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| Artwork by Jess Posniak |
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Ayurveda is a holistic healing system which can improve health, increase longevity, cleanse the body, rejuvenate the vital organs and bring happiness and joy to your life. Ayurveda seeks to understand the physical and mental makeup of each individual. Through this understanding, the root of health imbalances are revealed. Remedies are then suggested to help bring an individual's health back into balance. Simple techniques and practices using diet, yoga, breathing exercises, meditation and lifestyle suggestions help heal and rejuvenate the body and mind. It is a lifelong process, focused on the day to day living. Ayurveda can easily be integrated into your current daily routine and with any western medical care that you are currently following.
Know Thyself, Heal Thyself
Ayurveda believes man is a microcosm of the Universe. The universe consists of earth, water, fire, air and ether (space), and so do we. In Ayurveda there are three primary groupings of these elements; they are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These are called the doshas. When the doshas are balanced in the body, mind and spirit the body is free from disease. When the doshas become imbalanced (either accumulated or weakened) due to poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle or stress, one experiences disease. Disease is the opposite of health a disorder in the body. Bringing order back to the doshas helps regain and maintain health.
Vata dosha is made up of air and space; Pitta is fire and water; and Kapha is earth and water. The doshas all have qualities - inherent characteristics. Vata is cold, dry and light. Pitta is hot, moist and penetrating. Kapha is cold, moist and heavy. Most people are predominant in one or more doshas. Prakruti is one's natural constitution-a percentage of the doshas which is determined at conception. Due to diet, lifestyle, work stress, sleep habits and other external factors, one's Prakruti is affected and can change. This is called Vrkruti-the current state of the doshas.
One of the basic principles of Ayurveda is like increases like and opposites pacify. So, when a dosha is out of balance, observe what is occurring in the mind or body and then assign a quality to the imbalance. With this information, you can make a change using an opposite quality; therefore bringing health back into balance. For example, if you are experiencing constipation, then eat more warm and soupy foods. Or if your mind is angry, then cool it with soothing music or slow pranayama exercises.
It is much easier to heal when an imbalance is still in the doshic stage-before it settles into the tissue and can cause chronic diseases. To maintain that kind of balance, start becoming aware of your body, thoughts, routine and diet each day. And then make the lifestyle changes necessary to bring the dosha back into balance. Remember, it's easier to maintain health than regain it. As my first yoga teacher used to say, "health is our only wealth", so invest in it each day.
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