When Ayurveda first knocked on my door, over 20 years ago, I didn’t like its foreign name and unfamiliar perspective. I was a registered nurse, comfortable in the world of conventional medicine. I sent Ayurveda away.
Years passed, and like the universe, my mind was expanding. I learned the strengths and limitations of the modern medical system and sought to reach beyond its boundaries…….to Ayurveda!
Ayurveda – What is it?
Ayurveda is a holistic system of health and wellness that emphasizes diet and lifestyle as ways to balance your body and blossom your spirituality. Ayurveda is complimentary to, and supportive of, traditional western medicine. Ayurveda aims to remedy the root cause of disease believing that by balancing the various mind-body functions, the natural intelligence of the body will automatically bring itself to wellness.
Ayurveda offers an ocean of knowledge. Of particular importance to me, is the Ayurvedic idea of “prajnaparadha: crimes against wisdom”. It states when we sit still, breathe into our hearts and truly connect deeply and quietly, we each know our individual Truths. Nobody else can answer that for us.
Your Ayurvedic Consultation – what to expect
Your Ayurvedic practitioner is trained to ‘read’ the body and prevent disease from developing. They will examine your pulse, tongue, eyes, nails and skin.
You will be asked questions about your past and present state of health and your family history. This information will be compiled and a ‘program of health’ prescribed. You will be taught how to ‘read’ your own body and how to correct imbalances when they occur. You will learn how to heal yourself.
Origin – Ayurveda is rooted in India’s most beloved scriptures – the Vedas- which date back to about B.C.1500. Ayurveda, literally “The Science of Life” was revealed to the holy bards or Rishis of ancient India during deep meditation. These Rishis culled their information from the Cosmos making Ayurveda a cosmic wisdom.
Ayurveda is the ultimate in holistic sciences because it takes into account
both a cosmic and individualistic perspective when approaching an individual.
There is an indwelling, unified field of intelligence which governs the
functioning of the body. The goal of all therapeutics is to enliven this
intelligence, to wake it up, which leads to self-repair and self-healing. It views man as a microcosm of the macrocosm, each with a unique expression that requires individualized treatment.
Health – to be healthy according to Ayurveda, it is not enough to have our physiology balanced and operating harmoniously. The closer we match our daily routines with the rhythms of Nature the more we incline ourselves towards good health.
The Heart of Ayurveda is about falling in Love, with ourselves, our fellow humans and our environment. It is about developing a friendly relationship with all we encounter. It’s about living in connection with our indwelling spirit.
