If you didn’t grow up learning about Ayurveda, you’re not alone. This ancient system of natural healing has deep roots in Indian culture but is still relatively new to many people around the world.
The first time I had a consultation with an Ayurvedic doctor was during my first trip to India. The ittle I knew about Ayurveda I had read in books, and up until that moment, it was summarized in elements and predictive charts to determine a biotype: Vata, Pitta, or Kapha. I was looking for new possibilities for understanding and nurturing my health.
The Ayurvedic specialist was a woman, Dr. Ushua. I arrived at her office after walking quite a distance, crossing the city of Rishikesh, as she lived on the other side of "the Ganga" (Ganges river). She spoke a lot and at a fast pace, but she was very precise with her words.
She told me something that was a revelation for me.
After waiting for a while in her small waiting room, she invited me into her office and asked me some questions about my health history, lifestyle, routine, and any current symptoms or health concerns. She was curious about my sleep patterns, digestion, and energy levels.
I told her that I had never aligned with the answers in the Ayurveda tests; the biotype categories never gave me a clear result. Then, she wrote in the margin of the paper she was filling out: "Biotype: Tridosha".
When the consultation was finished and I returned to the school where I was studying Yoga, I shared the results with my classmates. I remember one of them saying: 'So it was you! We’ve found you...' Joking about the fact that only 1 or 2% of the population are Tridoshas."
Then, I learned that it was possible for a person to have all 3 doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) equally presented in the body from the time of birth and confirmed that, in fact, having a tri-doshic constitution is quite rare. I continued researching in dozens of books and also experimenting on myself. This came up in many subsequent conversations with teachers and students.
After I have cleared my mind about my constitution, everything started to make more sense. And she was right. Later in life, during another visit to India, I could confirm the out-turns with another specialists.
First thing I have learned is that for Tridoshas there are no specific guidelines that you need to follow, and because of that it is specially important to follow Ayurveda’s general lifestyle recommendations, as closely as possible to stay free of disease and maintain equilibrium.
To keep my diet balanced and to eat only when I feel hungry
To exercise 4-5 times a week and the most important:
To adjust my routines not only to the seasons but also to the different stages in life.
I guess I am lucky in a way because a tri-doshic constitution is the most stable and most difficult one to bring out of balance. But, and this is a big “but”, when a tri-doshic constitution is out of balance, it becomes the most difficult one to work with and re-balance.
Whenever I bring my life back in alignment with Ayurveda, I better understand the advice and words of specialists and teachers. I gain more precision in understanding how difficult it is for me to try to live in balance, Trying to adjust habits in the pursuit of well-being and health but the information gained settles over the years. And in this, Ayurveda and Yoga are similar: learning is achieved only through experience.
Yoga or Ayurveda?
Since ancient times, Ayurveda and Yoga have been closely intertwined. On one hand, Ayurveda is the traditional medicine that predominates in India, and on the other hand, Yoga is also a traditional discipline that seeks the union of body, mind, and spirit. Therefore, it can be said that Ayurveda represents the healing aspect of Yoga, while Yoga is considered the spiritual part of Ayurvedic philosophy.
AYUR: life | VEDA: science, knowledge
This is why Ayurveda is considered "the science of life," as it aims to heal the body, mind, and spirit through the principles of the doshas. According to these principles, certain types of diet and specific exercises are more beneficial depending on the individual.
"The ultimate goal of Ayurveda is for each human being to expand their vital force to pursue their purpose in life (Puruṣārtha)."
When practiced together, Yoga and Ayurveda not only support each other but also enhance one another. Both together help us navigate this journey with awareness.
Ayurvedic Treatments
Ayurvedic Massage : Each person has a unique internal energy that determines their physical and emotional imbalances. Ayurvedic massage, originating from India, is a traditional massage that uses essential oils (in line with Ayurvedic medicine) to balance the energies of the body and mind, a balance referred to as dosha : taking into account their specific needs, sensitivity, pain tolerance and skin type.
Benefits of Ayurvedic Philosophy
Reduces stress and calms anxiety.
Improves the immune system.
Detoxifies the body and support bodily functions.
Helps increase flexibility.
Supports Digestive Health
Enhances Longevity: A holistic approach to health that includes
diet, lifestyle, and mental well-being supports a longer and healthier life.
Give a spiritual meaning to your practice.
Our next AYURVEDA RETREAT is planned for winter time: we will be offering one such intensive Yoga and Ayurveda experience in India and I invite you to consider it.
Our intention during these days of retreat will be based on how to find, nurture and sustain harmony and balance as much as we can.
If you’re reading this, it’s likely because at some point in your life, you’ve paused to reflect on your life, work, or relationships and wondered if yoga could provide answers to many of those questions.
We live in a society where everything moves quickly, automatically, and we often lose sight of the essence of life. We are experiencing a moment of emotional crisis.
This is why we often start practicing asanas, breathing, and meditation, and our lives begin to change; the patterns we once had are no longer the same. The feeling is incredible, and eventually, the day comes when we want to dive deeper.
If you decide to follow your heart, deepen your yoga practice, learn about Ayurveda and experience profound changes that will transformed your life;
Join Belen & Paulina during this retreat that will be a unique experience to learn from the essence of life and self-love, and then share your essence with the world around you.
Learning, teaching and experiencing old traditions in India.
Constantly recalling those lessons I've learned over the years and always seeking balance.
How can you, in some small way, make room for harmony and balance this month?
With love,
Paulina.
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