What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a word that shows up in various places in our modern world. I have seen it as a descriptor of spa treatments or teas on grocery store shelves. For many years, I vaguely understood it to be natural healing through spices and foods. The truth is, Ayurveda is an all encompassing philosophy that teaches how to reach a state of wellness, not just through food, but by everything we consume and participate in each day.

Ayurveda translates to knowledge (Veda) of life (Ayur). It comes to us from the same Vedic teachings that the philosophy of Yoga comes from (see my last post about that here) as well as various eastern religions. Whether or not both Ayurveda and Yoga are “religious” is an entirely separate topic to be explored later.

For now, we can understand Ayurveda to be a science of holistic healing. The premise is that we are made up of the same essential elements as the earth. As such, when we live in tune with the rhythm of nature around us, we find a sense of balance more easily. It teaches us that everything we consume has an effect on our overall health. This includes what we consume through food, as well as through conversation, thoughts, media, etc.

Ayurveda teaches us that a well lived day is a medicine unto itself. When we eat and sleep well, spend time with people we love, and participate in activity that is meaningful to us, we feel better. When we live in harmony with the seasons, the time of day, and our stage of life, we feel a sense of greater connection. This can feel like common sense, however, as humans, it can be easy to forget these basics.

Ayurveda is an incredibly complex philosophy that encourages us to study our own constitution. Rather then being a one size fits all approach, food, movement, and activity recommendations are based on your own particular make up (both physically and emotionally). Ayurveda is not a “quick fix” system, rather, a sustainable approach to living in a state of wellness.

If this sounds like something you would like to learn more about, I’m so pleased to announce that my next Ayurveda retreat will be held on Saturday, April 29th at the Grow Well Yoga studio. It is a beautiful venue and we will spend the day learning the basics and enjoying a homemade Ayurvedic meal together. You can sign up here! If you can't make this one, send me a message here to set up your own retreat for yourself a few friends!

Hope to see you there!