Ayurveda: Ancient knowledge for future wellbeing

With growing economic pressures, increased working hours and a globalised way of living, we are constantly putting a strain on our health and wellbeing. So is it any wonder why more and more people are seeking to embrace a more natural way of living. However, the array of choices can often leave you confused.

Good health and wellbeing doesn't necessarily have to equate to heavily restricted diets, rigid exercise plans and expensive treatments. The ancient vedic seers had such a profound knowledge of life and wellbeing dating back more than 5000 years that is every bit significant today since the focus is on living in harmony with nature.

Ayurveda is a holistic, prevention-oriented system of medicine, designed to treat the root cause of a ‘dis-ease' rather than the symptoms, be it physical mental or emotional. The vedic seers advised that we adopt a diet and lifestyle in accordance to the phase of our life cycle, our natural habitat, seasonal changes, and our doshic constitution.

If you've ever looked into ayurveda you would surely have come across the tri-doshas, vata, pitta and kapha, one of the key concepts in Ayurvedic philosophy. These 3 biophysical forces govern the biological, physiological and psychological functions of the mind and body. Ayurveda see humans as microcosm of the same elements found in the entire universe, either air, fire, water and earth which combine to give rise to the doshas.

Ayurveda comprises of dietary advice, lifestyle counselling, yoga, therapeutic treatments, herbal remedies, detoxification programme, meditations, mantras, and breathing exercises. A practitioner will help you derive the best treatment plan to integrate these elements to regain your unique natural balance according to your dosha by using traditional diagnostic techniques including the pulse, tongue and nails.

Ayurveda has the capacity to treat and manage various health conditions such as diabetes, IBS, insomnia, respiratory conditions, arthritis and more, using specialist herbal preparations and the detoxification processes of pancha karma. However, don't be deterred by the complexities of ayurveda, you can start to adopt an ayurvedic way of life by making some simple changes to your daily life.

Leading a lifestyle in harmony with nature and you constitution can be sure to optimise digestion and elimination, increase clarity of mind, concentration, restful sleep, build strong immunity, encourage creativity and a passion for life.
Here are just a few basic principles to get you started:

• A teaspoon of freshly grated ginger with rock salt can give your digestion a kick start before your lunch and evening meals.
• Balance your meals to include all 6 tastes, sweet, sour, salty, bitter, astringent and pungent.
• Opt for lightly cooked vegetarian based foods to help clear toxins from the body and increase digestive power
• Encourage regular bowel movements by regulating meal and sleep times each day
• Clear toxins and aid your digestion by drinking warm water throughout the day
• Eat in a peaceful relaxed environment, digestion is also affected by what we soak in through our senses
• Daily self massage encourages good flow for all channels of the body and also encourage toxins out of the body

Author: Geeta Vara
As a member of the APA, Geeta Vara is a fully qualified Ayurvedic Practitioner working in South West London & Kent providing consultations, treatments and corporate health education seminars. For more information please email: geetavara@ gmail.com or call: 07956 521601. www.geetavara.co.uk