A Quick Beginners Guide to Ayurveda

Ayur-who-what-now?

When I talk about holistic healing, or Ayurveda most people have the same reaction. 
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So I'm here to give you a simple breakdown of one of my key tools to living a healthy, balanced life. If you follow the wellness community, there's no doubt that you've heard the word, Ayurveda, or Ayurvedic Medicine. Now, find out what it's all about.

Pronunciation:
/äyərˈvādə/ or A•yur•ve•da. Let's be real, if you need an aural reference, I got you. Check this to hear two common pronunciations, and this to hear pronunciation in British English and American English. What, like I'm the only sucker for dialects?

The Breakdown:
Ayur = Life and Veda = Science (or Knowledge). Ayurveda, one of the oldest forms of holistic healing began nearly 5,000 years ago in India. It is concentrated on balancing the whole body, mind, and spirit. This is done through everything from meditation, to specific diets (not in the "lose 5 pounds in 5 days" type of diet).

The Three Doshas:
The Doshas are the biological energies that make up the human body. They are derived from the Five Elements; Air, Space, Water, Earth, and Fire. These body constitutions make us who we are, and we have all three. What sets us apart is one or two may be more dominate. Deviation of energy of the three Doshas can be partly of what makes us imbalanced.

• Vata qualities are reflective of Air and Space
• Pitta qualities are reflective of Fire and Water
• Kapha qualities are reflective of Water and Earth

Once you've discovered your primary Dosha, you can use that as a guide to balance your mind/body. This includes specific yoga poses, dietary needs, etc. I'll explore and explain more on Doshas as we go along. This is just to give you a general knowledge.

Still with me? Good.

Finally:
You can live an Ayurvedic lifestyle as much or as little as you prefer. I promise it's not as scary, or hippie dippy as it sounds. What until I tell you about my first Shamanic Journey, and meeting my Spirit Animal. Boil some ginger root, (or grab my favorite Ginger Tea) take a deep breath, and stick me with.

I got you. ​

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