What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a natural system of medicine, that originated in India more than 3,000 years ago. The term Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge). Thus, Ayurveda translates to knowledge of life. Based on the idea that disease is due to an imbalance or stress in a person’s consciousness, Ayurveda encourages certain lifestyle practices and natural therapies to regain a balance between the body, mind, spirit, and the environment.
Ayurveda teaches us what is beneficial and what is harmful, guiding us on healthy or unhealthy behaviors in relation to the seasons, the day-night cycle, and the different phases of human life (childhood, youth, middle age, old age). It provides a detailed understanding of how the body and mind are composed, describing their functions with exceptional mastery. It also illustrates and classifies the qualities and actions of the animal, plant, and mineral kingdoms.
“Ayurvedic medicine, (also called Ayurveda) is one of the world’s oldest medical systems. It originated in India and has evolved there over thousands of years. In the United States, Ayurvedic medicine is considered an complimentary approach.” (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
Health (Svastha) in Ayurveda is defined as a state where all physical and subtle components of an individual, together with the soul, are in harmony. Ayurveda is an all-encompassing knowledge that deals with every aspect of life and includes a vast medical science. It addresses prevention, discomforts, and diseases with a personalized approach, seeing each individual in their uniqueness.
Ayurveda is not just a medical system, but a holistic health system for millennia, adopted by Eastern populations and, more recently, by the West.
As stated in the one ancient Ayurveda book:
“Only those who know the secret of the visible,
the science of creation,
can interpret the invisible,
the Creator behind Creation”
Atharva Veda, 10.8.37
What is the Purpose of Ayurveda?
The first step in Ayurveda is to help us become aware of our true essence and understand our physical and psychological nature: our bodily constitution and temperament. With this knowledge, Ayurveda guides us in the wise management of our body, mind, and soul through lifestyle, nutrition, herbal medicines, medicated oils, meditative practices, color therapy, yoga, mantra recitation, and more.
Ayurveda suggests a lifestyle aimed at achieving and maintaining overall health, enabling us to lead a peaceful life, avoid or alleviate suffering, and fulfill our birthright to happiness. Ultimately, its goal is to lead us back to our original state, free from conditioning, illness, and unhappiness.
What is the Relationship Between Ayurveda and Yoga?
Inextricably linked, Ayurveda and yoga represent a harmonious blend of twin sciences rooted in the Vedas. Ayurveda provides the guidance and resources to live in a manner that will create optimal health. While the practice of yoga cultivates the self-discipline necessary to succeed in living that life.
The integration of these two systems of knowledge is natural within the Vedic path of awareness.
Specifically, the Ayurvedic path intertwines with the three main paths of Yoga:
Jnana Yoga (Knowledge): with its profound philosophical teachings and Vedic thought.
Karma Yoga (Action): through therapeutic actions.
Bhakti Yoga (Devotion): in devotion to Ayus, or Life.
What is the Relevance of Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is timeless. As long as there is life, there is Ayurveda. To live well, we should all be Ayurvedic, or “knowers” of life. Especially today, we feel a deep need to reconnect with nature, overwhelmed by the awareness of suffering caused by our distance from it and its laws.
Ayurveda offers a clear path back to our origins, teaching us how to truly take care of ourselves, others, and the environment. It provides us with the necessary tools, acting as an “instruction booklet” for living in harmony with nature.
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Ready to embrace the wisdom of Ayurveda and start your journey to holistic health and well-being? Schedule an Ayurveda consultation today and discover personalized guidance to help you achieve and maintain balance in your life. Let Ayurveda show you the path to true harmony and wellness.
Feel free to contact me directly for a free 15 minute call, or book your consultation. Together, we can create a personalized wellness plan that honors your unique nature and helps you thrive.
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