What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word meaning 'the science of life' or ‘Life Wisdom’

The traditional medical system of India, Ayurveda is more than 5000 years old (written record is 2500-3000). One of the four Vedic sciences (alongside yoga), Ayurveda focuses most on the physical aspect of our existence—the body, while recognizing that we are spiritual beings at our core.

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Ayurveda, an ancient and holistic healing system, promotes well-being through personalized wellness plans, lifestyle guidance, herbal remedies, and stress reduction techniques tailored to each person’s individual constitution.

By holistically addressing the root causes of the imbalances in the body, Ayurveda helps people of all kinds achieve optimal health and vitality.

A colorful illustration of a human figure outlined in black, standing on a brown base representing earth. The figure is filled with swirling patterns of blue, green, orange, and yellow, symbolizing water, air, fire, and ether elements respectively.

Ayurveda is a framework, a system for understanding our bodies and the world around us.

Using simple, easy-to-grasp concepts like the 5 elements,

this science was created for regular people to understand their bodies and their world.

That means You.

Ayurveda was designed to be accessible to every body.

Ayurveda is a science of holistic healing, so the body is seen as a dynamic system.

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Just as the elements interact within the ever-changing ecosystems on earth, Ayurveda shows how these same elements interact in the complex systems inside our bodies.

We can use basic pattern recognition to see the way the elements interact, using the dosha system.

What are the doshas?

Doshas (Sanskrit) are combination of qualities (e.g. rough, light, cold, wet, hot, etc.) that also make up the elements (space, air, fire, water, earth). These same elements make up our physical bodies.

The doshas are: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Each corresponds to 2 elements, has qualities, and has physiological functions in the human body that are necessary for life.

A stylized illustration representing the Vata dosha in Ayurveda.

Elements: Air & Space

Qualities: Cold, light, subtle, mobile, changeable, quick, dry, rough

Functions: Nervous system, all movement

A stylized illustration representing the Pitta dosha in Ayurveda.

Elements: Fire & Water

Qualities: Hot, sharp, oily, penetrating, spreading,

Functions: Metabolism/transformation, digestion, cognition

A stylized illustration representing the Kapha dosha in Ayurveda.

Elements: Water & Earth

Qualities: Cold, wet, dense, heavy, immobile, sticky, cloudy, gross/big

Functions: Structure & lubrication

We use the doshas to understand what’s happening inside (the qualities) of our body from moment to moment, but also to understand the foods, drinks, experiences and herbs/substances that we take in.

As part of your work with me, we will use the qualities within the doshas as a tool that helps you know what to choose from moment to moment what food to eat, what experiences to choose, etc.

With a little learning, You become empowered to decide what is good for you in each moment of your day, answering the call from your body/mind/spirit (in the form of symptoms) with a meaningful response (using food, lifestyle, & herbs).

Basic Concepts in Ayurveda

  • The uniqueness of every body: we are each made up of a different combination of qualities/doshas, so the same foods & herbs will not work for everyone.

  • Digestion as a Keystone: Agni, or digestive power

  • The body wants balance & efficiency

  • Listening to the language of the body: symptoms are messages

  • Diet, lifestyle, & herbs for healing

  • Classical pathogenesis (process of dis-ease)

  • Cleansing methods: panchakarma

  • Like Increases Like, Opposite qualities balance

Ready to take the leap?

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Discover what is possible for you with Ayurveda.