Q: What is Ayurveda?
A: Ayurveda is a system of preventive medicine and health care that developed in India more than 5,000 years ago. The word Ayurveda comes from two Sanskrit root words: Ayus, or “life,” and Veda, meaning “knowledge” or “science.” Ayurveda is therefore usually translated as “the science of life.” However, a more precise translation would be “the knowledge of the lifespan.” Ayurveda offers practical tools, insights, and information for living in balance and health, without interference from illness.
Q: Is Ayurveda a form of holistic medicine?
A: Yes. Ayurveda is a healing system that treats the whole person – the integration of body, mind, and spirit – rather than simply treating individual symptoms. For instance, we know that ongoing stress damages our immune system, and when the immune system is weakened, we are more vulnerable to disease and illness. We also know that when our mind experiences pleasure, our brain releases healing chemicals to our entire body, creating feelings of happiness and well-being as well as promoting health.
Ayurveda takes holistic medicine a step further, treating people not as isolated individuals but as an inextricable part of the whole universe. In India’s ancient Vedic tradition, there is an underlying intelligence that flows through and connects everyone and everything in the universe. Ayurveda sees life as the exchange of energy and information between individuals and their extended body – the environment. If our environment is nourishing, we thrive; if our environment is toxic; we may become sick. Therefore, learning how to eliminate toxicity and surround ourselves with a healing environment is the key to health.
Q: How is Ayurveda different from conventional Western medicine?
A: In contrast with conventional medicine, which has devoted a lot of effort to isolating the differences among various diseases, Ayurveda focuses on the unique qualities of individuals, pointing out that diseases differ mainly because people are so different.
Ayurveda teaches that all health-related measures — whether an exercise program, dietary plan or herbal supplement — must be based on an understanding of an individual’s unique mind-body constitution or dosha. By knowing a patient’s dosha, an Ayurvedic practitioner can tell which diet, physical activities, and medical therapies are most likely to help, and which might do no good or even cause harm.
In addition, while Western medicine has tended to treat the symptoms of disease, Ayurveda seeks to eliminate illness by treating the underlying cause. For example, for a patient suffering from depression, an allopathic physician would likely prescribe a standard course of antidepressants and, perhaps, therapy.
An Ayurvedic practitioner, on the other hand, would seek to understand the root imbalances contributing to the depression. The practitioner would look at the patient as a whole, taking into consideration his or lifestyle, activities, diet, recent stressful events, beliefs, and mind-body constitution. The Ayurvedic practitioner would then recommend a treatment plan taking all of these factors into account.
Ayurveda doesn’t reject the use of antidepressants and other prescription medications – in fact, Ayurveda’s central principle is that we should make use of whatever healing modalities will restore health and balance to the body, including herbal remedies, dietary changes, pharmaceutical medications, meditation, exercise, psychotherapy, and so on.
Q: What are the doshas?
A: According to Ayurveda there are five master elements or mahabhutas that make up everything within our bodies and everything outside of our bodies: space, air, fire, water, and earth. Space carries all the aspects of pure potentiality – infinite possibilities; air has the qualities of movement and change; fire is hot, direct, and transformational; water is cohesive and protective; and earth is solid, grounded, and stable.
Biological systems weave these five forces into three primary patterns known as doshas. They are most easily thought of as mind-body principles that govern our style of thinking and behaving. Vata dosha, woven from the elements of Space and Air, regulates movement and change in our minds and bodies. Pitta dosha, comprised of Fire and Water, governs digestion and metabolism. Kapha dosha, made from Earth and Water, maintains and protects the integrity and structure of our mind and body.
Biological systems weave these five forces into three primary patterns known as doshas. They are most easily thought of as mind-body principles that govern our style of thinking and behaving. Vata dosha, woven from the elements of Space and Air, regulates movement and change in our minds and bodies. Pitta dosha, comprised of Fire and Water, governs digestion and metabolism. Kapha dosha, made from Earth and Water, maintains and protects the integrity and structure of our mind and body.
All three doshas are present in every cell, tissue, and organ – for movement, metabolism, and protection are essential components of life. What makes life interesting is that although everyone has all three doshas, each of us mixes them together in a unique way, which determines the distinctive qualities of our mind and body.
Q: What is the Ayurvedic perspective on health and illness?
A: The guiding principle of Ayurveda and the other Eastern healing arts is the interconnection of all things. We aren’t simply an isolated collection of atoms and molecules, but are an inseparable part of the infinite field of intelligence. From this holistic perspective, health isn’t merely the absence of illness or symptoms ? it is a higher state of consciousness that allows vitality, well-being, creativity, and joy to flow into our experience.
