As human beings, we have a unique design — anatomically, neurologically, hormonally, and chemically. We are called to work within and around this design, keeping in mind and nurturing all aspects that support it. No matter where you are in the world or what you are facing, each one of us holds within us a profound truth: one that will help us journey toward balance, health, and inner peace.
Like each hero on a journey, we need tools and reference points to help ourselves. As a homeopath with a background in various holistic natural modalities, I have a deep appreciation for the power of nature in our lives and the holistic healing traditions that have served humanity and all creatures since the beginning of time.
Principles of Ayurveda
Ayurveda, often translated as “science of life”, is a system of healing from India that encompasses all aspects of life. It is said to have originated more than 5,000 years ago through the sages of India. Ayurveda is a unique system rooted in ancient sacred texts known as the Vedas, which cover vast knowledge about physical health as well as mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
While Ayurveda encompasses a tremendous amount of information and treatments, it also offers us surprisingly simple ways to bring more balance and wellbeing into our daily lives. Some of them you might already know – this comprehensive holistic healing system includes practices such as yoga, meditation, sound healing, essential oil and self massage. Ayurveda helps you tap into your own unique nature and the healing properties of nature around you to achieve inner balance and balance with the external world.
According to Ayurveda, each one of us enters into this world at birth with prakriti – a unique constitution determined by the balance between five natural elements within our body: fire, water, earth, ether, and air. Our individual make-up depends upon dominant qualities or energies that govern our bodies. Vata, Pitta, and Kapha represent the three primary energies according to the Ayurvedic system.
An old-age healing system used in India for thousands of years, it is increasingly proven as helpful by modern research as well. Many studies have shown the effectiveness of various ayurvedic remedies and practices. Modern science is catching up to old wisdom. For instance, Turmeric is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine and has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties due to its high antioxidant content. Similarly, practicing yoga along with meditation helps reduce stress levels while enhancing mental well-being overall, which further promotes positive health outcomes.
The ancient practice of Ayurveda teaches that balance within the body, as well as outside with the world, is what leads one toward being healthy. Here are some key Ayurvedic principles:
Individual approach: Every person is unique. The treatments and lifestyle recommendations under this system must be personalized according to your individual constitution.
Holistic Healing: To effectively address ill-health, it’s essential to identify and treat all of the root causes – rather than merely seek to alleviate (or cover up) your symptoms. In Ayurveda, this approach involves nutritional therapy (herbs and physical treatments) as part of a holistic treatment plan. These herbal remedies and various therapies target emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being, bringing your body and soul back into a divine balance.
Prevention First: Daily routines (dinacharya), seasonal routines (ritucharya), and periodical cleansing procedures (panchakarma) represent preventive measures advocated by Ayurveda.
Mind-Body Connection: Mental well-being can have an immense impact on your physical health. That’s why yoga and meditation, alongside pranayama (breathing exercises), are integral parts of Ayurvedic healing – all aimed at helping you maintain psychosomatic equilibrium.
These age-old teachings can provide a helpful perspective for people seeking more inner peace and better health. Imbalances created by modern-day living often result in anxiety disorders, digestive disturbances, and a variety of other chronic conditions.
Ayurveda offers us many tools to relieve stress including lifestyle changes, dietary modification, and mind-body interventions like yoga and meditation practices. Regular practice of yoga and meditation helps calm the mind, while adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha and brahmi support the body’s resilience to stress.
The combination of the three main ayurvedic doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, within each person determines their unique constitution called Prakriti, established upon conception.
However, as a result of our lifestyle, we can lose inner balance – which results in preferences and behaviors that are no longer in alignment with our true constitution. This can result in disease, and challenge our emotional and mental health.
Prakriti not only affects physical attributes but mental and emotional tendencies too. Understanding the individual’s unique constitution would enable personalized health recommendations, making Ayurveda a highly individualized approach towards wellness.
Lifestyle Habits
Ayurveda emphasizes daily and seasonal routines (ritucharya) which, together with dietary changes, help to maintain harmony. These patterns consist of different activities that synchronize with the natural world’s rhythms and our internal cycles:
Morning Rituals: Ayurveda includes a variety of recommendations for morning rituals. Some of these are easy to implement for everyone, such as tongue scraping, oil pulling and drinking a glass of warm water to help detoxify the body. These easy practices will help cleanse the system and prepare it for a new day.
Physical Activity: One’s well-being can be greatly improved by tailoring exercise according to his or her unique constitution (dosha). For example, individuals with a Vata constitution benefit from gentle yoga; swimming laps cools down Pitta while invigorating movement suits Kapha best.
Sleep: Getting enough rest is essential in order not to throw off your balance. Individuals should take more time for relaxation and grounding before bed if they are predominantly Vata; Pittas ought not engage in stimulating activities right before sleep; Kaphas need regular sleep-wake hours so as not to fall into too much sluggishness throughout the day.
Mind-Body Practices
Mindfulness techniques like meditation and pranayama (breathing exercises) are necessary for calming the mind. When our inner equilibrium is disrupted, these ancient practices can foster inner tranquility and steadiness.
Meditation: One can pacify an overactive Vata or irritated Pitta through regular meditation practice.
Pranayama: A variety of pranayamas can balance our doshas, depending on which ones require balancing.
Seasonal and Environmental Modifications
The effect of seasons and surroundings on our health is also recognized by Ayurveda. Every season has the potential to increase or decrease specific energies within us, affecting our dosha balance, so it becomes necessary to adjust our lifestyle in order to maintain balance:
Spring (Kapha Season): To counteract the heaviness and dampness of Kapha, emphasis should be given to lightness, dryness, and warmth. For example – eating light foods, keeping oneself active, and adding stimulating activities to our daily routine.
Summer (Pitta Season): Cool, light, and hydrating practices are recommended during this period. This will help balance Pitta’s heat. For example – eating cooling foods, keeping oneself well hydrated, and avoiding excessive exposure to heat.
Autumn (Vata Season): During this time period, it is important to incorporate warm, moist, grounding practices to help stabilize Vata. For example – eating warm, nourishing food, keeping oneself warm, and maintaining regularity in our daily routines.
Here are some easy tips that you can start with today:
Morning Routine: Begin each day by scraping your tongue, pulling oil through your teeth/gums, and drinking a glass of warm water with lemon juice before breakfast (which helps stimulate the digestive system.)
Evening Routine: Create an evening routine that helps you wind down for sleep, allowing yourself an appropriately deep rest. Turn off all devices at least an hour before bedtime. You might consider various herbal teas to help you settle as the night approaches.
Mindful Eating: Eat within an environment that is peaceful, focusing on your experience of enjoying your meal. You might want to also pause for a moment to give gratitude for your food.
Herbal Supplements: Consult an Ayurvedic practitioner who can prescribe you herbs that support your health needs based on your individual constitution.
Relaxation Techniques: Practice meditation, deep breathing, and pranayama exercises regularly to calm the mind and reduce stress levels within oneself.
There are many online resources available if you want to learn more about Ayurveda. There are many books that can help one get deeper knowledge of this beautiful science of life. There are many remarkable Ayurvedic practitioners in nearly every part of North America, and many in Europe as well.
Online, you’ll find a variety of Ayurvedic quizzes to help you determine your unique constitution and areas of imbalance. Every person is unique, so treatments given under this system must be personalized according to the individual constitution.
While pursuing healing on your own is certainly prudent and possible, it’s always best to engage an Ayurvedic Practitioner when experiencing pain and discomfort. The Universe will support your desire to heal!