What is Ayurveda?
Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest medical systems and has been used for more than 5,000 years to cleanse and restore balance to the body and mind. It teaches you how to live in alignment with nature’s changing cycles and seasons, and how to care for yourself with intuition, compassion, and intention. Despite being such as ancient system, it couldn’t be more relevant to the busy and stressful pace of our modern lives.
Ayurveda teaches us to identify the root cause of our health problems, and show us the ideal path to treat it so we can regain longevity, vibrance, and immunity.
Our integral connection to the universe is one of the foundational teachings of Ayurveda, emphasizing that we have gradually distanced ourselves from our profound harmony with nature. The further we deviate from our inherent alignment with natural rhythms, the greater the disruption we introduce to the equilibrium of our body and mind. This disharmony, in turn, manifests as illness and disease.
Ayurveda recognizes that our bodies consist of the five natural elements—space, air, fire, water, and earth—grouped into three doshas: Vata (space and air), Pitta (fire and water), and Kapha (water and earth). While every individual possesses all three doshas and qualities of the five elements, each person has a distinct blend with certain elements more dominant. Understanding these physical and emotional tendencies through Ayurveda empowers us to initiate self-healing.
How Ayurveda has transformed my life
Despite considering myself a health-conscious individual with a dedicated yoga and meditation routine, I faced persistent health issues such as bloating, digestive problems, anxiety, ear infections, inflammation, and more. Even as I entered my 40s and continued my ‘healthy’ practices, these symptoms persisted. It was only through discovering Ayurveda that I realized the missing element in my well-being journey. Ayurveda’s personalized 360 mind-body-soul approach helped me recognize and address imbalances quickly, restoring harmony through movement, nutrition, and meditation practices, tailored to me specifically.
Implementing Ayurveda in Your Daily Routine
Transformative change in Ayurveda begins with the profound impact of consistent, small daily adjustments. Starting small, implementing one habit at a time, will help you feel empowered and give you the motivation for make more transformative shifts in your life.
- Wake up early (between 5-7am) and go to bed (around 10pm) at the same time every day.
- Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper every morning, before you eat breakfast.
- Eat 3 meals a day; early breakfast, lunch at 12:00, and dinner around 5-6 pm.
- Eat enough at mealtimes so you don’t feel hungry in between meals. Snack only when hungry!
- Eat mostly warm, cooked foods as they are easier to digest.
- Always choose seasonal fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid ice cold drinks and stick to cold, raw foods only in the summer.
- Create a daily routine that includes some form of self-care (movement, meditation, etc.).
- Do a seasonal Kitchari cleanse (about 2-3 times a year).
- Practice Abhyanga self-massage a few times a week.