Ayurveda: The Science of Life
Ayurveda, India’s ancient science of life and longevity dates back approximately 5,000 years. Considered the oldest health system known, it is no wonder it has been coined the “Mother of All Healing.” Feminine creativity – known as Prakruti is emphasized throughout this tantric science, and is the same Sanskrit word used to describe your original constitution. Because of this, ayurveda sees all of creation as the Mother herself. As she is the realized expression of Purusha – unmanifested divine potential, the idea of separation is illusory.
This timeless wisdom emphasizes the soul’s desire to continuously express itself as Purusha/Prakruti. When the soul is hindered by the divisive nature of the ego, “dis-ease” begins to manifest. According to Ayurveda, health is more than the absence of physical symptoms. It is a state of complete union with one’s highest potential.
Moksha, the liberation of spirit from the confines of the ego allows one to actualized their divine nature, which in turn helps create longevity and well-being.
Returning the Constitution to Balance
Ayurveda is designed not only to prevent disease from occurring, but also helps to bring one’s constitution back into balance. Mental and emotional guidelines, diet, lifestyle, herbology, bodywork, and yoga are jus a few examples of how it is used to create better health.
Our uniqueness must be recognized and nourished. Just as no two people have the same fingerprint, we each have a very individual divine expression that must be encouraged. This ultimately honors creation.
Imbalances
Many conditions can be balanced with an Ayurvedic lifestyle and treatments. Our services are not limited to the list below. Please call to see if we can help with your individual needs.
Stress relief, fatigue, burnout, anxiety, tension, depression, memory loss, forgetfulness, unclear thinking, headaches, insomnia, burning indigestion, heaviness after eating, nausea, bloating, constipation, loose stools, diarrhea, gas, mal-absorption, blood sugar swings, anorexia, obesity, ulcers, liver/ gall bladder stones, hemorrhoids, parasites, colds/flu/sore throat, bronchitis, fever, asthma, food allergies, allergic rhinitis, circulation problems, heart disease, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, anemia, difficult urination, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, diabetes, hair loss, acne, dry skin, skin problems, menstrual disorders, PMS, infertility, menopause, vaginal infections, candida, uterine cysts, benign tumors, endometriosis, enlarged prostate, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, HIV/AIDS, cancer, pre or post-surgical rejuvenation, child care and care for the elderly.
Doshas
Basic Humours
Dosha literally means blemish. Ayurveda seeks health through understanding how to bring one’s constitution to a state of homeostasis, through the alchemy of the five elements.
These five elements reduce down to three humours (doshas) – vata, pitta and kapha. An excess of any element can create a blemish or imbalance in the body/mind, but when used properly can correct the imbalance of another element. This is the art of alchemy, and when mixed with the transformative process of digestion can literally turn base metal – (the elements) into gold (life force, magnetism and vitality).
Vata is a combination of air and ether with air predominating.
Vata governs movement for all bodily processes. Because of the predominance of air and ether in these types they are blessed with a creative, active and flexible mind. Vatas experience fear, restlessness, nervousness and anxiety when out of balance. Vata types have irregularity in appetite and digestion. They are plagued with dryness, and because air resides in the colon, constipation can be an issue. Vata also regulates the brain, ears, bones, joints, skin and thighs. Some of the attributes of vata are dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile and clear. Any of these qualities in excess can cause imbalance. During the fall season Vatas will tend toward dryness and aggravation therefore oilation is imperative at this time.
Pitta is primarily the fire element with water as the secondary element.
Pitta governs the energy of digestion and metabolism. A Pitta person expresses fire in their constitution, which is hot, sharp, consuming and penetrating. Pitta types are very intelligent and have good comprehension. They can become aggravated, angry and jealous when imbalanced. Pitta’s fire and water elements express in the form of hot, light, mobile, liquid and oily. Pitta people tend to have diseases such as fevers, inflammatory diseases and jaundice. Common symptoms include skin rashes, ulcers, headaches and stress. Summer is the season of predominately fire; hence more pitta arises during this time, so a cooling lifestyle is recommended.
Kapha is a combination of the water and earth elements with water predominating.
Kapha governs the energy of lubrication and cohesion. Kapha types are enduring, strong and grounded. They tend to have tender loving dispositions when balanced, yet when they are imbalanced they can lean towards lethargy, depression and attachment. Some of the qualities of kapha are cold, heavy, unctuous, stable and dense. The disease connected to the water and earth elements are flus, sinus congestion, sluggishness, weight gain, diabetes and water retention. During the winter and early spring, kapha tends to accumulate so a lifestyle that is warming and mobilizing is very helpful.
I want you to know I’m filled with gratitude and feel very blessed for the great gift I received yesterday. I know you are both very busy with lots on both your plates. The fact that you gave so much of your of your selves to me warmed my heart and whole being. You both took such giving and loving care of me that it made it easy for me to totally surrender to the experience. I felt so comfortable that I very quickly went into an altered state and remember little of the specifics. More importantly I experienced feeling totally safe, nurtured, and loved. I will take these feelings with me forever wherever I go and they will warm and nurture me when scared or alone. You also inspire me to be even more generous with others in my life. So often in my life, in my “ ole” as therapist and teacher, I’m in the giving role and that’s easy for me. It was wonderful to be in a place where there was nothing to give or do, other than be and receive, especially at this very challenging and vulnerable time in my life. Your gift to me is one I hold as precious. My words of gratitude and appreciation are a clumsy and inadequate attempt to reflect a felt sense, a heart sense, that words can never adequately describe. Know I’m grateful and touched in the core of my essence. thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you for the recipes for the shakes. Since a week I have them every morning for breakfast. And I love them! I also began to try variations with different juices and fruits considering my dosha.I also want to share with you which effect the shakes have on my health: since I stopped having breakfast and having the shakes instead in combination with drinking black tea (sometimes with ginger) instead of green tea I have no Ama anymore (or just very little at the end of the day). My mind feels much more vital and awake during the day. My body feels light but strong all day long. It is amazing! And I can really use that “body” strength at the moment while I am in such an emotional rollercoaster!!!
Because it is very humid here at the east coast and I had the feeling that I was too hot I began to use coconut oil for the daily massage. Every morning my skin just sucks in the oil like nothing. It is amazing to see the result: it seems as if I reversed the aging process for three to five years. My skin is soft and vibrant.
Thank you with all of my heart.