What the Heck is Ayurveda? The Short and Sweet Answer

People often ask me “what is this Ayurveda thing you’re always going on about?” My textbook answer would be that Ayurveda is a very ancient holistic science and system for promoting health and balance, literally translating to “the science of life.” From there I would begin to delve into lingo that may sound quite foreign to someone who has never even pronounced the word “Ayurveda” (pronounced EYE-YER-VAY-DA). I would use terms such as “dosha” and the increasingly recognizable “Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.” How about “prakruti, vikruti, and dinacharya”....OH MY!! Now don’t get me wrong, it is so important to learn and develop a working relationship with all of the wonderful and sometimes complicated teachings of this time-tested science when adapting it into your life. For me it’s very important as I not only live it to the best of my ability but I also want to keep the tradition of Ayurveda alive. However, I find that keeping it practical is much easier to digest and makes it adaptable for modern daily life.

For me Ayurveda is about getting to the true nature of “ME.” It is learning about my tendencies and why I tick the way I tick, discovering why I feel certain ways at specific times of day, year, or even times of life, and even understanding why certain foods effect me one way and other individuals differently. It’s about realizing that even though we are all connected through a common thread we are also individuals and in that there is no “one size fits all” approach to health, healing, and life.

One of the many reasons that I fell in love with this way of living is because it is very individualized and tailored, honoring that we are each unique. What works for me to stay balanced may not work for the next person. It really gives us a way to put our health and healing into our own hands. It’s a way to get to know ourselves on the deepest level, inside and out.

At the end of the day Ayurveda really is a practical, common sense way to live. All of the fancy Sanskrit words and unfamiliar practices you may hear and see can make people shy away and miss the core of it all, which is simply sustaining health and preventing disease through diet and lifestyle based on our individual nature. As long as we continue to stay tuned into nature around us and within us we will stay, for the most part, balanced and healthy. Working with our own personal constitution and nature is the key to overall peace, ease, and wellness. Adopting regular practices of self care will ensure that we are tapped into ourselves so deeply that if imbalances do arise, we will know which path to take toward harmony.

Again, this is a very short answer that barely scratches the surface of an extremely vast, deep, and mysterious science. But for now, maybe this is just enough to peak your interest in how Ayurveda can work in your life. That’s where I come in! I have been passionately learning and acquiring knowledge on practical ways to practice Ayurveda and I would love to help guide you to find what will work for your life.

Please visit my webpage or find me on social media to find out more on Ayurveda, dates of upcoming events or to contact me directly to set up an Ayurvedic consultation.