Contemporary Ayurveda

Urban Veda: Contemporary Ayurveda for effectiveness over fluff and for those on the go

What is Urban Veda?

Ayurveda is a traditional Indian medical system that emphasizes holistic well-being by harmonizing the mind, body, and soul. It considers health as a balance among these three facets, with illness arising from their imbalance. Ayurveda employs practices such as dietary modifications, lifestyle adjustments, bio-derived remedies & applications, and yoga to restore harmony and facilitate healing.

We here endorse and practice the “Urban Veda” concept—a modern, contemporary, and global lifestyle approach to Ayurveda that is minimalistic, less rigid, more flexible, emphasizing effectiveness and happiness. This approach integrates essential Ayurveda principles customized to the needs of busy individuals, focusing on subtle lifestyle changes in diet, fitness, yoga consciousness, self-care, and hygge.

A joyful outdoor picnic filled with fresh air, sunshine, wholesome, nutritious food, and beverages.

Urban Veda strongly encourages spending quality time outdoors in fresh air and gentle to moderate sunlight. Highly recommended activities include sunbathing, biking, hiking, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, urban gardening, picnicking, and glamping.

Nutrition

Practicing Urban Veda is straightforward. Regarding Nutrition, we adopt a global perspective with accessible, easy-to-prepare, cost-effective, wholesome ingredients and recipes. Our approach does not exclude any food groups but emphasizes balanced nutrition to suit the needs of different body types and sensitivities. We are not against meat and instead promote the consumption of white meat over red meat. We also encourage the use of plant-based and pea protein-based meat substitutes. We advocate for eating complex carbs, whole grains, lentils, pulses, beans, and legumes. While we recommend reducing dairy and cheese intake, we support regular consumption of certain dairy products for their prebiotic and probiotic benefits. Good fats are your friend. Fresh, organic, non-GMO supergreens, vegetables, and fruits are highly recommended. There will be elaborate blogs on our site on nutrition in the upcoming months and over time.

Self Care & Hygge

Urban Veda promotes “Cozy Life & Sunshine”, self-care, and hygge, combined with holistic approaches to overall physical health. Whether aiming to boost internal immunity or enhance external appearance, it encourages incorporating a variety of ingredients into daily routines, especially for skincare, which will be discussed in future blogs. These blogs will also cover small rituals, the importance of aesthetics, pets, decluttered spaces, and hygge for emotional and mental wellbeing. While The Hayagriva Spa doesn't oppose supplements for self-care, we prefer recommending fresh, wholesome ingredients sourced from daily nutrition. Supplements are only suggested if your diet lacks specific nutrients from nutrient-rich foods or if you do not have access to certain herbs.

Yoga Consciousness

Are you intimidated by the word 'yoga'? Do experienced yogis and influencers seem intimidating? Does meditation make you feel more anxious and less mindful? If so, you're not alone. Urban Veda supports the idea of 'Yoga Consciousness,” which is simply a state of mind. Fun fact: you're already practicing yoga or meditation in your daily routines without even realizing. Even simply gaming or indulging in board games that help improve your concentration, focus, and help you stay mindful is a form of meditation. You just have to find the right activity that you vibe with. Whether you're a flexible seasoned yogi or a beginner lacking dexterity, our upcoming blogs provide inclusive guidance for everyone. You don’t need to follow rigid practices or become an expert; just incorporate subtle aspects into your daily life that have a positive impact on your mental and physical well-being.

Outdoor Time & Sunshine

Going to the gym for weight loss isn't necessarily suitable for everyone. It shouldn't replace inactivity or be used to offset a lack of daily movement. Urban Veda emphasizes a holistic, sustainable approach to improving health and losing weight. While the gym helps in maintaining weight, toning the body, and building lean muscle, these benefits require physical activity outside of gym sessions. This applies to activities like cycle classes, spin, HIIT, and other trends; we recommend walking 3-5 km daily in the park, enjoying fresh air and sunshine, as well as hiking, swimming, biking, kayaking, and paddle boarding—these activities burn calories, boost your metabolism, and complement gym workouts. They're also very budget-friendly, costing little to nothing. Our upcoming blogs will share more fitness tips, tricks, and insights into the benefits of fresh air and sunshine.

If you found this blog educational and informative, feel free to share, like, or comment. You can check out our webiste to buy or subscribe to our range of handcrafted products.