Philosophy

In Ayurveda, perfect health is defined as "a balance between body, mind, spirit, and social wellbeing." In fact, the twin concepts of balance and connectedness echo throughout Ayurvedic texts, thought, and practice.

Like all holistic health systems, Ayurveda emphasizes the unshakable connections between the body, mind, and spirit. However, Ayurveda's connectedness extends far beyond the individual, reaching into the universal.

Some basic but vital tenants of this philosophy include:

• All things in the universe, both living and nonliving, are joined together. In fact, everything in the universe is actually made of the same five gross natural elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth.

• There is a deep connection between the self and the environment.

• We are all initially connected within ourselves, to people surrounding us, to our immediate environment, and to the universe. This balanced connectivity ensures good health.

• We remain healthy if we retain balance, interacting with our environment in an effective and wholesome way.

• However, our initial balance is often disrupted by our lifestyles. Choices about diet, exercise, profession, andrelationships all have the potential to create physical, emotional, or spiritual imbalances.

• This imbalance causes a lack of harmony, and makes us more susceptible to disease.

• Human beings are responsible for their choices and actions. We can attain and maintain good health if we make balanced choices that promote connectivity and harmony.

What are the Ayurvedic concepts of prakruti and doshas?
More about doshas

• Space (associated with expansiveness)

• Air (associated with gaseousness, mobility, and lack of form)

• Fire (associated with transformation, heat, and fire)

• Water (associated with liquidity and instability)

• Earth (associated with solidity and stability)

What is the Ayurvedic approach?

• Internal measures, including shodhana (detoxification) and shamana (methods used to improve quality of life via palliative care).

• External measures, including snehana (oil treatments), svedana (steam therapy using herbal steam), and use of herbal pastes.

• Surgical methods, including removal of tissues, organs, and harmful growths

• Mental and spiritual therapies, called daivya chikitsa

• Herbal measures, including rasa shashtra (the use of various herbal and trace metal formulations)

What are the Ayurvedic specialties?

• Internal Medicine (Kaya-Chikitsa), which focuses on doshic balance and imbalance, metabolic function, and digestion

• Surgery (Shalya Chikitsa)

• Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat (Salakya Chikitsa)

• Obstetrics/gynecology (Prasuti and Stri-Rog)

• Pediatrics (Bala Chikitsa/ Kaumarbhritya)

• Psychology and Psychiatry (Bhuta-vidya or Graha-Chikitsa), which includes spirituality

• Toxicology (Agadha-tantra), which focuses on poisons ranging from insect bites to heavy metals and plants, and includes a medical jurisprudence role in which practitioners address cause of injury, death, and other medical ethics

• Rejuvenation/Geriatrics (Rasayana) and Virilification/Sexology (Vajikaran)

Ayurvedic philosophy maintains that people are born with a specific constitution, which is called the prakruti. The prakruti, established at conception, is viewed as a unique combination of physical and psychological characteristics that affect the way each person functions.

Throughout life, an individual's underlying prakruti remains the same. However, one's prakruti is constantly influenced by various internal, external and environmental factors like day and night, seasonal changes, diet, lifestyle choices, and more. Ayurveda places great emphasis on prevention of illness, and recommends maintaining health through following daily and seasonal regimens which create balance.

Ayurveda teaches that three qualities, called doshas, form important characteristics of the prakruti, or constitution. These doshas are called vata, pitta, and kapha, and they all have a specific impact on bodily functions.

Adherents of Ayurvedic medicine believe that each person has an individual, "tailored" balance of the three doshas. Individual doshas are constantly "in flux," and are influenced by eating, exercising, and relating to others.

Ayurvedic adherents believe that dosha imbalance produces symptoms that are related to that dosha and are different from symptoms of another dosha imbalance. (For example, if the aggressive and "hot" pitta-prominent person aggravates pitta, he/she may develop prickly rash or an acidic stomach.) Many factors can cause imbalance, including a poor diet, too much or too little physical or mental exertion, chemicals, or germs.

Each dosha is comprised of two of the five basic elements, which each have specific qualities. These elements are:

Furthermore, each dosha is associated with a specific bodily "build" or shape, and is linked to certain personality traits. Ayurveda also links each dosha with particular types of health problems.

It is important to note that only a trained Ayurvedic practitioner can accurately determine a person's prakruti and dosha. This classification is based on a thorough examination, which includes observing one's facial features, body build, way of walking, speech patterns, pulse, and much more. For more information, see What Happens In a Visit to an Ayurvedic Practitioner.

