What is Ayurveda?
A Beginner’s Guide to Natural Healing
Put your health front and center because your wellbeing is crucial. Natural health has gained attention recently as knowledge evolves and we see stories of the body healing itself. This healing is possible with the right tools. One such tool is Ayurveda, the world’s oldest holistic healing system, also known as Ayurvedic medicine.
If you’re new to the Ayurveda experience and want to harness its benefits, like I have, to restore the balance of body, mind, and spirit, this guide is for you.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda, a holistic approach to health and healing, originated in India over 5,000 years ago. The term “Ayurveda” comes from Sanskrit, meaning “science of life.” It stems from the Vedas, a collection of knowledge passed down for thousands of years.
This knowledge encompasses the idea that a person’s health and wellness are dependent on the balance of mind, body, and spirit. When one of these areas becomes imbalanced, Ayurveda treatments can intervene to restore balance and regain control over your health so you can enjoy vitality, mental clarity, and emotional stability naturally and permanently.
The Elements and Doshas of Ayurveda
The Vedas state that the universe, including people, is connected by five basic elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth. This element-body connection is crucial for how the body functions. It might sound confusing at first, but keep reading—it will make sense!
For example, space exists in our nasal cavities, respiratory tract, and abdomen. Air drives movement in the body and powers the central nervous system. Water, which makes up 60% of our bodies, supports organ and tissue function. Fire fuels our metabolism, digestion, and other systems. Lastly, earth provides structure and grounding through its heaviness.
These five elements combine in each person to form three energies, also known as doshas or body types. Each body type is a mixture of elements: Vata dosha (space and air) Pitta dosha (fire and water), and Kapha dosha (water and earth).
Do you ever hear the term “spaced out”, or ever feel your emotional response can be “firey”, or do you ever just feel stuck or “heavy”?
These energies decide how our bodies function and each one controls a different part of the body: The Vata dosha oversees movement, the Pitta dosha governs metabolism and digestion, and the Kapha dosha focuses on structure.
This mix of energies differs from person to person. Everyone has all three body types, but one usually dominates. Ayurveda links this unique mix of energies directly to your health. When your body types are balanced, your health will be too.
Achieving a Higher Level of Health with Ayurveda
Ayurvedic treatments are conducted by Ayurvedic practitioners and lifestyle consultants. We determine your dominant dosha and understand your unique balance in energies. From here, we can recommend treatments such as massage, oils, cleansings, herbs, food choices, and other options to restore harmony between the doshas and therefore regain harmony within your body, mind and spirit.
VIDYA aims to bring Ayurveda to those who seek better natural wellness alternatives so you can heal naturally and permanently. VIDYA comes from the Sanskrit word for knowledge because we believe that knowledge shared is empowering to others. A space for you, where you are educated and become aware and responsible for your own health and wellbeing through the Ancient science and medicine that is Ayurveda.
Connect with VIDYA today to learn how to weave Ayurveda practices into your daily routine.