Āyurveda is the indigenous medicine of India, spanning back over more than 5,000 years ago, and is considered the oldest continuously practiced health-care system in the world. Āyur means “life” and veda means “science” or “knowledge”, so it can be understood as a science of life.
According to Āyurveda, health is not just the absence of disease, it is a dynamic balance between body, mind, senses, and soul. This is a holistic approach to healing your whole self.
One of my Indian teachers, Nagindas ji, was fond of saying healing may not happen in a jiffy. Some things that are worthwhile take time. We have to meet the body and mind where it is. From there, take sequential steps forward towards healing for lasting results.
Classical Āyurveda has laid out a pathway of five stages or protocols for restoring optimal health. The recommendations within each stage and length of time spent in each stage are unique for each person based on the strength of the individual and the strength of the imbalance. We have a time-tested path to follow.
ĀYURVEDIC HEALING PATHWAY
-
- Ahara | Food
We begin with improving gut health, digestion, and nutrition as it is the first step in restoring and maintaining optimal health. How the body breaks down and delivers food to nourish your body and mind is a crucial component of the healing process. Addressing ahara is based on your individual constitution, the time of life you are in, seasonal influences, and current health conditions. In the ahara stage we will look at your present diet, food combining, food preparation, foods to increase, foods to avoid, and the best way to incorporate healthy meals into your schedule. - Vihara | Lifestyle
Āyurveda prescribes morning, evening, and seasonal routines to sync your individual rhythms with circadian rhythms (day/night clock). Living out of sync with these biorhythms can manifest into significant health problems. There is not one day flow or single exercise routine that can help every person. In the vihara stage we will define your current needs and address the structure of your lifestyle with consideration to healthy biorhythms for your individual constitution. - Aushada | Herbal Formulations
Health problems do not happen overnight. The body is extremely intelligent in communicating when things begin to get out of balance. If the messages are ignored or we do not have the tools to address the imbalance, this becomes opportunistic for imbalances to settle in and take root. If the roots are deep enough it may be necessary to add plant based formulas into your health plan to assist the body and mind back to a state of balance. - Kriya | Procedures
In the kriya stage there are treatments that may further assist you in your wellness goals. Most of these procedures help in clearing stagnated or blocked channels within the body. As you progress through the first three stages, if necessary we will assess and discuss incorporating these measures into your treatment plan. This may include Āyurvedic body treatments, digestive resets, or detoxifying cleanses. - Rasayana | Rejuvenation
Imbalances or disease states over time can weaken the body. This may be experienced as a weak immune system or sense of depletion. A vital part of the process of cleansing and bringing the body back into balance is rebuilding strength and immunity. In rasayana stage you will incorporate foods, jams, and/or herbal formulas specifically for rejuvenation.
- Ahara | Food
This time-tested wisdom can take you out of the cycle of searching to get to the root of your health challenges. Begin with an Āyurvedic health consultation where you will receive a custom path forward that includes lifestyle routine, self-care, diet, nutrition, and herbal recommendations. Together, we will create a wellness plan that takes into consideration your health goals and meets you in your modern life.
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease.