Ayurveda

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a lifestyle practice that includes every aspect of our lives, from how we eat and exercise to herbal remedies and panchakarma, a balancing treatment for the mind and body.

The purpose of Ayurveda is to support balance in the energies of the body, mind, and consciousness, according to one's personal constitution, to promote health and well-being. Ayurveda is an ancient healing system, originating in India, which incorporates many therapies and lifestyle choices that also stand on their own, such as yoga, massage, and herbs. In Ayurveda (translated as the science of life), there are five elements that form all things in creation. These five elements are ether (or space), air, fire, water, and earth. Ether and air create the principle of Vata, fire and water create the principle of Pitta, and water and earth create the principle of Kapha. Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are energies that govern our body, mind, and consciousness. We each have an individual constitution that includes in greater or lesser degrees these three energies. When our energetic balance is not in alignment with our personal constitution, symptoms and eventually diseases, arise. We have the power to shift our choices and behaviors to include those things which will bring our life (including our body, mind, and consciousness) into greater balance. This is the purpose of Ayurveda.

An Ayurvedic consultation has three parts which include a review of history and symptoms, a non-invasive physical examination including a pulse assessment, and suggestions for bringing the body, mind, and consciousness into greater balance. The purpose of collecting a personal history and the physical exam is to identify your constitutional balance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha and to identify any energetic imbalances. When suggestions are made, they will generally be geared towards your current lifestyle and diet regimen. In other words, the best place to begin creating balance is in the place where we are. There is a wide spectrum between ideal behavior and unuseful behavior. I believe the best approach is to make small shifts in our behaviors that will lead us towards greater balance.

To learn more about Ayurveda we have provided articles, resources and research.