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Bad mood: causes & Ayurveda tips

Bad mood for no apparent reason? Suddenly everything is gray, even on sunny days. A bad mood can run deep – not only in your head, but also in your body. What if there are unresolved issues hidden in there? Ayurveda often sees a toxic shadow behind the fog of the soul: heavy metals.


Contents


What exactly is a bad mood?

A bad mood is not just a temporary feeling. From an Ayurvedic perspective, it indicates an imbalance of the body’s energies – the so-called doshas. Doshas are the basic functional principles in Ayurveda that control all physical and mental processes. An increased vata dosha in particular can lead to restlessness and mood swings, while excessive kapha can cause sluggishness and depression.

Unlike the Western view, which often sees negative emotions as disorders to be combated, Ayurveda sees them as important signals from the body. They point to areas that need attention and balance. Instead of suppressing bad moods, the aim is to understand their causes and take targeted countermeasures.

What to do against a bad mood?

Simple measures can quickly provide relief in the event of an acute bad mood. External factors such as the weather and personal misfortunes often influence our mood. With the right strategies, these influences can be effectively balanced out.

What you can do to combat a bad mood also depends on your individual dosha type. For Vata types, calming, warming practices have a balancing effect. Pitta types benefit from cooling, relaxing activities. Kapha types often need stimulation and exercise in order to find their way out of emotional heaviness.

Christina Drexler

“When my inner balance tips – be it through stress, irritability or brooding – I now know what to look out for. As a Vata-Pitta type, I tend to be restless, quick-tempered and worried. So it’s all the more reassuring that I can counteract this with simple remedies: A warm bath, a soothing oil enema or an alkaline diet help me to ground Vata and calm Pitta. For more severe imbalances, I treat myself to a cleansing day – a little detox break that often works wonders.”

Christina Drexler, Holistic Ayurveda Expert & Managing Director of the Ayurveda Resort Mandira

Breathing exercises for spontaneous relaxation

The Ayurvedic breathing technique “Nadi Shodhana” (alternate breathing) can calm the nervous system and brighten the mood within a few minutes. The conscious extension of the exhalation activates the parasympathetic nervous system and has been proven to reduce stress levels.

Perform this exercise by closing your right nostril with your right thumb and breathing in through your left nostril. Then close the left nostril with your ring finger and breathe out through the right. Repeat this for 3-5 minutes and feel how your inner tension is released.

Ayurveda recommends that breathing exercises should ideally be performed at fixed times of the day. They are particularly effective in the early morning and shortly before going to bed, when the transition between different phases of activity takes place.

Short movement unit

Exercise is a natural mood booster. Just 10 minutes of physical activity can stimulate the production of endorphins – the body’s own “happiness hormones”. From an Ayurvedic perspective, exercise particularly helps to balance excess Vata and Kapha energies, which are often behind a bad mood.

Choose an activity that suits your current mood: If you are restless and nervous, gentle, flowing movements such as yoga or a leisurely walk are ideal. If you feel heavy and listless, more dynamic exercises such as brisk walking or dancing can get the stagnant energy flowing.

Ayurveda recommends that exercise should not be seen as a strenuous duty, but as a joyful activity. Pay attention to your body’s signals and adjust the intensity and duration accordingly. Goldenrod, artichoke and ginger, which stimulate the metabolism and promote the detoxification function of the liver and kidneys.

Ältere Frau geht in der Natur spazieren

Natural light and fresh air

Natural light and fresh air have a direct impact on our well-being. Especially when you are in a bad mood for no apparent reason, spending time outdoors can work wonders. Sunlight stimulates the production of vitamin D and serotonin, both of which are important factors for a balanced mood.

Try to spend at least 20 minutes a day in daylight – even on cloudy days. In Ayurvedic teachings, the connection to nature is considered essential for mental balance. Deep breathing of fresh air also supplies the brain with sufficient oxygen and can promote mental clarity.

Alignment with the times of day is particularly important in Ayurveda. A walk in the early hours of the morning, when the air is particularly fresh and the Vata energy is balanced, can start the day in a positive way.

