Ayurveda Ayurveda, once the national healthcare system for India, is an ancient science meaning the knowledge or wisdom of life. It is learning to live in balance with one's true nature to allow the gifts of who we truly are to be fully expressed in the healthiest way possible.
Ayurveda is a science of natural health care that originated aproximately 5,000 years ago as a sister science to yoga. The teachings of ayurveda are timeless and complimentary to other forms of healthcare. Ayurveda is a healing science that helps one understand his or her own unique constitution and how to bring it into greater balance.
The science of Ayurveda includes the incorporation of seasonal and daily routines. It is highly attuned to changes in nature including climate, season, and time of day. When one achieves balance in lifestyle, optimal health and vitality can be achieved. Ayurveda offers the world a system of preventive medicine. It also excels in dealing with chronic illnesses. Both of these areas present the greatest challenges to western medicine.
The word Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that translates as “the science of life”. "Ayuh" means life and "Veda" means science or knowledge. From an ayurvedic perspective, the body, mind and spirit or consciousness are all connected. An ayurvedic approach to healing includes paying attention to nutrition, sleep, rest, activity, physical surroundings, social interactions, work, play and daily routine. Optimal health can only be achieved when it includes emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
Ayurveda is considered the healing side of Yoga. Likewise, Yoga is the spiritual side of Ayurveda. Both Ayurveda and Yoga strive to help a person re-connect to their true nature, their authentic self. Together, they encompass a complete approach to the well-being of body, mind, and spirit.
I discovered ayurveda 20 years ago and it felt like coming home. Time spent at The Raj in Fairfield, Iowa, the largest ayurvedic treatment center in the U.S., had a profound affect on my overall health. Over the years, I began to study ayurveda, including time spent with Deepak Chopra at the Chopra Center in California, and more recently the California College of Ayurveda.
Seven years ago I experienced a life-changing health challenge which led me to my greatest teacher, Swami Maya Titananda, affectionately known as Mother Maya, a leading ayurvedic author and founder of Wise Earth Ayurveda. Our family consciously adopted an ayurvedic lifestyle emphasizing healthy, organic foods, a commitment to balance, reduced exposure to noise and media, yoga and meditation. Life, as always, continues to happen with ambiguity and change, but we live with greater joy, acceptance and love. "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."
If you would like to know more about ayurvedic health and healing, understand your own unique constitution and how to balance it, improve your diet, sleep, relationships, or reduce stress and anxiety, consider scheduling an ayurvedic consultation.
CLICK HERE to schedule an ayurvedic consultation with Sharon CLICK HERE for a Dosha Quiz that can help determine your dosha or constitution CLICK HERE for recipes used in our Ayurvedic Cooking Class CLICK HERE for a list of Important Ayurvedic Spices CLICK HERE for Ayurvedic Principles for Eating CLICK HERE for Dietary Tips for Balancing Vata CLICK HERE for Dietary Tips for Balancing Pitta CLICK HERE for Dietary Tips for Balancing Kapha
