Chakras ~ Wheels of Energy
The chakras are powerful junctions in the nadi system, acting as the main receivers and distributors of prana, the vital life force, between the physical and subtle bodies. The word chakra means "wheel" in Sanskrit, symbolizing the dynamic, spinning nature of these energy centers.
Ayurveda Skin Care
Ayurveda teaches that your skin type is determined by the qualities of your original doshic design. These qualities are uniquely responsive to your stage of life, environmental conditions, dietary habits, skin regimens and the passing of time. According to Ayurveda, it’s best to know your doshic tendencies to determine your optimal skin care regimen.
Ayurveda’s Concept of Perfect Health
When we are in our natural state of being and are supporting that original doshic combination (prakriti), we experience true health and wellbeing, which is svastha. Regardless of our current doshic state (vikriti) it is possible to get closer to our prakriti, where we are most harmonious, when following a conscious path to greater health…
The Unified Field of the Body, Mind & Spirit
“Body, Mind and Spirit” is a common phrase used to express the inherent unity between these different aspects of being alive. Ayurveda, the Science of Life, teaches that the body, mind and spirit are intimately unified in a common field of experience and that we…
Ayurveda and Sleep
We all understand that sleep is an important factor for normal biological function. Ayurveda considers the quality and quantity of our sleep to be as essential to our health and well-being as our dietary habits. The right amount of restful sleep affords our bodies and…
Ayurveda and Children
The Ayurvedic concept of prakriti teaches that every child is born with their own individual characteristics, even within the same family. Their distinctive combination of doshas, based on their reason for being here (dharma), determined the physical structure and features, as well as the temperament and natural talents that are needed to fulfill their purpose…
Ayurveda and Your Ideal Weight
The Ayurvedic basis for achieving and maintaining your ideal weight is centered on the recognition of your original combination of the doshas and how they change according to your current circumstances. When you understand your unique physical and mental predispositions, along with the way that you are personally impacted by the rhythms of nature and the details of your day, you can make appropriate decisions that will lead to a balanced weight.
Dravyaguna – Ayurveda and Herbs
The principal characteristic of the universe is consciousness, which leads to its manifest form, prana. Ayurveda teaches that every therapeutic substance found in nature reveals the conscious intelligence of the universe as expressed by prana. It follows that every herb has in its design the ability to awaken and harmonize our consciousness with the consciousness of the substance.
Ayurveda and Yoga – Sister Sciences
Ayurveda and Yoga share the same Vedic roots yet offer different paths to the common goal of self-understanding and ultimately merging with pure consciousness. Both Ayurveda and Yoga originated as a means to end all suffering, presenting an approach to life that is in harmony with the laws of the universe.
Ayurvedic Guidelines for Good Digestion
Ayurveda suggests not only proper food choices for efficient digestion and quality nutrition but also proper eating habits, which are equally important. The way that you eat determines if your carefully chosen foods and food combinations will turn into ama (toxins) or ojas (essence of life).
Dinacharya
As the “science of life”, Ayurveda provides us with a conscious awareness of the constant movement and influences of the solar, lunar, and planetary cycles. The activities described in dinacharya are intended to be synchronized with the daily cycle of the sun and performed regularly. Ayurveda teaches that regular routines create stability, which in turn promotes personal balance.
Creating Balance in the Vata Season
As the external environment changes during the vata season, your internal environment can experience the same type of changes; dry leaves, dry skin; crackly leaves, crackly joints; shorter days, shorter attention span; colder days, colder extremities, windy days, windy bowels. The qualities of vata dosha are found in the disorders that are common at this time of year. By observing the processes of Mother Nature, you can better understand the processes of your body, mind and spirit.
Ayurvedic Physical Activity– A Matter of Balance
According to the fundamental Ayurvedic principles that 'like increases like' and 'opposites create balance,' the type, intensity, and duration of your physical exercise should align with your unique Doshic makeup and the current Doshic influences in your life.
Basic Principles of Ayurvedic Nutrition
Ayurveda explains that your food should be eaten mindfully and with gratitude, and that it must be fresh, of the highest quality, digestible, delicious, lovingly prepared, and satisfying to your senses. Ayurveda offers a balanced approach to preparing, eating, and digesting your food based on your unique body-mind type or Dosha, as well as the time of day, the season, your life cycle, and where you live.
Aromatherapy for Personal Balance
Aromatherapy is a modern term for an ancient healing practice that is more than 5000 years-old; there are descriptions of the burning of fragrant herbs, flowers, barks and resins, to enhance healing and meditation, in the Vedic texts. The earliest holistic healers made incense, oils, salves and poultices from a variety of aromatic botanicals.
Spring has Sprung
The air is alive with the purposeful explosion of pollen from the variety of trees, plants, grasses, and flowers that are blooming. According to Doshic principles, pollen is primarily Pitta. Pollen carries Pitta’s aggressive nature and irritating potential.
Ayurveda and Love
Ayurveda is India’s ancient Science of Life. In developing this science the observers of the known world, the Rishis, categorized every aspect of human health, well-being, and longevity. Their observations included the elements of happiness and it has long been held that the basis of all happiness is love.
Understanding Ayurveda
Ayurveda is the study of natural law. The word Ayurveda means the Science of Life; therefore, the essence of Ayurveda has always existed. Ancient Vedic texts tell us that the Rishis, or Holy Ones of India, acquired the knowledge of Ayurveda through meditation and the keen observation of nature.
Beat the Heat of Summer
Summer is Pitta. Pitta elements are Fire and Water and we are embarked on a long, hot, and humid Pitta season. In the Florida summer, you are especially prone to accumulating excess pitta. If your dosha is predominantly Pitta, you are at an even higher risk of becoming out of balance because Like increases Like = Hot increases Heat.