Ayurveda

I am so excited for you to dive into ayurveda, because it has been so profound in changing the way I understand myself and my world and transforming how I take care of myself and my relationship to food, the seasons, and pretty much everything!

I’ve been fascinated with ayurveda since it was a part of my first yoga teacher training 13 years ago and have studying it ever since. In 2020 I completed a 300 hour Ayurveda Wellness Coach program via Shakti School, and am currently pursuing a master’s degree in Maharishi Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine at Maharishi International University. I am now offering one on one consultations! Book an Ayurvedic Wellness Consultation to learn more about your dosha (mind-body constitution) and how ayurveda can support you to be radiantly healthy!

Introduction to ayurveda

Ayurveda, the knowledge of life, (ayur = life, veda = knowledge) is a holistic, individualized way of understanding and managing health that originated in India about 5000 years ago and has been evolving ever since.  Ayurveda looks at all aspects of a person: physical, mental, emotional, environmental, and spiritual, to address root causes, rather than the symptoms, of any health issue.

Ayurveda teaches that human beings, like everything else on the planet, are made up of the 5 elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space (ether). These combine in unique ways in each person to comprise their dosha, or constitution.

 The three doshas of ayurveda are vata: air and space, pitta: fire and water, and kapha: earth and water. Every person is made up of all three of these doshas, yet in various amounts, and usually dominant in one or two. A person's prakriti is the natural constitution they were born with, influenced by genetics, time and place and circumstances of birth. Over time the factors that influence a person's life including environment and experiences take a sway over their dosha and create a different balance. A person's current dosha makeup is called their vikriti.

 Some of the major elements of ayurveda are:

 ·         Understanding the individual constitution or dosha- Ayurveda sees each person as having a unique make-up, influenced by their birth, genetics, upbringing, surroundings, and life choices. To keep a person healthy or to treat specific symptoms, ayurveda seeks to understand the individual's dosha to find the correct approach for that person

 ·         Food- Ayurveda sees food as medicine, and nutrition is recommended based on the individual's dosha as well as time of day, season, and location

·         Herbs- Ayurveda uses nature's bounty of healing plants to promote health and treat health problems.

·        Routine- consistent daily routines promote physical and emotional health

·         Digestion- Ayurveda understands that proper assimilation and elimination of foods is paramount to the entire system functioning well. Agni- the digestive fire, is promoted via various physical practices including food, herbs, and cleansing procedures.