Page 14 - January 2019 | Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal

BarJournal COLuMN

TH & WEllnESS
JULY/AUGUST 2015

GUIdInG THE PrOfESSIOnAl

WOMAn TOWArdS BAlAnCE

An Ayurvedic Approach

Julie Konrad, AHC, RYT

s a working, professional balance when it seems like you’re on a runaway • Hydrating the body and stimulating
woman in the peak of your train? Not to worry, Ayurveda can help! the appetite in the morning by
career, the last question on your Ayurveda (ayur-life veda-knowledge) drinking warm water and lemon
mind is, “how well am I taking originated in India and is one of the oldest • Limiting caffeine, particularly diet
MEnTAl HEAl
A care of myself?” You might be holistic healing practices in the world. The soda
aware that your stress levels are high, but there practice comes from the understanding of • Becoming mindful that skipping
is not much time in your busy life to think much nature’s rhythms and laws. Ayurveda is built lunch is NOT an option for good
about the present moment and your physical around the five elements of fire, air, ether, earth health
and mental balance. Rather, there is business and water. Each of us has a unique combination • Purchasing fresh food for delivery
to acquire, deadlines to meet and, many times, of these elements within us and each of the via Insta-Cart from the local
even a family to care for. But warning-red elements has a different energy-those energies grocery store to save time
flashing lights ahead: the result if you keep this are called doshas. Understanding these elements Doing simple stretches at the desk to
pace is burnout! What can you do to bring back and how they show up in your body and mind move stagnation and tension out of the
will help you bring balance back before the body, especially twists. Check out YouTube
imbalance manifests into bigger mental and for great desk yoga tutorials.
physical problems, and even disease. • Noticing transitions (for example,
I was recently asked to speak about Ayurveda pausing before getting out of the
and self-care practices at the Ohio Women’s car or off an elevator) when going
Bar Foundation’s Leadership Institute. Most of from one place to another to create
the women reported not feeling rested in the stability, grounding and focus
morning, having a lot of trouble slowing down, • Giving the ears a rest in the car on
not cooking or taking time to prepare meals the way home by spending part of the
for herself, and going to bed late. But there was commute in silence
an upside-pride in getting it all done! These • Slowing down the intensity of
qualities are classic in those with pitta dominate workouts and choosing to move
constitutions. These are great qualities to have, workouts outdoors and NOT
but think of a campfire, what happens to a fire listening to podcasts or music.
if it is built with twigs and not enough dense Connecting to nature is healing.
wood? The fire will burn out, or blow out. The Remember, change takes time. Be gentle
same is true for us if we don’t have enough vital with yourself. Slowly observing yourself and
energy and stability in our life. understanding why some of your patterns
In the case of the women I was working might be creating disease can really help
with, my biggest concern for them was that move the needle in the direction of balance.
they were not eating enough food to sustain You got this!
their pace. They had sensory overload and
many of them had vigorous workouts, which
were creating even more heat in their already Julie Konrad is an Ayurvedic Health Counselor,
“heated” bodies. We discussed reasonable lecturer and yoga instructor in Cleveland. Contact
changes they would consider making in their Julie for an Ayurvedic consult at (216) 501-1465
diets and lifestyle. Here’s what they were or visit www.lunapresenceyoga.com for more
interested in trying to help stay in check: information or, if you’re interested in scheduling
• Eating a heavier meal, like oatmeal a workshop/lecture for your staff. Julie is a new
or nut butter on bread, for breakfast member of CMBA as of 2018.
14 | Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal clemetrobar.org