What Is Ayurveda? And What Can Ayurveda Do For You?
Ayurveda can be tricky to pronounce. So, in the tone of Hermione Granger, it’s eye-ur-vey-dah. If no one’s listening, try it out loud, eye-ur-vey-dah.
—
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian health and happiness system based on nature.
Let’s break that down.
It’s ‘ancient’ because it’s thousands of years old.
‘Indian’ because it originated in India and is written in Sanskrit (the ancient Indo-European language of India).
A ‘health and happiness system’ because the focus and greatest rewards of Ayurveda are health and happiness.
And based on nature – but I’ll come back to that.
Let’s not get caught up in its origins, because at the centre of everything to do with Ayurveda is you and your true path in life. That might seem strange, but Ayurveda encourages us onto a path of self-discovery that leads to complete self-understanding and self-fulfilment.
That is Ayurveda’s true value to you.
—
Ayurveda is holistic.
According to Ayurveda the four aspects of a whole person are body, senses, mind, and spirit. Or if you prefer — physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual.
Those four aspects make up the whole person, they are interconnected and cannot be separated from each other.
It is the bringing together and balancing of the four aspects of the whole person, that is the key to ultimate health and happiness in Ayurveda.
For example, there’s no use trying to understand psychology, without considering how the body, senses, and spirit interconnect and relate to the mind.
In other words, there’s no use focussing on just one aspect of yourself to unlock health and happiness, you have to consider (and balance) the whole of you.
—
In Sanskrit, Ayu means ‘life’ and veda means ‘science’.
Ayu relates to all life. I’m talking cells, organisms, insects, animals, plants, trees, mountains, waterfalls, oceans, fire, warmth, light, sunshine, clouds, wind, hurricanes, ether, stars, the milky way even.
‘Life’ in Ayurveda refers to absolutely everything ‘alive’ in nature.
As mentioned, Ayurveda is based on nature and that’s what makes it relevant to you and me, and as insightful today as it was 5000 years ago.
I discovered Ayurveda as a young adult. Ayurveda helped me tremendously. It’s orientated me and pointed me to my true path in life.
If you’d like Ayurveda to help orientated you and point you to your true path in life, then stay a while – I’ll gladly teach you everything I’ve learned about Ayurveda to help you on your way.
-
Take your notebook and pen.
5 mins - Calm your mind, be present
To begin, spend a few minutes writing about your immediate sensory experience and surroundings. Writing should be specific, descriptive, and done with mindful awareness.
10 mins - Lose yourself in the mind
Move into what’s important to you when it comes to health and happiness.
What makes you feel healthy? Which aspects of your life do you associate with happiness? Do you feel in control of your own health and happiness? If so, why – or perhaps why not?
You might like to draw a mind map to explore your thoughts with the words ‘health & happiness’ at the centre.
5 mins - Reflect on what you’ve written
Reread everything you’ve written. While reading, observe the tone and emotion in your writing. Make further written notes underneath or beside what is already written to aid your reflections.
Note: Journaling often stirs emotion so don’t be afraid if you touch on something that makes you feel a certain way. Allow whatever comes up to pass freely and without judgement.
