Ayurveda: What is It?

I will admit I struggle downsizing what a good definition is for Ayurveda. It’s an ocean of ancient wisdom, BUT it is timeless and translates well to the present day. Check out the slides above>>>

While a lifestyle, it is also one of  most accessible forms of medicine, because you are getting to know your needs, and aligning yourself with nature. You are your greatest healer!

It does not pertain to just Indian food, spices, tongue scrapers, turmeric lattes and ashwagandha. (yes, those trendy tongue scrapers originated in Ayurveda)

Ayurveda is Universal, it is not Indian, although it came from India.

Most of all our much loved tools and wellness practices have been informed by Ayurveda; medicinal herbs, yoga (breathing, poses, and meditation), astrology (Jyotish), massage, bodywork, chakras, seasonal routines, etc…

What makes a wellness practice Ayurvedic? When it aligns and is applied with what our individual needs are.

Some examples: 

We are eating Ayurvedically when the food we eat meets our unique needs, our unique nature. But also eating to balance our unique nature, the Doshas (Vata (air, wind), Pitta (fire, earth), (Kapha) earth, water). We might have too much of a Dosha. We wouldn’t eat for our Pitta if our Vata is imbalanced.

 We are using an Ayurvedic approach when the medicinal herbs we take are combined correctly to address our imbalances. We don’t give the same herbs to everyone who exhibits stress, IBS, headaches, thyroid imbalance, etc..For example, contrary to its popularity in the West, Ashwagandha is not for everyone. In fact, it can cause harm and create further imbalance when we don’t know our root cause. 

Ayurveda is not just vegetarianism or veganism. While vegetables are the most sattvic (nourishing) foods, there are people who might need some clean animal protein as medicine. 

An Ayurvedic Practitioner considers the whole person and aims at getting to the root cause. 

We are not just treating symptoms. 

I hope this breaks it down for you a bit more. 

Services, classes, and workshops are in the link in profile, www.healinghomeayurveda.com