WHAT IS AYURVEDA?

“Ayurveda teaches us to cherish our innate-nature – “to love and honor who we are”,

not as what people think or tell us, “who we should be.”

~ Prana Gogia

. Originating in India, Ayurveda is one of the world's oldest, most complete systems of natural health and medicine. This science is thought to be at least 5000 years old, probably more. Ayurveda translates as "the science of life". It teaches us that understanding ourselves and our connection to the natural world is the key to health.

Ayurveda recognises that we are all born with a unique blueprint, Just as we all have our unique fingerprint. Ayurveda is inherent in the philosophy that we are all unique and individual.

The word for health in Sanskrit is" Svastha". Sva – Self and Stha means established, so the key to health is being "established in the self".

When we are in tune with our surroundings and are mentally and physically balanced, we experience a state of optimal health. However, out of balance, we may experience emotional instability and physical distress, leading to a state of Dis-Ease in the body and mind.

WHAT IS A DOSHA?

In Ayurveda, you will often hear the term "Dosha". The doshas are energetic forces composed of Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. To make things easier, the elements partner up to create the three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Ether and Air create Vata Dosha

Fire and Water create Pitta Dosha

Water and Earth create Kapha Dosha.

These energetic forces are present in the body and at constant play in our external environment. Each Dosha is predominant in a time of life, a time of year and a time of day. The doshas are more energy than matter, and their energetic force causes specific functions in the body and environment to happen.