Ayurveda: How inner balance can help with a bad mood

Ayurveda offers a holistic approach to mood regulation that goes far beyond short-term measures. This millennia-old healing art understands emotional fluctuations as part of a larger system of balance. By harmonizing the doshas, profound and lasting improvements in emotional balance can be achieved.

In Ayurveda, a bad mood is not considered in isolation, but in the context of the entire lifestyle. The quality of sleep, the type of diet, daily routines and even the time of year influence our emotional state. A holistic approach takes all these factors into account.

What helps against a bad mood from an Ayurvedic perspective? Above all, a balanced lifestyle that is tailored to individual needs. Ayurveda offers a comprehensive system of practices and recommendations that can be tailored to your personal constitution. The important thing is:

  • Regularity: fixed times for meals, sleep and activities create stability
  • Seasonal adaptation: adapt lifestyle to seasons and weather conditions
  • Sensory balance: consciously dealing with sensory impressions (sounds, images, scents)
  • Self-care: plan daily time for self-care and inner reflection
  • Social connection: maintain balanced interpersonal relationships

Doshas as the key to emotional stability

Ayurveda distinguishes between three basic energies: Vata (movement), Pitta (transformation) and Kapha (structure). Each person has an individual mix of these energies, and imbalances can lead to specific emotional patterns. Increased Vata often manifests itself in nervousness and mood swings, excessive Pitta in irritability and impatience, dominant Kapha in lethargy and melancholy.

By recognizing your predominant dosha type, you can take specific measures to overcome bad moods. Ayurvedic experts can help determine your constitution and create a personalized balancing plan. The individual constitution is the key to long-term emotional balance.

Eat warm and nourishing food instead of snacking

Ayurvedic nutrition plays a central role in our emotional state. Irregular meals and industrially processed foods can weaken the digestive fire (agni) and lead to mood swings. Warm, freshly prepared meals, on the other hand, nourish the body and mind and promote emotional stability.

If you are in a bad mood, Ayurveda recommends particularly spicy, warming foods. Ginger, turmeric and cinnamon can stimulate digestion and calm the nervous system. Avoid cold drinks and food, which can increase inner restlessness, especially when Vata is high.

Instead of reaching for sweets or fast food in stressful moments, prepare yourself a warming tea or a small, nourishing snack. A hot ginger tea with a little honey or a small bowl of warm porridge can improve your mood surprisingly quickly.

Yoga-Kurs mit mehreren Teilnehmerinnen

Meditation and yoga for calm

Regular meditation and yoga can have a profound effect on our emotional resilience. Mindfulness exercises that bring us back to the here and now are particularly effective against bad moods.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, certain yoga exercises help to balance specific dosha imbalances. In the case of Vata dominance, grounding poses such as the tree or forward bend are calming. Cooling, gentle flows have a balancing effect on excess Pitta. In the case of Kapha dominance, activating sun salutations can get the stagnant energy moving.

A regular meditation ritual can work wonders, especially in times of persistent bad moods. Even if you only practise for five minutes a day, you can create a stable anchor in your everyday life that gives you emotional orientation.

When professional help makes sense

While occasional low moods are normal, persistent low moods should not be ignored. If you suffer from a depressed mood, loss of interest and listlessness over a longer period of time, this could indicate a depressive mood or even depression. Professional support is then essential, as depression is a serious illness that needs to be treated.

Ayurvedic methods can be a valuable addition to conventional medical treatment, but should not replace it. An integrative approach that combines modern psychotherapy with traditional Ayurvedic practices often offers the best long-term results.

Lasting help for bad moods: Ayurveda touches

A bad mood is more than just a low mood – it is often a sign that body and soul are out of balance. At the Ayurveda Resort Mandira, we address this imbalance with deep understanding and holistic solutions. Our individually tailored cures combine proven Ayurvedic treatments, a healing diet and daily rituals that strengthen your emotional stability in the long term. Find your way back to inner peace, clarity and joie de vivre – with a therapeutic approach that really gets to the root of the problem.