Some characteristics of each dosha include:

Pitta is a term originating from the Sanskrit word pinj, meaning "to shine." This dosha, which is comprised of the fire element, rules digestive, chemical, and metabolic function, and is associated with heat and oiliness. Its main seat is the small intestine, and it is the dosha believed to add luster to the eyes, hair, and skin. In a more figurative sense, pitta also governs our ability to "digest" not only the food stuff but also the concepts and information, which we then use to perceive our world.

Pitta-dominant people enjoy an efficient metabolism and hearty appetite. They are considered intelligent, aggressive achievers. Pitta people must be on guard against bleeding disorders, inflammations, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and anger. To achieve Pitta dosha balance, Ayurveda advises avoiding extreme heat and eating less spicy food.

Vata is a term stemming from the Sanskrit word vayuu, meaning "that which moves." It is comprised of the space and air elements, and is sometimes considered the most influential dosha because it is the moving force behind both pitta and kapha. From its main seat in the colon, vata is believed to promote a healthy balance between thought and emotion, and fuel creativity, activity, and clear comprehension.

A vata-dominant person is quick, alert, and restless. She/he may walk, talk, and think quickly. However, vatas tend toward nervousness, fear, and anxiety, and are more susceptible to diseases like arthritis, insomnia, flatulence, constipation, and nerve disorders. To balance vata, it is important to maintain calm and routine, avoid extreme temperatures, and get adequate rest. Vata in the body increases with age.

Kapha is a term that derives from the Sanskrit word "shlish," meaning "that which holds things together." From its main seat in the stomach, this dosha relates to mucous, lubrication, and carrying nutrients into the arterial system. Kapha also governs immunity; Ayurveda teaches that its energy promotes the ongoing processes of self-repair and healing. Comprised of the water and earth elements, kapha is also thought to offer endurance and physical and psychological strength and stability, while also promoting human emotions, like love, compassion, empathy, understanding, forgiveness, loyalty, and patience.

Kapha-dominant people are considered strong but loving, tenacious but calm, and are blessed with wise tolerance. Kapha people are believed to be susceptible to weight gain, lethargy, excessive sleep, goiter, pulmonary congestion, allergies and asthma. To maintain balance, Kapha people are advised to frequently exercise, eat light meals, and avoid napping.

Whether you go to an Ayurvedic internal medicine specialist or an obstetrician, or other specialist, they will take both a preventive and curative approach.

Preventive Medicine: This approach seeks to create and maintain health and longevity within the individual. It emphasizes defining each person's prakturi (or constitution) and creating daily and periodic regimens to support that prakturi and keep it in balance.

These health routines focus on everything from diet and exercise to herbal therapies, massage, meditation, and social behavior and positive relationships.

Curative Medicine: These treatments seek to heal an illness, which may be achieved by one or more of the following approaches:

Ayurvedic medicine features the following eight specialty branches:

Wednesday, 23 NOVEMBER 2016

A Vata balancing yoga sequence for fall

Designed to bring a grounding, soothing energy to the body and mind… especially important this holiday.

Ayurveda is the Vedic science of living a life of optimal health and healing, in tune with Mother Nature. Tucked away in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, last month’s FP Escapes retreat centered itself around this great philosophy. We practiced living seasonally, mindfully tweaking everything from the food we eat to physical activity.

Our guide, Claire Ragozzino, led us in a yoga sequence designed to bring a grounding, soothing energy into the body and mind. When you find your mind overly active with thoughts, your body fatigued from moving too quickly, or stiff from the shift to dry, colder weather, this practice brings warmth, stability and suppleness through a series of balancing postures, side bends, inversions and meditative breathing.  A yoga practice that balances vata dosha (one of the three Ayurvedic principles — it governs movement in the body, the nervous system as well as elimination) should move with a slow and steady pace, focusing on mindful breathing and sharp concentration, with emphasis on rest and restoration at the end of the practice.

Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing)
Find a comfortable seated position. With your right hand, cross your pinky finger under your ring finger, then fold your middle and index fingers inward towards the palm. Extend your thumb. Rest your left hand on your knee. Relax your shoulders and take five deep breaths through both nostrils. On the last inhale, close the right nostril with the thumb and exhale the breath out through the left nostril. Then, close the left nostril with the crossed fingers and release the right. Take a gentle, steady inhale through right nostril until the breath is full. Close both nostrils and hold the breath still for a moment, then open the left nostril and exhale. Inhale through the left nostril until the breath is full, close both nostrils and exhale through the right. Repeat this motion of breathing through the right and left nostrils for 10 rounds. As you breathe, imagine the prana flowing smoothly up and down both right and left channels. By pairing a steady breath with concentration, this pranayama supports nervous system and activates both right and left hemispheres of the brain.