In contrast, illness is a disruption ? a blockage in the flow of energy and information that creates a sense of separation or alienation from the field. Symptoms and sickness are the body’s signal that we need to restore balance, eliminate whatever is causing the blockages, and reestablish the healthy flow of energy and information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ayurvedic massage treatments are unlike any you’ve ever experienced because our specially trained therapists customize each treatment, using herbal-infused oils, aromas, and massage techniques to balance your unique mind-body type. For example, if you’re experiencing an imbalance that is contributing to feelings of anxiety and distraction, your massage will focus on relaxing and grounding you, using warm essential oils and soothing massage strokes that will calm your entire mind-body system. On the other hand, if you have a tendency to feel sluggish and heavy, your Ayurvedic massage will use oils, herbs, and techniques to invigorate you, release any accumulated toxins, and enhance the flow of energy in your body and mind.
Q: What are Ayurveda's guiding principles?
A: Ayurveda teaches that the mind has the greatest influence in directing the body toward sickness and health. Thousands of years before modern medicine "discovered" the mind-body connection, the ancient sages had mastered it. They developed Ayurveda as a system for contacting our own inner intelligence (or mind), bringing it into balance, and then extending that balance to the body.
The Ayurvedic principles for restoring and maintaining mind-body balance are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago:
1) Take time each day to quiet your mind (meditate).
2) Eat a colorful, flavorful diet.
3) Engage in daily exercise that enhances flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular fitness.
4) Sleep soundly at night.
5) Eliminate what is not serving you.
6) Cultivate loving, nurturing relationships.
7) Perform work that awakens your passion.
Q: Can Ayurvedic medicine help with physical injuries?
A: Ayurveda has been used for thousands of years to alleviate every type of health issue, including physical injuries. Ayurveda contrasts with the mechanical allopathic approach to medicine in that it looks at the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—but by including consciousness, it is not excluding the physical body. For virtually every physical ailment or injury, Ayurveda offers a healing protocol.
Ayurvedic Massage FAQ
How should I prepare?
You will be massaged with special herbs and oils, so please don't wear Jewellery, perfume, or strongly scented lotions that might interfere with the treatment.
Can I eat before a treatment?
To get the full benefits of your massage treatment, don't eat beforehand (especially heavy meals). However, if you are very hungry, it's better to have a small snack so that you aren't distracted by a growling stomach during your treatment.
What should I wear?
Please wear something comfortable, such as yoga-style clothing. Since we encourage you to let the Ayurvedic oils soak into your skin for a few hours after the massage, don't wear expensive clothing that could be stained by the oil.
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What should I bring to the massage treatment?
Just an open mind! Ayurvedic therapies are wonderfully soothing and nurturing, so let yourself relax as your Healing Arts Master takes you into a blissful experience.
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Will I be naked during my massage treatment?
We want you to feel as comfortable as possible while receiving your massage, so you can wear underwear if you prefer. However, we invite everyone to experience our timeless treatments as they were intended, which is in the nude.
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What are the benefits of massage therapy?
Ayurvedic massage is a powerful treatment that heals both physical and emotional pain. Here are just a few of the healing benefits:
Soothe tired, overused muscles
Release endorphins
Improve circulation & lymph flow
Relieve PMS
Lower blood pressure
Enhance immune function
Increase flexibility & range of motion
Rejuvenate the skin
Promote restful sleep
Increase energy
Diminish chronic pain
Relieve stress & anxiety
Eliminate toxins
Stimulate weak muscles
Relieve tension headaches
Improve body awareness
Satisfy need for nurturing touch
Foster peace of mind
What is the ideal frequency of treatment?
It depends on the individual, but we strongly recommend getting a massage treatment at least once a month. During a difficult or stressful time in your life, a weekly massage can help immensely.
How can I get the most from my massage treatment?
Just remember to breathe and let go. Your healing arts master will do the work, so all you need to do is relax. Some people like to repeat a mantra, sutra or affirmation during their massage. We also recommend that you and your therapist set an intention for your treatment at the beginning of the session.
Do I need to tell the therapist about any medical conditions?
Yes, it is important for your therapist to be fully aware of all your current medical conditions because in some cases, massage therapy is contraindicated.
Can I get a massage treatment if I'm pregnant?
Yes, but please check with your doctor before you book your treatment. In general, massage therapy is recommended after the first trimester.