Frequently asked questions

Is a bad mood a symptom of depression?

Yes, low mood is a possible symptom of depression – especially if it lasts for at least two weeks and is accompanied by a loss of interest, listlessness or sleep disorders. In this case, professional help should be sought, as it may be a mental illness that requires treatment.

Which vitamins are good for your mood?

Vitamins D, B6, B12 and folic acid are particularly good for your mood. They support the formation of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are largely responsible for emotional balance. A deficiency of these vitamins can be associated with depressive moods or increased irritability.

What can you do against a bad mood in the morning?

Light, exercise, a nourishing breakfast and gentle breathing exercises help to combat a bad mood in the morning. Conscious routines at the start of the day regulate the nervous system, activate the circulation and improve hormone balance – morning light in particular increases serotonin production and stabilizes the mood in a natural way.

Cover image: © zigres – stock.adobe.com; Image 1: © Volker Witt – stock.adobe.com; Image 2: © dikushin – stock.adobe.com

Get to know
Ayurveda

with our Dosha Test

Doshas are three constitutional types or life energies that are pronounced in every person. Find out with our Dosha test which constitutional type is most pronounced in you and the cause of physical and mental impairments. The balance of life energies (the Doshas Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) is the key to health. We will send you a detailed analysis of your test, along with a recommendation for a suitable treatment with us, via email.

Fitness

Strengthen Your Body and Mind

At the Ayurveda Resort Mandira in Bad Waltersdorf, Styria, the best of two worlds merge into a holistic experience for body and soul. In addition to the gastronomic offerings, which focus on regionality and the highest quality, we also offer our guests the opportunity to strengthen their physical fitness in the hotel's own fitness room.

Our fitness room is a place for strengthening and balancing. Here you can balance your personal energy levels and improve your physical fitness while being inspired by the southern lightness of the furnishings and the light-flooded rooms with large windows.

With state-of-the-art equipment and an appealing ambience of local woods and natural stones, our fitness room offers a cozy atmosphere that invites you to work out. Whether you opt for an intensive cardio workout, strength training or yoga - you will find everything you need for a holistic workout in the fitness room at the Ayurveda Resort Mandira.

Immerse yourself in the world of Ayurveda and treat yourself to regular exercise sessions alongside a healthy diet to promote your long-term well-being. Our fitness room is always at your disposal so that you can achieve your fitness goals and feel good all round.

Thermal Spa

Augmenting traditional Ayurveda

Relax your body and mind in the healing thermal springs of the Ayurveda Resort Mandira. Our thermal springs, known for their healing properties and natural thermal water, offer you a unique opportunity to relax and regenerate. Our thermal area is a place of peace and relaxation. Here you can bathe in warm thermal water and feel the beneficial effects on your muscles and joints. The mineral-rich composition of the thermal water supports regeneration and has a positive effect on your well-being. Surrounded by a picturesque landscape and a relaxed atmosphere, you can leave the stress of everyday life behind you and recharge your batteries in our thermal springs. Treat yourself to a break from your hectic life and enjoy the natural healing power of the thermal springs at the Ayurveda Resort Mandira.

Ayurveda Spa

Where you'll find your Balance

At the Ayurveda Spa at our Mandira resort, you will immerse yourself in a world of holistic well-being, accompanied and looked after by our experienced team. The focus here is on your personal balance of the doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha, because true regeneration can only take place in a harmonious balance of body, soul and spirit. Our Holistic Ayurveda concept is specially tailored to your needs and includes a variety of treatments, nutritional recommendations, yoga, meditation and more. At the Ayurveda Spa, we complement these offers with special Ayurveda treatments and innovative skin solutions that support your well-being. With a cozy atmosphere of light-flooded rooms and natural materials, we invite you to relax in our Ayurveda Spa and promote your health and well-being.