Tadasana (mountain pose)

After the breathing practice is complete, come to standing on your mat with your feet together or hip distance apart. Focus on rooting down into your feet firmly and evenly. Allow the arms to rest alongside your body, extending fingers down towards the ground to move the shoulders away from the ears.  Lift the heart and gently draw the navel towards the spine. Reach the crown of the head towards the sky, let the chin tilt down slightly toward the chest and ground down through the feet, lengthening the entire spine.. Feel the muscles engaged, hugging the bones firmly. Take several deep breaths here, tuning into the sensations of the body and noticing the stability in your structure. Connect with a steady inhalation and exhalation. This even breath pattern is called sama vritti. It brings peacefulness to the mind and sooths an erratic breathing pattern that comes with a disturbed vata dosha

          

Chandrasana (standing crescent/side bending pose)

From mountain pose, inhale and raise the arms overhead. Interlace the fingers and press the palms up towards the sky, lengthening the whole spine upwards to create space in the low back. As you exhale, press firmly into both feet and bend the body towards the right side of the mat. Breathe for one steady count in and out, then inhale as you raise back to center. Press into the feet evenly again and exhale the body to the left side of the mat. Alternate right and left 3-5 times, with emphasis on rooting into the ground and engaging the abdominal muscles to support the spinal column as you bend, never stressing the joints.  

            

Natarajasana (dancer pose)

From mountain pose, find a focal point to fix your gaze. Shift your weight onto your right foot and lift your left heel toward your left glute as you bend the knee.  Reach back with your left hand and grasp the outside of your left foot or ankle. To avoid compression in your lower back, actively lift your pubic bone toward your navel to engage the abdominal muscles while lengthening tailbone towards the ground. Extend your right arm upwards towards the sky, lift your chest and kick the foot into the hand. Hold here with the knees together, or begin to hinge forward at the hips drawing the body parallel to the ground. Equal action of pulling the foot backwards and extending the chest forward with a fixed gaze promotes steady support for balancing. Alert concentration in balancing postures takes an overactive mind to a quiet and focused one.

Dandasana (staff pose)

Sit down on your mat. Extend your legs straight out straight out in front of you and place your hands by your hips. Place your fingers and palms flat on the floor and straighten your arms to extend the spine, without drawing the shoulders to the ears. Keep space and length through the neck as you draw the shoulder blades down the back. Lift the chest and drop the chin down to nestle between the collarbones. Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths.  This simple, but powerful practice is grounding for root chakra while the active breath directs heat into the abdomen, manipura chakra.

          

Baddha Konasana (butterfly pose)

From staff pose, bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet together to touch. Bring your heels as close to your pelvis as you can without feeling pressure or pain in your knees. Push the outer edges of your feet firmly into the floor and wrap your hands around your feet or ankles. With the pelvis in a neutral position and the body upright, squeeze the gluteal muscles to activate the knees downward towards the ground, never pushing or forcing.  Stay here or recline your body forward, ensuring that your spine remains long and neutral by bending from the hip joints as opposed to the upper back. Hold for 3-5 breaths.

Apanasana (knees to chest pose)

Lie on your back and draw your knees toward your chest. Wrap your hands or arms around the legs. Take 5-10 deep breaths, with each exhale drawing the knees closer into the chest. The pressure on the abdomen improves digestion, releases bloating from the belly and tightness in the low back.

Viparita Karani (legs up the wall pose)
Come to a wall and roll onto your back, straighten the legs to the wall. The backs of the thighs, calves and/or heels will rest on the wall. Rest one hand on the heart and one hand on the belly for a calming, nurturing effect. Close the eyes and rest in this inversion for 5-10 minutes.

Savasana (Corpse Pose)
Lie comfortably on the floor, using a blanket to keep warm. Release any controlled breathing and fully relax all effort for 5 to 15 minutes. The longer the better, allowing time to rest and integrate the work from your practice and day.

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Claire Ragozzino is a yoga instructor, plant-based chef & holistic nutrition educator. She works with clients around the globe to inspire transformational changes in their health and wellbeing. Her wellness programs are infused with Ayurvedic principles, plant-based nutrition, and yogic philosophy to cultivate knowledge for intuitive healing. Learn about her seasonal cleanses, coaching programs and global retreats: www.vidyaliving.com