AYURVEDA
Ayurveda, literally translated as “The Science of Life”, originated in India more than 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda is the oldest healing science in existence, from which all other systems emerged. Today, you can see tell-tale signs of the teachings of Ayurveda present in our modern Western healing modes.
Ayurveda links the rhythms of the universal elements—earth, fire, air, water, and space—to individual constitutions called doshas. The 3 dosha types are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and while we have some of each, we generally tend to have an abundance of one or two doshas.
We possess a unique mix of doshas known as Prakruti, which is determined at the moment of conception. While we are born with a specific Prakruti, our constitution is fluid and affected by circumstance, emotion and the rhythms of life. In fact, every living thing has a dosha: food, seasons, time of day, even our life span.
Ayurveda views health as remembering our own true nature as Self, "svasthi". Svasthi occurs when our doshas are in balance for our constitution. The first stage of disease is when our Prakruti gets aggravated; then one or more of our doshas increases & we become imbalanced, which leads to disease. Rather than only treating symptoms, Ayurveda observes each individual & treats the person, addressing the root-cause of an illness, which is the specific imbalance present in each individual.
Ayurveda & yoga have been sister sciences since the beginning in ancient India. The combination of Ayurveda & yoga allows for self-healing & self-realization.
How do we embrace the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda? Nourish our individual Prakruti, or inherent mix of doshas. We want to be the best characteristics of our Prakruti. We want to be our highest selves.
Ayurveda links the rhythms of the universal elements—earth, fire, air, water, and space—to individual constitutions called doshas. The 3 dosha types are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and while we have some of each, we generally tend to have an abundance of one or two doshas.
We possess a unique mix of doshas known as Prakruti, which is determined at the moment of conception. While we are born with a specific Prakruti, our constitution is fluid and affected by circumstance, emotion and the rhythms of life. In fact, every living thing has a dosha: food, seasons, time of day, even our life span.
Ayurveda views health as remembering our own true nature as Self, "svasthi". Svasthi occurs when our doshas are in balance for our constitution. The first stage of disease is when our Prakruti gets aggravated; then one or more of our doshas increases & we become imbalanced, which leads to disease. Rather than only treating symptoms, Ayurveda observes each individual & treats the person, addressing the root-cause of an illness, which is the specific imbalance present in each individual.
Ayurveda & yoga have been sister sciences since the beginning in ancient India. The combination of Ayurveda & yoga allows for self-healing & self-realization.
How do we embrace the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda? Nourish our individual Prakruti, or inherent mix of doshas. We want to be the best characteristics of our Prakruti. We want to be our highest selves.