Healing Through Ayurveda
by Cheryl Groce-Wright
About a year ago I began learning about a way to live and approach my health differently that included adjusting just about everything in my life. It’s called the Ayurvedic Lifestyle, an ancient Indian healthcare system that dates back more than 5000 years to the early Vedic scholars and sages.
Putting it in terms that I could better understand, Ayurveda literally means “the science of life” and it helps us understand that our health is a byproduct of enlightened living. As I dove more deeply into this new lifestyle that was speaking to me in new ways, I learned that Ayurveda as an ancient health and healing system doesn’t treat symptoms, rather it seeks to eliminate illnesses by treating the underlying causes of illness, whether it’s chronic inflammation (which I’ve learned almost all of us suffer with) or any number of other health issues. It helps us get to the root cause of what is ailing us, giving us the tools and guidance to prevent new illnesses, and may even allow us to reverse chronic illnesses that we already deal with.
What really sold me on adopting a new way of approaching my health is the Six Pillars of Ayurvedic health: Nutrition, Movement, Meditation, Sleep, Emotional balance, and Self-Care, and all of them include a recipe of daily routines that support my “whole health and wellness!”
Let me share some of the knowledge and wisdom I now enjoy because of my exposure to Ayurveda:
Nutrition – All human life falls into one of three body types, called doshas and they are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and the foods you eat and the effects they have on your body are affected by your specific dosha or body type. Regardless of your dosha, you should eat fresh, local, and seasonal foods ensuring that your body takes in the maximum amount of “prana” or life force from what you eat. All of your meals should include the six tastes that exist, those being sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent (I have a nifty shopping list that tells me what categories almost all foods and spices fall into), and you should also eat “the rainbow” with foods of all colors on your plate.
Movement – Our bodies are made to move, and the more we move the better we feel and the more in tune we are with our world and our well-being. This can be walking, yoga, cycling, running, climbing, etc. and the true focus is on making sure that your body is in motion and stays in motion no matter what your age or abilities.
Meditation – This should be or become a part of a daily routine, and there are a number of ways to accomplish establishing a regular meditation practice. How often, and how long to meditate is determined by many personal factors--- I am proud to offer that I have developed a strong meditation practice in which I meditate using my personal mantra for 30 minutes twice a day most days, and at least once every day!!!
Sleep – 8 hours is essential to live a healthy, holistic life, and building a strong sleep routine is one of the most important parts of healthy living. It is recommended that we sleep between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am; try to wake without an alarm, and wake each day rested and ready to begin the day. This may sound difficult and is for someone like me who has always struggled with sleeping, but I have started a fairly regular routine of turning off all screens by 8:30 pm, and reading, journaling, taking a bath/shower, and listening to a soothing sleep story or app of which there are a bunch one can try.
Emotional balance, i.e. Stress management – This is that all important area where we address our inner worlds that are often impacted by stress, worries, emotional upset, anxiety, burnout, overwhelm, and all the emotional baggage that we carry around. Ayurveda has tools and techniques that can assist in addressing some of these hard places in our lives, and on our hearts and minds. Just think of this as the “stress management” pillar of health!
Self-Care – Ayurveda has numerous daily routines that are recommended to achieve your maximal health and wellness--- things like meditating as soon as you rise before eating or doing any kind of rigorous movement; eating your largest meal of the day at midday when your body’s digestive “fire” is at its highest and most effective; meditating again at the end of your day before unwinding in the evening; eating a light meal at least two hours before winding down for bedtime preparation; evening self-massage before a bath or shower to prepare the body for sleep; and a whole bunch of other tools and techniques that certainly do help your body live more in tune with the rhythm of nature and the world around us.
If I have piqued your interest and you would like to learn more about an Ayurvedic lifestyle, please join me for two sessions “Healing Through Ayurveda” on February 22 and March 1--- I’d absolutely love to see you there. My life has changed for the better and I hope that perhaps I can help you change yours as well!!!