“Communities and countries and ultimately the world is only as strong as the health of their women”
“I had a friend named Geetha since my childhood days. She was a sweet companion and a perfect woman as per the Indian joint family system. She worked as a primary school teacher and managed the husband’s family of ailing mother–in–law, school-going kids, other family members and her own job. As her husband worked for a pharmaceutical company and travelled most of his days, she managed everything well without any complaints. Whenever I used to visit her, she received me with all her love and care.
Last week I got a call that she suddenly died of a heart attack; I was shocked. As I was abroad, I could not make it to the funeral and returned after 3 weeks. After returning, I made a visit to her home to pay my condolences. As I came with a heavy heart and opened the gates of her house, I could see her kids and husband in the corridor having a serious chess game. They greeted me with respect and had a talk with her husband and kids for a few minutes conveying my sadness and eagerness to know about their family now.
‘’How do you manage without Geetha, your household chores and kids? “I asked.
“We have hired a maid full-time to manage the household and my ailing mother ‘’ He replied.
Suddenly a slight of Geetha’s telephonic conversations came to my mind whenever we planned a get-together or annual meetup – ‘’Oh Sudha, I can’t make up this time as my mother is not well, my kid’s annual exams are coming, my husband returned now after a business tour, …..She had enough reasons and hardly came up for a get together “
A sip of chai trickled my throat in those memories.
‘’So, how do you manage kids’ homework and studies” I asked to know more.
“I have hired a private tuition master every day for studies,” He replied.
I saw the maid taking care of the ailing mother and watering her favourite mandara tree.
Everything was perfect except her presence. I returned from her house with a heavy heart – ‘’ Oh dear Geetha you missed our all get-togethers, fun and laughter for your responsibilities only to realize everything in this world is replaceable except you ‘’ – Sudha Murthy.
This story is the same for every Indian woman and we see Geetha’s everywhere around us as our mother, sister or wife. They always take care of others rather than themselves. Hence, you find a chronic diabetes woman undiagnosed, coming to a doctor with her borderline hypertensive husband. Hence this woman’s day, let us all try to be a different woman …a happy woman than a superwoman!!!
Let’s have a journey around all seasons for a healthier me and you –
Based on 2 kaala’s a year, it is divided into two, comprising of 3 seasons, with a total of 6 seasons in a year (Precisely found in India)
- Adaana Kaala/ Northern Solstice/ Uttarayana (14 January to 14 July)
- Shishira Ritu (Winter) Mid-January to Mid-March
- Vasanta Ritu (Spring) Mid-March to Mid-May
- Grishma Ritu (Summer) Mid-May to Mid-July
- Visarga Kaala/ Southern Solstice/ Dakshinayana (14 July to 14 January)
- Varsha Ritu (Monsoon) Mid- July to Mid- September
- Sharad Ritu (Autumn/ Fall) Mid- September to Mid- November
- Hemanta Ritu (Late Autumn/Pre- Winter) Mid- November to Mid- January
Regimens to be followed in this season are called as Rithucharya
- Hemantha Rithu:
People’s energy and digestive fire will be strong. Hence intake of madhura(sweet), amla (sour), lavana (salty) articles recommended. Nights are longer in this season with a cold breeze, and seasonal fever and infections are likely to develop.
Diet routine – Unctuous, sweet and salty foods. Pulses like green gram and urad dal with milk and milk items, tila, sugarcane, guda / jaggery etc can be incorporated . A sweet made with milk/jaggery, an evening namkeen with rice flour, a nourishing urad vada, tila modaka , green gram soups, sugar cane juice etc can be added to your recipe box.
Lifestyle – Exercising, body and head massage with a soothing foot massage (to avoid a cracked foot ). Sunbath and sexual liberality enjoy up to the fullest. Enjoy a non-vegetarian diet and fermented foods/ beverages if you’re accustomed to it. Have an afternoon nap. Have a long night sleep under your heavy blanket.
Don’ts. – Strong and cool wind exposure, Skipping breakfast, Light, cool and dry foods.
- Shishira Rithucharya
Similar to hemantha rithu regimens to be followed.
Also in this season, take ginger, garlic, harithaki (fruits of terminalia chebula), pippali(piper longum) in your diet. Take extra care of dry skin in this season.
- Vasantha Rithucharya
Season of flowers and origin of new leaves marks this season. Slow digestive fire and medium strength are characteristics of this season.
Diet – Wheat / barley roti with lentils / green gram/ bitter vegetables dish etc can be one of the recipes. Intake of honey is highly recommended. Have a light diet and eat food when you are hungry.
Lifestyle – Exercise is a must. Have a walk near ponds or forests in the evenings with your kids and family. Mouth gargling with hot water + medicated oil medicated anjana / collyrium, nasya can be highly helpful in this season to avoid seasonal diseases.
Don’ts –
- Daytime sleep
- Cold, heavy foods
- Sweet and sour taste (Avoid ice cream or milk sweets in this season)
- Greeshma Rithucharya
Intense hot with the unhealthy wind. Driedup rivers, lifeless plants and weak strength and digestive power of individuals are characteristics of this season.
Diet – Sweet, cold foods like rasala / sreekhand can be part of your diet. Saktu (roasted powder of wheat, barley, and rice) with sweets can be taken . Take a glass of buffalo milk with sugar at night to avoid the heat of the day. Dates, honey, raisins etc. can be included in daily diet.
Lifestyle – Remaining in cool surroundings, taking care of skin in the hot sun with cooling sandalwood pastes, enjoying exercises in minimal, lightweight and light coloured dresses and undergarments are preferred in this season. Also, take an afternoon nap if tired of the day. Take a rooftop/terrace stay in this season. Do a sheetali pranayama every day.
Don’ts –
- Warm foods
- Salty taste with a sharp and sour taste
- Heavy outside sports
- Too much alcohol and vigorous sexual activity
- Varsha Rithucharya
Cloudy sky and rain without thunderstorms, weak strength and deranged digestive fire are characteristics of this season.
Diet –
- Care about food cravings and eat only when hungry.
- Millet/wheat roti with dal, non-vegetarian dishes can be added in the recipe with easy digestion.
- Usage of Panchakola choorna prior to your foods are highly recommended.
- Medicated or boiled water is only to be taken.
- Avoid buttermilk and river water in this season.
Lifestyle –
- Oil massage with hot water shower
- Any evacuative Panchakarma treatments taken in this season will be added benefit to the body (Basti/Enema therapy is recommended by acharyas)
- Fumigate your dresses.
Don’ts
- Drenching in rain
- Walking in the mud without footwear
- Day sleep
- Vigorous activities and wind
- Sharad Ritucharya
Clear sky and wet mud, medium energy of people and increased digestive fire are characteristics of this season.
Diet – Sweet, bitter, light, cold foods recommended. Wheat and rice with green gram, Patola (Trichosanthes diocia), gooseberry, meat, and sugar-sweet dishes can be added to daily recipes. Hamsodaka (Water sanitized with a sunbeam in the daytime and moon at night) should be taken as a healthier routine.
Lifestyle –
- Eat only when hungry as cravings increase
- Apply chandan paste on the body
- Enjoy moonbeams in the initial 3 hours of the night
- Taking a virechana (Purgation) removes the vitiated pitta
- Pearl garlands with clean white clothes
Don’ts- Day sleep, Excessive exposure of sun, Excessive eating
Spring and summer are the ones that want winter to come the most because spring and summer owe their beauty to winter! Don’t be sad when winter comes to your life, those winters will make your spring and summer more beautiful, oh young lady!! – Mehmet Murat Ildan.
