What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is an ancient philosophy based on eternal truths about the human body, mind, and spirit. It aims to bring us into our own unique state of balance and well-being. Although it originated in India thousands of years ago, it is relevant and appropriate within modern society.Ayurveda is considered by the World Health Organisation to be the oldest healing system known and the most holistic. I have found that Ayurveda's logical, common-sense approach to health and living is particularly appealing and accessible.
Coming from the Sanskrit words ayur, meaning ‘life’ or ‘longevity’, and veda, meaning ‘knowledge’ or ‘science’, Ayurveda is “the science of life”, or “the science of optimal living” or “the systemic knowledge of living”.
Ayurveda treats on 3 levels:
Body: with foods, herbs, medicated oils and asanas
Mind, thought and feeling: through mantra and subtle therapies, herbs, colour, gems, sounds and aromas
Cognition and Implicit memory: through meditation and mindfulness

Ayurvedic scholar Matthew Remski’s provides a Brief Synopsis of Ayurvedic Theory:

* Ayurveda in 7 steps:

1. We consist, roughly, of two parts: a feeling part, and a conscious part.
2. The feeling part is a unique combination of elemental qualities and movement patterns we may call “constitution”. It is the basis of the conscious part.
3. Constitution can harmonise or clash with its natural or social environment, whether by conscious choice or by circumstance.
4. Not paying attention to sensual feedback, internal rhythms and environmental changes prematurely weakens first vitality, and then immunity.
5. As immunity weakens, the natural strengths of structure (kapha), metabolism (pitta), and coordination (vata) express their shadows: congestion (k), inflammation (p), and disorganisataion (v).
6. Good digestion is the root of feeling health and conscious health.
7. Pleasure, transparency, creativity, and resilience are its flowers.

 

• In the Vedas, ayur is synonymous with agni: the yogic concept of the gross and subtle fires of transformation: fire in the belly, fire in the mind.

Ayurveda is the art and science of reconnecting us to our source of life, so we can sustain our vitality and serenity and build our potential for joyful living. Om Healing Ayurveda shares a down to earth practice rooted in daily awareness. We like to ground this ancient wisdom into the local, specific environments we find ourselves. An appreciation for locally growing foods and herbs, with their own beneficial qualities and energetics, can be deepened through an Ayurvedic lens

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