Ayurveda means the knowledge or wisdom of life. It is the traditional healing system of India, often called the mother of all healing systems, and the oldest system of healthcare in the world. It is a system of both preventative and curative medicine that has been practiced for 5,000+ years. 

 

Rooted in ancient wisdom, Yoga and Ayurveda, sister-sciences, work holistically with the mind, body, and consciousness to restore homeostasis. Together, they encompass a complete approach to well-being. 

 

Ayurveda views health and dis-ease as the end result of how we interact with our environment. Harmonious interactions lead to health while dis-harmonious interactions lead to dis-ease. Ayurveda is the science of developing greater harmony with our environment through all of our senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). 

 

Fundamental to Ayurveda is the understanding that each person is unique and as a result, each person’s path toward optimal health is unique. Rather than merely treating symptoms, Ayurveda treats the whole person. The healing programs Method Mindful offers are based on effective, time-honored principles that focus on understanding your particular body-mind constitution and the unique nature of your imbalance. Each individualized program is formulated for you and may include lifestyle adjustments, dietary changes, herbs, color therapy, sound therapy, aroma therapy, massage therapy, and other natural therapeutics. The goal of all Ayurvedic programs is to create within your body and mind an optimum environment for healing to take place and to maximize your body’s ability to heal itself.

 

Ayurveda helps individuals to know what types of foods, sounds, smells, and other stimuli will create a state of balance and harmony in their unique body and mind. When the body and mind are in harmony, normal physiology is restored, and healing takes place.

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Ayurveda defines physiology in terms of three forces called doshas. At a more subtle level the doshas are made up of the five elements; ether, air,  fire, water, and earth. The three doshas are vata, pitta, and kapha. Vata governs the physiology of motion in the body. Pitta governs the physiology of metabolism. Kapha governs the physiology of structure. Each person has all three of these doshas, and therefore all five of the elements, within them. The balance of these three doshas at the moment of conception defines what Ayurveda calls one’s constitution, or “prakruti”. These doshas also fluctuate in accordance with how we live our lives and as they increase or decrease, they cause different conditions in the body and mind. These imbalances are called “vikruti”. The goal of Ayurveda is to restore the proper balance of these physiological forces. This is accomplished by utilizing one’s senses properly and living a healthy lifestyle.