How Caregivers Can Rebuild Energy and Resilience with Ayurveda
- Jean-Francois Alleno
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
If you’ve been giving and giving until there’s nothing left in the tank, you’re not alone. Many caregivers reach a point where sleep doesn’t feel restful, food doesn’t feel nourishing, and emotions sit just under the surface, waiting to spill over.
Ayurveda has a name for the deep reserve of energy and resilience that keeps us going, even through life’s storms. It’s called Ojas and ayurveda sees it as your well of energy (great news, you can easily replenish that well when it’s empty).
What Is Ojas? Think of It Like Your Inner Battery.
In Ayurveda, Ojas is the essence that gives you vitality, immunity, emotional stability, and that quiet glow people describe as “radiance.” You’re not born with a fixed amount, Ojas can be drained by overdoing, under-sleeping, worrying, and skipping nourishment (sound familiar?). But the good news is: it can also be rebuilt.
When your Ojas is strong, you feel:
Steady, calm, and emotionally grounded
Energized without relying on caffeine or adrenaline
Less reactive, more resilient
Nourished from the inside out
When your Ojas is low, you might feel:
Burnt out, fragile, or anxious
Prone to colds, fatigue, or emotional overwhelm
Like even small things feel too much
How to Rebuild Ojas (Without a Big Lifestyle Overhaul)
Rebuilding Ojas doesn’t require hours of self-care or a retreat to the mountains. Ayurveda focuses on small, consistent actions that nourish, stabilize, and slow down your system. Here are a few you can start with today:
1. Nourish Deeply with Ojas-Building Foods
Warm, easy-to-digest meals help rebuild strength. Think:
Cooked grains like oatmeal or rice
Soups made with root veggies, ghee, and warming spices
A glass of warm golden milk in the evening
Avoid cold, raw, or processed foods when you're feeling depleted—they’re harder to digest and don’t support Ojas.
2. Make Space for Stillness (Even Just 5 Minutes)
Ojas is nourished in moments of rest and pleasure. Try:
Sitting quietly with a hand on your heart before your day begins
Listening to soft music or taking a few deep breaths after your caregiving tasks
Saying no to one thing today so your system can say yes to rest
3. Bring in Warmth and Love Through Touch
Daily abhyanga (self-massage with warm oil) is a powerful practice for restoring Ojas. Even just massaging your feet or shoulders with oil before bed can calm your nervous system and help you sleep more deeply.
You Deserve to Feel Full Again
Caregiving is a generous act but your energy is not infinite. When you begin to treat your vitality as sacred, you’re able to show up for others with steadiness, not strain.
Ayurveda reminds us that resilience doesn’t come from pushing harder. It comes from honouring your limits, choosing nourishment over depletion, and rebuilding your inner reserve of strength—your Ojas—one quiet moment at a time.
