Why should I try Ayurveda?
- Ayurveda is the world’s oldest natural-healing system – time-tested across India, China, Korea, Japan, SE-Asia and also influencing founders of western medical systems as Hippocrates and later Arab physicians taking this science into Europe in the Middle-Ages, with the revival of surgery and humoric medicine
- It promotes models of biological sustainability through working with circadian rhythms as per our phenotypes (unique biologies)
- It sources 100% natural and organic cures from the earth which are compatible with the human body (a product of nature, not a synthetic structure)
- Ayurveda assesses our unique changes for optimum health, based on our own unique suitabilities (genetic, cultural and biological), rather than a ‘fad’ or ‘cookie-cutter’ dietary or yoga regime
- Many from Hollywood Celebrities, movements such as TM (Transcendental Medication), Deepak Chopra to Prince Charles and Camilla promote Ayurveda (the English Royal family still themselves, use homoepathic doctors, whose roots in European herbalism derive from Ayurveda)
Do I need to believe in anything to practice Ayurveda? Can I be vegan?
A: Ayurveda is based on a system that caters for all types of people and varied tastes, as per the ancient diverse dietary habits of religious and cultural preferences across Asia – ranging from meat-eaters, to lacto-vegetarians, lactose-intolerant individuals and even those who avoided root-vegetables, as well as communities such as Jews and Muslims with specific dietary (halaal and kosher) requirements.
Based on various factors such as one’s own unique biological makeup and psychology, Ayurveda then assesses the disease patterns and manifestation of the individual (if applicable) and recommends an integral dietary and lifestyle approach based upon this.
As an example, the ancient vegetarian, non-alcoholic Jainas of India, whilst mainly lacto-vegetarians unlike modern vegans – many did avoid dairy from farmers who ill-treated their cattle, and like modern vegans, also avoided honey – in addition to even more strict regimes such as fungus (as mushrooms), yeasts as well as root-vegetables, as Brahmins (priestly families) in India avoided the use of onions, garlic, alcohol etc.
Yet, it also understood and respected some regions consumed higher quantities of dairy (in the north), fish (in the east) and meats (in the Himalayas) and provided appropriated dishes and spicing in accordance with these variations, as also when treating those with religious dietary restrictions/prohibitions.
In fact, in ancient times, Indian physicians were invited to Persia, Greece, Rome and later Baghdad in the Arab world, where they were respected and honoured as teachers to people of various faiths – Jewish, Muslim and Christian. Ayurveda itself has been practiced by numerous denominations of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, atheists and others for thousands of years.
One is free to stick to their dietary and religio-cultural habits and personal beliefs, making some adjustments within these to avoid/include foods that can assist in proper health for the individual, based upon the in-depth energetics of foodstuffs – including, herbs, herbal preparations etc. and how/when these are consumed, as also with what combinations.
Yoga also isn’t just about difficult poses, but forms a major part of Ayurvedic Psychology, assessing levels of the mind, breathing practices, sound and aroma therapies that affect the mind-body complex; here, yoga can be said as the study of, and also the practice of (by way of visualisations, sound and breathing techniques, as also certain stretches [where required] ) psycho-somatics – something little understood in western approaches in the modern-day.
Carl Jung was also among noted psycho-analysts that noted Ayurveda and Yoga’s ability to understand the mind and psychosomatics to a deeper level than western medical science.
Auckland Ayurvedic Wellness 