Secret of Happiness

Before May come to an end, I would like to share my experience during "Ayurvedic Lifestyle: The Timeless Secret for Modern Mom's Happiness" workshop. It's collaboration between Halo Ibu and Balance Life. The reason why I joined this workshop, simply because I'm curious how Ayurveda can affect your happiness. Also, I want to meet my friend behind Halo Ibu, Ashtra, and Zia Nichols from Balance Life, who really passionate about Ayurveda and healthy lifestyle. Oh ya, actually we're graduated from the same university, but we never meet each other again after graduation. Let's call this opportunity as a little reunion, plus at the same time, gave a clueless mom-to-be like me a bunch of inspiration and positivity.

Ok. long story short, I found this workshop through Asthra's instagram feed. Luckily, I've got one seat for this workshop. This workshop takes place at Club Kembang, Kemang. Even though the weather was sunny and so hot on that day, everyone looks so excited to learn, and find timeless secret happiness. As usual, I always love to meet new people, and usually I came alone to this kind of event. But this time, I poked my college friend, Niken, to join this workshop. Lucky me, I met her on the workshop (yeay, finally we can attend workshop together ya Ken! Hope to see you again on the similar workshop :D). Since I came to the venue, I can feel that positivity and happiness around. Registration, done. Then we're so ready for the workshop.

with Niken

Ashtra and Zia

The workshop opened by Ashtra and short video from Jada Pinket Smith (you can watch it here), on that video her daughter asked, "How hard is it being a wife and a mother?" Hmm.. what's our answer if you got a question like that? Mine maybe, so hard! hahhaha :p through this video, Jada remind us that,

"You always have to remember to take care of YOU, first and foremost. 

When you stop taking care of yourself you get out of balance and you really forget how to take care of others."

See, it's very important to love ourselves first before taking care others. I'm not talking about being selfish, as a women, we have a lot of roles in life. For example me, as a daughter, a wife, a mother (soon!), a friend, an employee, etc. Sounds crazy? Yes, yet feel awesome at the same time. But to be honest, sometimes it's hard to keep myself happy all the time. So, let's find out how Ayurveda can help us balancing our roles and happy about that.

Ayurveda is one of the world's oldest holistic (whole-body) healing system. There are 5 elements of Ayurveda which can be a tool for balancing all of aspects in our life, Ether (Akasha), Air (Vayu), Fire (Agni), Water (Jala), and Earth (Prithvi). It's very unique, because each elements have their own characteristic, and when in balance condition, these 5 elements would sustain life, if it's not, can create discomfort or even threaten life.
Based on Ayurvedic lifestyle they are 2 key of happiness:
1. Duty towards the world
2. Duty towards the self - Ahara (food) & Vihara (activities: daily & seasonally).

How can we fulfill our duty towards the world and the self? In this workshop, we've learned how to find our Dosha. Dosha is a 3 energies in Ayurveda, or simply it's a mind-body constitution. There are 3 kind of doshas, Vata (Ether & Air), Pitta (Fire & Water), and Kapha (Water & Earth). Actually we're born with those unique combination. In this workshop, we had a session to find our doshas through the Prakruti (body) and Vikruti (mind) test. My result was Pitta body with Vata mind. Basically, there's no the best or not good dosha, because each person is unique and just need to find the balance between body, mind and our environment.

Dinacharia: Ayurvedic daily lifestyle

As we can see on the picture above, Ayurvedic lifestyle divide our daily activities based on each dosha.

2 a.m. - 6 a.m. (Vata time)
During this period, ideally we wake up 1,5 hrs before sunrise. Wake up earlier, having meditation (or in my religion praying, Tahajud continue with Subuh, before fajr is coming), and continue with exercise can help to give you positive energy.

6 a.m. - 10 a.m. (Kapha time)
Having breakfast before 9 a.m. Never ever skip your breakfast, because it can give you energy to start your day. You can also consume warm water or tea in the morning (while myself is the biggest fan of mineral water ;D).


10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Pitta time) - Transform life into me
Eat the biggest meal of the day, since the digestive force is at the peak power, and it's suitable time to consume salads or leafy greens on your meals. This is also the best time to finish all of your task list. So, if you have important approval or discussion with your boss, do that on this cycle time, hahahhaha :p.

2 p.m. - 6 p.m. (Vata time) - Creative relaxation
In this range of time, our brain demands supplies of sugar, and the best time to relax, do any creative activities, or make a to do list for tomorrow morning. Maybe if it's possible you can watch sunset/twilight to maximize mind-spirit connection (but sometimes, at that time I'm still at the office, if it's lucky I can watch twilight on the way back to home with my husband :p).

6 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Kapha time)
Time to spend your time with the loved ones. Share the love and time to take a rest. Plus, it'll be better to have a dinner around 6-7p.m., or at least 3 hour before sleeping.

10 p.m. - 2 a.m. (Pitta time) - Transform and leave body
This is the time where our body doing detoxification and renewal, so they called it deep sleep cycle. 


So, how this Ayurvedic lifestyle can affect your happiness? My version is just start with simple thing. Built a good habit from morning until evening, such as:
- Drink mineral water (right after woke up, before take a bath and go to bed)
- Praying and be grateful every morning and before sleeping.
- Exercise a little bit before shower in the morning.
- Having light breakfast, lunch and dinner on time.

It's simple, right? But I keep trying to do that continuously, day by day. When I woke up with great feeling, grateful, and love myself, it'll really affect my whole day. The only one person who can decide your day will be happy, energizing, positive, sucks or not fun is yourself, your mind. So, let's keep your positive mind, do selflove and then you'll be happier. Happy mom, happy family. ;)

Hmm.. I think that's it. Hopefully you can find this sharing useful. Once again, thank you Ashtra and Zia!! :*

See you in the next post!


xoxo,
Fetty



*Pictures courtesy: myself, @halo.ibu