We don’t have to search very far in the ancient Ayurvedic texts to find a simple definition of Ayurveda. Charaka, known as the first physician of Ayurveda, says “science where advantageous and disadvantageous as well as happy and unhappy states of life along with what is good and bad for life, its measurement and life itself” is Ayurveda.

To begin the healing process, we must first inquire and comprehend what made us sick in the first place. Understanding the root cause of illness is at the heart of Ayurveda. Often we want to get rid of the symptoms, put a band-aid on what pains us, without looking deeply and connecting the dots of our actions which led us to feel ill. This is the glory of Ayurvedic medicine as stated above. We should understand how all of our actions, from eating to exercise habits along with lifestyle choices, can sometimes serve us and sometimes not. Today’s nectar may very well be tomorrow’s poison. Knowing what is good and bad to maintain health and balance both for physical and mental well-being is the practical side of Ayurveda. Paying attention and living with daily awareness is how Ayurveda helps us in every single moment of the day.

Here are a Few Tips to Living Ayurveda:

1. Hard to Wake Up in the Morning?
Get a good routine. Keep it simple and try to wake up and go to sleep at the same time every single day. Weekend or not keep your sleep schedule consistent.

2. Feeling Moody?
Pay attention to how your diet affects your digestive process and moods. Foods have seasons just like the weather. If we eat what is seasonally appropriate, your digestive system will thank you for it.

3. How is your Elimination?
There are three ways your body releases toxins to maintain health: urine, sweat and feces. We should not only look at the consistency and amount but also release each on a daily basis to keep the body clean and disease free.

These three simple offerings will help you understand the power of self observation and how daily activities add up to impact our overall health. For best results I recommend following one tip at a time for 7 days and evaluating the overall effect before moving to the next tip. This way you can slowly begin to transform your life.

(Source: http://mariagarre.com/2015/11/24/ayurveda-for-self-healing/)

PranaShanti Yoga Centre is delighted to welcome Maria again to offer a 50-hour Ayurveda Study Program starting April 28, 2016.  Individual Sessions are NOW OPEN!  Join us to learn more about raising your health and vitality to a new level!