5000-year old-holistic healing system may hold the answer in achieving more life balance – and a lovely boost to your beauty and health routine this new year.
Health: Ayurveda is the worlds oldest medical system of healing that strives to create balance in body, mind and spirit in order to achieve optimal health. Originating in India, this ancient healing tradition is hugely popular today with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Aniston and Madonna.
According to the principles of Ayurveda, each individual is unique, a combination of physical, mental and emotional characteristics which are known as his/her constitution (Prakruti).
Also known as the ‘sister science’ to yoga, Ayurveda offers an attempt to better connect with health, beauty and lifestyle through the products you buy, the food you eat and the way you move.
This taps into the belief within Ayurveda that every individual has their own constitution, a combination of the three doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha – which are formed by the five elements of air, ether, fire, earth and water.
Dosha Guide:
- Pitta: Being predominantly the element of fire it is involved in internal fire (digestion), bile, body heat, digestive enzymes, physio-chemical, biological, metabolic and endocrine systems.
- Vata: Consisting of air and ether is characterized by qualities such as light (weight), dry, rough, moving, subtle. Vata imbalance is usually present to some degree in all diseases due to its quality of movement.
- Kapha: Comprising of earth and water forms the solid structures and is responsible of the gross structure of the body, both solid and liquid.
The dominance of a particular dosha, determines characteristics and importantly may predetermine potential health risks.All three doshas are present in every cell of the body, however they have areas of dominance, which is their site of origin. Vata primarily resides in the colon, Pitta in the small intestine and Kapha the stomach.
Beauty:
Historically, Ayurvedic teachings work to align spiritual, mental and physical elements to treat disease but today Ayurvedic practices and principles have creeped into beauty too, with many brands – including AWE, Aveda and Subtle Energies to name a few – pioneering their products around this evolved practice.
“Ayurveda has been central to Aveda since the very beginning, when we partnered with the Ayurvedic Doctors Vinod and Kusum Upadhyay,” explains Aveda Educator, David Cartwright. “Globally sought for their expertise in Ayurvedic medicine, pharmacology, botanical research and aromatherapy, they brought thousands of years of Vedic and Ayurvedic tradition to bear on Aveda’s work.”
Ayurvedic beauty ingredients tend to lean towards plant bases with everyday foods such as milk, honey, spices, oils and ghee frequently used too.
Embracing Ayurvedic principals in beauty or health is a lifestyle that leads to a greater sense of balance between body, mind and spirit, surmises David.