The start of a new year often coincides with a renewed determination to focus on personal wellbeing – both physical and mental.
Ayurvedic practitioner Celine Wallace offers some insights into Ayurveda – India’s holistic healing system dating back over 5000 years and focusing on preventative medicine.
Having studied Ayurvedic medicine in India and Sri Lanka, Celine is now firmly dedicated to sharing her learnings and encouraging others to better understand the philosophy of Ayurveda and how it is a mind, body and spiritually healing system.
“According to Ayurveda we are not living how our bodies are designed to function. And there are natural methods to resolve your health concerns, and as a society, we need to step back and start taking a mind-body approach to our health and understand how to heal ourselves within the laws of nature.
What is Ayurveda?
Simply put, Ayurveda is composed of two Sanskrit words – Ayu meaning’ life, and Veda meaning ‘knowledge of science.’ Together, they mean ‘the science of life.’
Ayurveda is the mother of all healing systems because it predates all other healing therapies and natural medicines. It’s a complete knowledge of life that teaches us how to live in tune with nature and elevate ourselves into higher realms of happiness, which I don’t know about you, but that sounds like the goal in life to me!
As an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Yoga Therapist, having founded two companies based on Ayurvedic principles; Sattva Soul Retreats and Sattva Soul organic Ayurvedic Supplements, I have found that Ayurveda is the science of helping people to understand how to live a balanced life at every level – from the physical to the mental and emotional.
In Ayurvedic healing, we take a different approach from modern medicine, where most people only see the doctor if they are unwell or have an issue. We focus on preventive medicine, providing the tools to find and stay balanced so you can live a healthy life. We do this by constantly knowing what aggravates you in daily life or enhances your well-being, so you’re in an ebb and flow of ease, where we can get to the root cause of problems. By doing this, health becomes empowered and allows us greater self-knowledge.
The philosophy of Ayurveda is centered around three primary energies, known in Sanskrit as doshas. The word dosha itself means ‘fault’ in Sanskrit, so we want to balance these energic ‘faults’ in our physical, mental, and spiritual bodies. The three doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha – which regulate every physiological and psychological characteristic, from circulation to digestion, nervous system function, muscular systems, and beyond.
How do we keep the three doshas in balance? First, you need to understand your body makeup. Many internal and external factors can affect our mind-body constitution: emotional state, diet, the season and weather, physical trauma, work, and family relationships. Once we understand that these factors can cause a constitutional imbalance, we can learn how to change them or minimize their effects.
Understanding the doshas – (Mind-body constitution)
Vata, Pitta, and Kapha all have different qualities. So, I should break them down, and we can take a look at each:
Vata – The Creative
Elements: Air and Space
Vata represents momentum and air in the body. It is responsible for all bodily activities and sensations. It controls blood movement through the circulatory system, breathing, the delivery of nutrients to cells, and the removal and excretion of waste products.
In balance, it promotes flexibility, freedom, and creativity.
However, it produces fear, insomnia, and anxiety when out of balance.
Pitta – The Leader
Elements: Fire and Water
Pitta represents metabolism. It governs digestion and the metabolic transformation of nutrients into biologically usable forms. It also imparts the capacity to absorb ideas and impressions and bestows intelligence and enthusiasm for life.
In balance, it promotes understanding, leadership, and intelligence.
Out of balance, it produces anger, hate, and jealousy.
Kapha – The Nurturer
Elements: Earth and Water
Kapha provides substance and support, giving physical and psychological strength and stability to the mental and physical body. It enhances resistance to disease and promotes the healing process.
In balance, it promotes love, calmness, and forgiveness.
Out of balance, it produces depression, greed, and jealousy.
Once you know your dosha imbalance, you are set, because the most powerful thing about Ayurveda as a healing practice is that you can heal from the inside out and then use its methodology as a preventive medicine system as intended to be.
When used as a precaution, the body and mind are always strong and in tune, as whatever is happening on the outside directly represents what is happening on the inside.
If you want to find out your Ayurvedic Dosha imbalance, you can head to www.sattvasoul.co.nz; to take the free quiz and find out what organic Ayurvedic herbs may help you on your healing journey.