About Ayurveda
Ayurveda, Yoga’s sister science, defines health in this way:
- balance and harmony foster the health and well-being of mind, body and spirit.
When the bio-energies (doshas) of the body work together harmoniously, the digestive fire (agni) works smoothly and elimination of waste (malas) functions well, a foundation of health and happiness in mind and spirit is created.
Ayurveda is based upon the five elements—
- Ether (Akash),
- Air (Vayu),
- Fire (Tejas),
- Water (Aap)
- Earth (Pruthvi)
and has thousands of years of detailed knowledge about the nature and effect of foods, herbs and seasons. It also understands how the elements combine in the body to govern physical and mental tendencies and how different dietary and lifestyle habits affect our mind, body and spirit.
In their energetic form, the elements combine into bio-energies—the doshas—called
The doshas are the bodily representatives of the great powers (tattwas) of the universe—Vayu, Surya and Soumya—and are responsible for all function in the body.
Vata governs the principal of movement, responsible for smooth function, physical motion and movement of all kinds.
Pitta governs the principal of transformation and governs digestion, conversion and regulation of bodily temperature as well as the ability of the intellect to comprehend.
Kapha governs the principal of assimilation and is responsible for building and protecting the body.
Ayurvedic Consultation
WHAT CAN IT HELP WITH?
Are you feeling out of balance? Maybe it is something specific like frequent heartburn, gas and bloating, or sleep issues. Or maybe it is a general feeling that your body/mind are out of balance or not experiencing the level of health and wellness you desire.
An Ayurvedic consultation may be able to help. Ayurveda, which means the “Knowledge of Life” is a traditional, holistic, system of health and healing that originated in India. Ayurveda combines a healthy diet, natural lifestyle, and as needed, supplemented with herbs and body treatments to bring the body and mind back into balance for optimal health and wellness.
The goal of an Ayurvedic consultation is to help you understand your unique body/mind constitution, current imbalances that may lie at the root of the imbalances you are experiencing, and changes to diet and lifestyle that may help bring your body/mind back into balance. The goal of these Ayurvedic consultations is to help you understand how best to support and nurture your body and mind so that you can become your own best healer.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
Ayurvedic consultations involve a detailed intake session and follow-up sessions for health management. Consultations begin with you completing a personal health assessment. The first consultation, 90 minutes, in-person, includes a discussion of the your health history and current imbalance, an assessment of your unique Ayurvedic constitution and current imbalances. Following the session, you will receive a personalized plan that includes Ayurvedic guidance on diet and nutrition, daily routines and lifestyle modifications, and as needed herbal therapies for internal and external use—all based on your unique mind-body constitution and imbalances. Follow up consultations, 60 minutes, in-person or over Zoom, typically happen once every 1–2 months for as long as needed.
Lalitha Vaidyanathan is a dedicated Sivananda Yoga teacher and a Certified Ayurveda Practitioner in the Bay area. She is currently pursuing advanced clinical training with Kerala Ayurveda Academy. She hopes to use her knowledge of Ayurveda to help individuals and institutions transform how they approach health and healthcare.
