I'm a bit biased, I admit. I've been studying Ayurveda formally for almost a year now. And it isn't just that I've completely fallen in love with its philosophy and nurturing practices, I also happen to know that they work. In fact, I've personally witnessed Ayurveda eliminating (and even preventing) serious disease and infection - naturally - within myself and in others.
So what is Ayurveda, anyway? The word itself comes from two Sanskrit words ayus meaning life and veda meaning knowledge, so it literally translates to "the knowledge of life". It was developed in ancient India by wise sages who dedicated their entire lives to the obtainment of this universal wisdom, by committing to intense mental and spiritual training via meditation and yoga. There is even evidence to suggest that the medical system of Ayurveda predates Ancient Greek medicine; it is the basis of all human medicine.
As we enter deeper into the new millennium and technology and knowledge continues to evolve, we find ourselves amidst a chemical revolution. Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but let's definitely agree that stronger and stronger medications are being created and stronger and stronger side effects are emerging along with them (who doesn't love those black and white medication commercials that play whimsical music as they list off "minor" side effects such as "nausea, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, stomach ulcers, and in serious cases death). Sure, most of those side effects may be relatively minor, but I believe that our society has gotten so used to them, that they have started to treat them as the norm. To have minor aches and pains or side effects is the standard, even beginning as young as age 30, because what other alternative is there if a pill can't fix it? I remember my new doctor being surprised when I went for my annual check up and expressed that I was not taking any medication, at 32. Or, how about this?: One of my former co-workers, a female in her mid-50s, told me a story of her going to see her doctor because her hip started hurting on a daily basis. Diagnosis and course of treatment? A "sore hip due to old age" and an ibuprofen a day, with a final comment: "This is common for people your age. There's nothing else you can do". Nothing else that you can do? Really? Well, I refuse to accept that.
Enter: Ayurveda. The "knowledge of life". THIS is what can be done.
But let's be clear - I'm not against Western medicine. Actually, I am a firm believer in integrative medicine - taking the best of both worlds and using that knowledge to approach any ailment. Unfortunately, our culture revolves around reactive medicine as the default. In truth, most of us only go to the doctor once we're in pain or if we happen to feel a weird lump somewhere, and sometimes, not even then. This is likely partly due to America's terrible healthcare system, but it can also be blamed on our society's tendency to treat the symptom, not the cause. But what if we can prevent those symptoms or treat the root and completely reverse disease, from a natural, less invasive method like diet and lifestyle practices and physical movement and with those techniques effectively eliminate those symptoms altogether and prevent them from returning? Wouldn't anyone rather explore that route first? In all objectivity, I think it's fair to assume that most would prefer the path of least resistance here. Though medicine has vastly improved, even in the last 50 years alone, there are some ancient truths that have been perhaps overlooked in the Western approach - ones that acknowledge that we are more part of nature than we realize and that living in harmony with it can actually benefit us in more ways than just mood. We've become so far removed from the natural rhythms of the planet and her seasons that don't even realize that a lot of our suffering is as a result of our disconnect from her.
Ayurveda teaches us that within nature exist 10 pairs of qualities. They are hot/cold, wet/dry, heavy/light, gross/subtle, dense/flowing, static/mobile, dull/sharp, soft/hard, smooth/rough, and cloudy/clear. Everything in our realities are made up of one quality from each pair, including us. Knowing these qualities, you can then apply them to the innate qualities of the five elements: earth, air, fire, water, ether. And once you know each element's nature, you can observe those same pairs of qualities within yourself and begin to understand your Ayurvedic constitution, or prakruti. From there, following the patterns of the qualities allows us to know which experiences can cause further imbalance, and which of them can bring us closer to a state of harmony. Through all of this, we see that Ayurveda's principles confirm what most of us already inwardly feel: "as above, so below", meaning, the larger system always matches the smaller system; we are all inevitably interconnected. And not just that, though yes we are all interconnected, each of us have unique needs that call for personalized treatments.
But alas, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Ayurveda is a complete and complex medical system that has existed for thousands of years. Its staple ancient text, the Charaka Samhita (written in the 1st century ACE) addresses specific diet and lifestyle practices for almost every ailment and with Ayurveda's principles, these practices can still be applied to newly identified conditions as well. The world of Ayurveda includes various treatments such as personalized herbal remedies, cleanses and diet recommendations, self-care practices, specialized yoga asana, and more advanced regimens such as Pancha Karma. Many fall in the realm of proactive medicine, and of course there are reactive treatments too. It's truly a full spectrum structure, even as age-old as it may superficially seem.
So all in all, you should care because there are no downsides to incorporating concepts of yoga and Ayurveda into one's life. In fact, there are only countless benefits. Ayurveda is not a religion and nor does it call for any specific dogma, and to begin reaping its benefits, you can start small. Tiny, even! It can start with just a couple of breaths. Really.
Now, to my application of it. Though I have already have incorporated Ayurvedic and Yogic concepts to my life in the past months since I started studying, I have not been consistent. So, beginning January 1, 2020, my new life begins and it will be detailed here on my Jivari Journey. I will be revealing all of the changes I will be making in my life (such as making the decision to become vegetarian and why, and beginning a consistent, daily practice of yoga). My ultimate goal is to lose a total of 90 lbs, gain a good deal of flexibility, and find a true, unconditional love for myself so that I can become the healer that I want to become - one who is able to approach every patient with true compassion. More details to follow in the next few posts!
Wishing everyone a warm and happy Thanksgiving this week!
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