What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda in Sanskrit language means “Science of life. Ayurvedic medicine is one of the oldest systems of natural medicine, which originated in ancient India and has been practiced for over 5,000 years. This system is considered by many experts as the oldest system of natural medicine and is officially recognized by the World Health Organization. Many of the healing systems around today have their roots in Ayurveda.

Ayurveda is a science of personal responsibility and self study. We control our experiences. Our experiences are results from what we have done in our past lives and in this life. The knowledge and wisdom of Ayurvedic medicine is based on a deep understanding of the forces of nature’s own hand. Among the fundamental principles of Ayurvedic medicine, we are all part of nature and we are all created from the same essential elements that exist in it.

Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Either. These forces that influence nature are the same forces that are within each of us, that’s why understanding these forces, we can understand ourselves and we can make choices on how to balance our constitution.

 

We are constantly affected by our constantly changing environment. Like the environment we are always in the natural cycle of accumulating, aggravating and alleviating. However, sometimes when we aren’t listening to our natural rhythm and ignore the symptoms of our bodies, we end up with manifested symptoms in our bodies that we have Western names such as weight gain, anemia, fatigue, fever-superficial, diarrhea, gas, nausea, conjunctivitis (red eyes), arthritis: swollen, cold, inflamed-hot, hair loss, dry and brittle hair, toe nail fungus, anxiety, depression, worry, anger/resentment, tremors, bleeding or yellow mucous, cough: wet or cloudy with mucous, clammy, dry and cracked skin (severe), red rashes, thin skin, thick skin, increased sweat: with cold, sweet odor, increased sweat: with hot, strong odor, dry mouth, tongue scallops, scanty urine due to obstruction or renal failure, infection: burning, yellow urine… and of course the list goes on. Any type of western disease, is thought of as a imbalance on the doshas in Ayurveda.

The goal of Ayurveda is to follow the natural cycle of accumulation, aggravation and alleviation… not accumulate and aggravate without alleviating and go into overflow, or relocation or finally diversification.

1) Overflow (mild and transient symptoms)
2) Relocation (the doshas relocate to different parts of the body)
3) Manifestation ( when we know it by a Western allopathic name)
4) Diversification (specific and severe symptoms)

There is a lot you can do, without being perfect, to stop the energies from manifesting in other areas of the body.

I have always had slight bloating after eating and periods of anger or being intense…etc, however, I just figured that is how I am. AND it’s true- I am the doshas that are constantly in movement- but with taking a bit of control over my diet and lifetstyle- I can help to alleviate certain symptoms before they manifest in very noticeable symptoms. This can be challenging especially if I have aggravated Pitta or Vata, because I am a high Pitta-Vata person, therefore, I am drawn to things that will bring me more Pitta and Vata. But I now know what´s best for me and when I want to feel my best, it´s a lot easier to make the right choices for myself.

I drew a picture of the DISEASE PROCESS to demonstrate what I am talking about a bit further.

I am throughly enjoying my studies and developing my Ayurvedic practices. I have finished the 599 hour Ayurveda Health Educator Program as well as the 600 hr Clinical Ayurveda Specialist Program, level 1- from the California College of Ayurveda. I am now currently in my Ayurvedic Counselor Internship from the Bogota Chapter of CCA, Escuela de Ayurveda. If I work hard and have the success of have 50 patient visits, I should finish my internship by February 2020.

Ayurveda is simple- but not easy. We are creatures of habit and addictions and unfortunately, we are often addicted to things that bring us out of natural balance- and leave us more susceptible to diseases. Good news is- after we make the conscious effort to begin changing our lifestyles to best suit ourselves (this will be different for everyone) we begin to feel really great. We begin understanding these things that we drive around in all day. We begin to want to show them so much love, that they stay in good condition, with less expensive maintenance and for longer time. AND we are actually are able to drive through our days with less problems, aggravations and breakdowns… than before, while still enjoying life and being part of society.

Certificate from Ayurveda massage course, studied and practiced in India.

I am working on tuning up myself right now… first I am going to worry about myself and I am going to continue studying Ayurveda, now from a Clinical perspective. I am now studying in the Clinical Ayurveda Specialist program which is another 800 hour program. I inspire one day (in a few more years and after two 600 hour Internships) to be a very well educated Ayurvedic Practitioner who has the opportunity to help many people. I would love to offer my services to all walks of life through creating an organization.

I plan to continue studying Ayurveda for the rest of my life- as I feel there are many, wonderful, beautiful things to study… but I found the subject (although very profound and with many branches) for me. Ayurveda isn’t a one dimensional science… the more you practice and live Ayurveda the deeper your knowledge and understanding will become. In May of 2019, I went to Colombia and studied there for over a month taking many courses, to add new eggs to my basket of tools! In July,  I successfully fulfilled the required for the Bliss therapy Course, Yoga for your type, Yoga Nidra and Herbal Medicine course.