Ayurveda: A Holistic Approach to Health, Healing and Wellness

What is Ayurveda?

I get asked this question a lot! Ayurveda is a holistic science based in nature. It is over 5,000 years old! Like Yoga, Ayurveda was taught and passed down from word of mouth and through written texts. Ayurvedic principles stem from the 5 elements; Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. We are all connected to each other and to nature and we all have these elements present within us. Ayurveda uses specific tools to help us align more fully with our authentic Self, as we work towards balancing these elements. These tools include daily routines, nutrition, herbs, Yoga, meditation and intuitive energy practices.

What do I love about Ayurveda?

There are many reasons why I was drawn to learning more about Ayurveda. Here are a few of the many principles that I align with:

Ayurveda is not a trend; it does not change!

Since Ayurveda is based in nature and aligns with the elements in nature, it is an un-changing science. In our world today, there are so many "trends" being put out there in the media. Each week, I hear about another study that was done on how we should live, how we should eat and it keeps changing! Really, it is confusing. Throughout time and history, Ayurveda has consistently helped people heal themselves in a holistic way by using principles that have not changed over the course of time.

Ayurveda is not "one size fits all". This science focuses on you, your own unique beautiful Self!

In Ayurveda, we acknowledge that we are all unique and different! We came to this earth with different bodies and minds. We are all raised differently and have different tendencies. Thus, we need different ways to approach our health. These "trends" that are in our world today do not focus on the individual person. What works for me, may not work for someone else. An Ayurvedic practitioner will tailor and custom fit a plan that focuses on the specific needs of you, the individual. We find your strengths and use them! We all have our own challenges as well and we work to help you overcome those challenges! How cool is that??

Ayurveda is a science about self-healing. We have the power to heal ourselves; we just need to tap in to that power!!

In our society, we have grown accustom to "quick fixes." We want things fast and we want it to be convenient for us. When we do not feel well, we want a pill to fix it. Ultimately, we know ourselves better than anyone. When we begin to fall away from balance or our authentic Self, dis-ease can start to manifest. We can forget that we each make choices every day in our lives; from what we consume with our senses like food, social media and relationships, to how we live our life. These choices steer us on a path towards balance, ease and peace or they steer us towards dis-ease in the body and mind. We each have the power to make choices each day that fulfill us and allow us to live our life to the fullest!

Ayurveda focuses on the root cause of disease.

In Ayurveda, we believe that the main causes of disease are the misuse of our intellect (mind), the misuse of our 5 senses and not aligning with the changes of season. All of these can lead to us not digesting our life in a healthy and balanced way. Sometimes in western medicine, there is a focus on "symptoms" and how we can just treat the symptom. This approach does not usually work long term. You may feel better for awhile, but if we are not looking at the cause of the symptom, we will not be able to fully heal. Ayurveda works with cause and effect and uses different approaches to treat the root cause of the disease, not just symptoms.

Ayurveda focuses on the whole person; body, mind and spirit.

This is what really drew me to Ayurveda. I have always been fascinated by the mind. I spent years doing counseling with people and working on thought patterns. Most approaches to wellness these days focus only on the physical body. However, we need to look deep into our mind. Our thoughts control our actions. And, our actions can lead us towards balance or away from it. Ayurveda uses an approach that focuses on our whole body; the mind is part of our Self! When we can use tools like meditation and intuitive energy practices, we can change our thought patterns which can lead us to our optimal health.

If you are interested more in Ayurveda, read about it! Learn more and see if it resonates with you! Also, reach out to me for private consultations! Be You. Be Brilliant!

Namaste,

Stefanie Yeager, Owner, Brilliant Life Yoga and Wellness

www.brilliantlifemn.com