Epilogue
Truth be told, I have not used my neti pot in a good six months. But at the moment, I am nursing a dreadful cold, so perhaps it would be a good time to start! I do, however, still take frequent baths and do oil massages every day (as a result, my skin is in great shape!). I also cook up the occasional pot of kitchari, usually after a particularly gluttonous meal. I find that after I do, my body “remembers” to eat more healthfully again.

The most important lesson I've learned from experimenting with ayurveda is the power of ritual. In addition to those described previously, I integrated a host of others during my ayurvedic program: a mug of hot water with lemon each morning, daily meditation and yoga, and more. Gradually, these morphed into routines that felt more natural to me (decaf replaces the water, and a daily walk in the park serves as my meditation). Feeling the gravity that these rituals bring to each day keeps me from whoosh! flying away like that wily plastic bag. And now, only close friends call me deranged!