Over the past year I have become increasingly interested in the principles of Ayurveda; the wisdom/science of life developed by the Himalayan Rishis in their meditations several millennia ago.
The Rishis understood the inherent ability of nature to balance itself and used the principles to create a healing science of cosmic harmony.
Ayurveda and yoga go hand in hand to create an art of appropriate living designed to achieve longevity and a balanced state of body, mind and consciousness. Ayurveda outlines practises to enable us to reach our full potential with thorough consideration of all physical and emotional stresses which impact our health.
"By seeing ourselves as a microcosm of life influenced by the wider world around us we may understand our true nature" Dr Jono Conduous: www.ayurvedabrighton.co.uk/
Ayurveda is an extremely complex science and I am just scratching the surface of trying to learn and follow the principles with the help of my Doctor Jono Conduous in London. Ayurveda outlines a system which evaluates the qualities of foods and their subsequent effects on the digestive system and overall health. There are five elements space, air, fire, water and earth and each individual has a unique combination of these energies which form the three doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Most people have one or two prominent doshas which affects their overall constitutions. Ayurveda prescribes a holistic programme including specific diet, herbs, oils, and massages tailored to the individual constitution to bring them to natural state of optimum health. For example I am Vata-Pitta and being high in Vata means my mind can be up in the air, leading to restlessness and difficulty sleeping. By avoiding Vata producing foods (unfortunately that means bye bye to raw salads :( )and working on grounding meditations I have felt the Vata reduce improving sleep and feeling more balanced.
I am incredibly lucky to have found such a fantastic Dr and guide in Jono who I trust completely and and with his help feel much more healthier, calmer and energised. Jono was warned me to be cautious of who I saw in India and which ayurvedic treatments I undertook so when I was in Varkala I was cautious when checking out the various practioners and disappointed when some seemed to just want to sell packages before even assessing what would be appropriate for me and my constitution.
However I was drawn to Dr. Abin S.R at the S.M Ayurveda Panchakarma and Yoga Therapy Centre and I knew when we met that I could trust him as he radiated health with the clearest, purest eyes and glowing skin. After a long consultation in which he asked numerous health and personal questions and took notes with astute detail we discussed possible treatments and agreed to do a full body massage and Shirodhara.
My first ayurvedic treatment in India was very different to being in the comfort of Triyoga! I was treated by two women (in ayurveda it is traditionally same sex treatments) and they stripped me naked then put me in a little nappy to cover some modesty before lying down on a plastic massage table - none of the warm, fluffy towels, soft bed, dim lighting and soothing music here. But it was an excellent massage using lots of oil which my body clearly needed as was readily soaking up. They massaged over the whole body in tandem, working into joints and cracking fingers and toes. I then sat upright on a wooden bench for a wonderful head massage, softening temples and brows and stimulating head.
Shirodhara
Shirodhara is an ancient treatment that involved gently pouring liquid over the forehead - the third eye/ajna chakra. Different liquids such as oil, milk, cocunut water are used to treat different conditions ranging from sinusitis, skin diseases such as psoriasis, hearing impairment, greying hair to insomnia or non-medicially for its relaxing properties. I had the warm oil treatment which releases any tension from the mind and nervous system and helping to reduce sleeplessness.
After the full massage I was completely relaxed and lay down in savasana for Shirodhana where a hanging casket of warm oil is placed above the head and flows warm oil directly onto the third eye centre in a constant stream. The casket is moved gently from side to side, circles and figures of eight to massage the whole forehead in rhythmic motion.
This synchronizes alpha brain waves, enhances blood circulation to the brain and releases deeply trapped toxins. The total treatment lasted about 1hr 45 and afterwards I felt deeply relaxed, blissed out and profoundly peaceful and it was a struggle to move but the women got me up, showered and dressed me! The following day I enjoyed another Shirodhana treatment, even more than the first because I knew what to expect, and have been reaping the benefits of sleeping like a content baby for longtime afterwards.