Ganesha's Garden

Ganesha's Garden: A place of Regeneration

Welcome to Ganesha's Garden at the Ayurveda Resort Mandira - a place of bliss and new beginnings, dedicated to the Hindu god of happiness and messenger of the gods, Ganesha. Exclusively accessible to our spa guests, this Ayurveda garden is a paradise for the senses that unites the five elements of nature - earth, water, fire, air and space. Inspired by the wisdom and joy embodied by Ganesha, this garden is a place to overcome obstacles and recharge positive energy for your personal new beginning. In Ganesha's Garden you can experience the balance of the three doshas and be inspired by the natural harmony and beauty of the surroundings. Relax in the tea house with Ayurvedic massages, meditate or simply enjoy a cup of tea and let life bring you joy. Immerse yourself in the world of Ganesha's garden and prepare yourself for a new beginning, full of joy and enthusiasm - supported by the positive energy of this special place. Book your stay at the Ayurveda Resort Mandira today and let Ganesha accompany you on your journey.

Terrace

Relax under the open Skies

Immerse yourself in the fresh air of Styria, feel the warming sun on your skin and enjoy the taste of fresh tea, coffee or wine. The aromatic scents of our regional dishes fill the air and invite you to linger. Relax while you listen to the birds in the trees or enjoy lively conversation. Our sun terrace offers a very special retreat in the middle of the idyllic landscape of Bad Waltersdorf, surrounded by the gentle hills of the East Styrian hill country.

Here on the sun terrace, the element of air takes on a special meaning in Ayurveda. It fills you physically and mentally, gives you lightness of being and flexibility of spirit. Let yourself be carried by the presence of the moment and enjoy the intense sensory experiences that this place offers.

Discover the beauty and pleasure of our sun terrace at the Ayurveda Resort Mandira with all your senses. Experience the rolling hills, the invigorating air and the flavors of our regional food and wines in a whole new, enjoyable way under the warm Styrian sun.

Restaurant

INDIA MEETS STYRIA: A sensual culinary experience

The way to a person's heart is through their stomach - but above all through their health! That's why we focus on regional products of the highest quality in our restaurants. True to the guiding principle: "You are what you eat." Because what makes us feel best - and often tastes best - is what our body knows from an early age - one of the basic principles of Ayurvedic nutrition.

The best of both worlds. What the interior promises is brought to perfection on the palate in the restaurants. Two worlds come together at the Ayurveda Resort Mandira in Bad Waltersdorf, Styria, to create a delicious experience. Invigorating for the senses, relaxing for mind and body. Lasting for your health and well-being.

Vata, Pitta and Kapha, the three bio-energies, are the namesakes of our in-house restaurants, including the Panchakarma treatment restaurant. They play a central role in Ayurveda and provide different energies throughout the day. The light-flooded rooms with large windows and radiant colors bring the southern lightness inside. The combination of local woods and natural stone radiates a cozy atmosphere.

Rooms & Suites

Relaxation rooms for absolute well-being

You will experience your Ayurveda stay as a time of peace and relaxation in our spacious rooms. Surrounded by the soothing colors of Ayurveda and the natural beauty of the Styrian thermal spa region, you will find space for peace and quiet far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Time out from everyday online life: digital detox. All rooms & suites at the Ayurveda Resort Mandira in Bad Waltersdorf are equipped with TV/SAT and WLAN. Nevertheless, we recommend that you treat yourself to the luxury of a break from everyday online life from time to time. Mental detox begins offline. Take it easy and experience your new energy with all your senses.

Lounge

Your feel-good oasis

Relax in a stylish ambience - wellbeing starts here. Our lounge at the Ayurveda Resort Mandira offers you the perfect retreat to relax and recharge your batteries. Surrounded by a harmonious blend of local woods and natural materials, the lounge radiates a warm and inviting atmosphere that invites you to relax and unwind. The lounge is not only a place to linger, but also a place to meet. Here you can chat with other guests over an aromatic tea or an Ayurvedic refreshment or simply enjoy the peace and quiet. The soft colors and loving design of our lounge create a calming environment in which you can feel completely at ease.

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