations about their partner being from the same ethnic/religious background, working in a specific industry, or having a specific family background. These family or cultural expectations and issues also impact the LGBTQI+ South Asian community and South Asians often feel the need to sacrifice personal desires for the expectations that their families or deep-rooted social norms have set for them.

Being able to communicate the complexity of our emotional experience is especially challenging when being emotional is considered a weakness. This cultural sentiment further perpetuates emotional suppression and increases the barrier to seeking support. Also, South Asian languages have limited vocabulary to describe mental health and the emotions involved. It is not only challenging to identify our emotions, but it is difficult to communicate the complexity due to the lack of words in South Asian languages to describe those emotions. Let's take the word, "gussa," which means "angry" in Hindi. The only way to explain the level of anger you are feeling is to describe the full situation. While in English, you can use variations of the word "anger," such as "annoyed" or "furious" to describe the emotions with more nuance.

Culture is integrated in small and big ways into how South Asians experience their body. It can be common for family members, especially older women or "aunties," to comment on one's body weight in direct ways like telling someone they have gotten fat or thin. There are also unspoken rules about food that impact one's relationship with food and potentially overeating, including "it is rude to not finish all the food on your plate," or if you don't go up for seconds that means you didn't like the food. Research has also found South Asian women in particular often struggle with the pressure to conform to Western beauty norms (e.g. removing dark hair, and lightening skin color).

We all are constantly evolving and understanding who we are and what we value. What makes this unique for South Asians? Culture intersects with other parts of our identity, including generational status (1st, 2nd, or 3+ generation), religious beliefs, gender identity, and age which impact the way we make sense of who we are. Being born in the US makes one American, but are you still American if you primarily connect with your South Asian ethnic identity or maybe your religious identity? Or what messages does culture pass down about what it means to be female? Are you supposed to do all the cooking and cleaning? Do you have to have children? Culture intersects with identity development in complex ways.

I believe the first step in breaking the barriers, is shifting your mindset about seeking mental health support from something that means you have a "character flaw" to something that you do for your overall well-being. Taking care of your emotions and processing your emotional experiences is as important as your weekly workouts, annual physicals, or that apple a day. One way to start this process on your own is to spend 10 minutes a day engaging in mental hygiene practices (meditation, gratitude journal, positive experience journaling, writing a thought log, prayer, or deliberate time in nature).

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Alternatively, if you feel ready and have the means, try searching for a mental healthcare provider who actually understands and is aware of your cultural background and belief system. As we think of all the ways mental health can intersect with cultural context, it is helpful when your provider can hold cultural identity as being critical to your treatment. There is a clear and urgent need for therapists and interventions that use culturally-relevant treatments to drive clinical outcomes. One such resource is Anise Health, which is the first culturally-responsive digital mental health platform built by and for the Asian American community. Anise Health, co-founded by Nisha Desai and Alice Zhang, incorporates culture and intersectionality into clinician training and offers a wide range of evidence-based online services (therapy, coaching, self-guided resources) that are tailored to meet your unique needs.

If any of the concerns I discussed earlier resonated with you, consider signing up for Anise Health by filling out this short intake form; you’ll get matched to a culturally-responsive clinician within two business days. I’ve also listed a few additional resources below that aim to address mental health needs in South Asian communities.

I hope we can continue to bring the ways our South Asian culture impacts our well-being into the forefront of the conversation around mental health. By highlighting the South Asian community's experiences, we can feel more seen and create a more accepting environment that allows us to get the help that we all deserve.

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately.

Feature Image Courtesy: Author

Dr. Ummul-Kiram Kathawalla is the writer for this article. She advises Anise's clinical and scientific research programs, as well as … Read more ›