In less than a year of starting to follow Ayurveda I have already enjoyed profound differences to energy levels, sleep patterns, digestion and general health and I look forward to learning more and going deeper into this science of life.
The Rishis understood the inherent ability of nature to balance itself and used the principles to create a healing science of cosmic harmony.
Ayurveda and yoga go hand in hand to create an art of appropriate living designed to achieve longevity and a balanced state of body, mind and consciousness. Ayurveda outlines practises to enable us to reach our full potential with thorough consideration of all physical and emotional stresses which impact our health.
"By seeing ourselves as a microcosm of life influenced by the wider world around us we may understand our true nature" Dr Jono Conduous: www.ayurvedabrighton.co.uk/
Ayurveda is an extremely complex science and I am just scratching the surface of trying to learn and follow the principles with the help of my Doctor Jono Conduous in London. Ayurveda outlines a system which evaluates the qualities of foods and their subsequent effects on the digestive system and overall health. There are five elements space, air, fire, water and earth and each individual has a unique combination of these energies which form the three doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Most people have one or two prominent doshas which affects their overall constitutions. Ayurveda prescribes a holistic programme including specific diet, herbs, oils, and massages tailored to the individual constitution to bring them to natural state of optimum health. For example I am Vata-Pitta and being high in Vata means my mind can be up in the air, leading to restlessness and difficulty sleeping. By avoiding Vata producing foods (unfortunately that means bye bye to raw salads :( )and working on grounding meditations I have felt the Vata reduce improving sleep and feeling more balanced.
I am incredibly lucky to have found such a fantastic Dr and guide in Jono who I trust completely and and with his help feel much more healthier, calmer and energised. Jono was warned me to be cautious of who I saw in India and which ayurvedic treatments I undertook so when I was in Varkala I was cautious when checking out the various practioners and disappointed when some seemed to just want to sell packages before even assessing what would be appropriate for me and my constitution.
However I was drawn to Dr. Abin S.R at the S.M Ayurveda Panchakarma and Yoga Therapy Centre and I knew when we met that I could trust him as he radiated health with the clearest, purest eyes and glowing skin. After a long consultation in which he asked numerous health and personal questions and took notes with astute detail we discussed possible treatments and agreed to do a full body massage and Shirodhara.
My first ayurvedic treatment in India was very different to being in the comfort of Triyoga! I was treated by two women (in ayurveda it is traditionally same sex treatments) and they stripped me naked then put me in a little nappy to cover some modesty before lying down on a plastic massage table - none of the warm, fluffy towels, soft bed, dim lighting and soothing music here. But it was an excellent massage using lots of oil which my body clearly needed as was readily soaking up. They massaged over the whole body in tandem, working into joints and cracking fingers and toes. I then sat upright on a wooden bench for a wonderful head massage, softening temples and brows and stimulating head.
Shirodhara
Shirodhara is an ancient treatment that involved gently pouring liquid over the forehead - the third eye/ajna chakra. Different liquids such as oil, milk, cocunut water are used to treat different conditions ranging from sinusitis, skin diseases such as psoriasis, hearing impairment, greying hair to insomnia or non-medicially for its relaxing properties. I had the warm oil treatment which releases any tension from the mind and nervous system and helping to reduce sleeplessness.
After the full massage I was completely relaxed and lay down in savasana for Shirodhana where a hanging casket of warm oil is placed above the head and flows warm oil directly onto the third eye centre in a constant stream. The casket is moved gently from side to side, circles and figures of eight to massage the whole forehead in rhythmic motion.
This synchronizes alpha brain waves, enhances blood circulation to the brain and releases deeply trapped toxins. The total treatment lasted about 1hr 45 and afterwards I felt deeply relaxed, blissed out and profoundly peaceful and it was a struggle to move but the women got me up, showered and dressed me! The following day I enjoyed another Shirodhana treatment, even more than the first because I knew what to expect, and have been reaping the benefits of sleeping like a content baby for longtime afterwards.
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