Ayurveda is the traditional healing system of India, and the oldest holistic medical system in the world. It is believed that Ayurveda was established more than 5,000 years ago in India. Ayurvedic knowledge has been passed through generations in oral communication by the sages. Later on the Ayurvedic knowledge has been immortalized in Sanskrit language and compiled in Ayurvedic scriptures of Charaka Samhita, Sushruta and Vaghbata. 

The word “Ayurveda” can be translated from Sanskrit as  “knowledge of life” or “science of longevity”. 

Ayurveda mostly teaches how to maintain optimal well-being of the body, mind and and spirit to prevent disease. But it also teaches how to treat disease. If we compare the modern medicine with the fireman who puts out a fire in a house, where “fire” is the disease and “house” is the body, Ayurveda finds the cause of the “fire” and teaches us how to build a fireproof “house” and to maintain it in good state throughout our life. 

The Universe created human beings healthy by default as part of nature. However, with the evolution of time and technical progress, we lost our relations with nature and with our body. Ayurveda sees the human life in relationship to nature, and therefore it is viewing the health from its different aspects: physical body, mental balance, spiritual  well-being, social welfare, environmental factors, dietary and lifestyle habits, daily conduct and effect of seasonal variations on one’s lifestyle. 

Foundations of Ayurvedic philosophy

In Ayurveda health is the state in which one sleeps well, digest well, feel comfortable and devoid of disease.

True health is a state of persistent well-being, not a condition of temporary comfort or absence of disease.

The Ayurvedic philosophy is based on the concept of the Five Great Elements  (Pancha Maha Bhuta) which constitute the Universe. Those five elements – space, air, fire, water, and earth – also make up a human body as we are also part of the Universe.

The various combination of these elements with their specific qualities forms the three Doshas or biological energies – Vata (V), Pitta (P), and Kapha (K) – which manage the functioning of our body, mind, and spirit.

While all three Doshas are present and function in every one of us, their proportion varies from person to person, which makes each of us unique. This uniqueness or our inborn energetic an genetic constitution – Prakriti – shapes our physiological and mental traits as well as our relationships with the environment. Most of us have two Doshas more present and while one of them being more dominant, the other is less dominant or secondary. Altogether there are seven types of constitutions: V, P, K, VP, PK, VK, and VPK.

The Doshas are constantly affected by the change of seasons, the times of the day, the different age cycles of life, as well as by our own lifestyle and eating habits. The present imbalance or discomfort that we experience is a reflection of our body’s relationship to our current environment. In Ayurveda, it is called Vikriti. Understanding Vikriti requires staying present and paying  attention to understand what is the cause of your discomfort or disbalance.

Because of the uniqueness of each person, Ayurveda has a customized healing approach to every person.

According to the ancient Ayurvedic text, Sushruta Samhita, health is the state when one has

• balanced three Doshas (or bio-energies such as Vata, Pitta and Kapha),
• well-functioning digestive fire (or Agni) and proper metabolism,
• properly nourished and functioning bodily tissues such as lymph, blood, muscle, fat, bones, bone marrow and reproductive fluid,
• regular and timely elimination of wastes such as feces, urine, sweat,
• pleasantly disposed and contended mind, senses, and intellect.

What is the Ayurvedic lifestyle?

The Ayurvedic lifestyle is based on regular routine, moderation, and following natural cycles of the doshas and the capacity of your digestive fire.

Routine is about following the circadian cycle and honoring the body’s rhythm of when to go to sleep and when to wake up, as well as practicing other daily habits beneficial for your health.

Moderation is essential in all aspects of life be it food, sleep, physical and mental activity, use of senses etc. Our body’s needs and capacity vary depending on the time of the day, seasonal changes, changes of location and phases of life. One should respect these changes and adapt own lifestyle accordingly.

Ayurveda is not a trend or a fad which comes and goes. It is a universal time-tested science applicable to any culture, location or phase of life. It is never late to start your journey to Ayurvedic lifestyle. Do it slowly, one thing at a time, learn how to listen and relate to your body, give yourself a space and time to explore and experience the Ayurveda eternal wisdom. Be gentle to yourself and don’t judge yourself.

The journey towards health requires discipline and regular practice of healthy habits. As my Ayurveda teacher Victoria Hyndman used to say: “Discipline should come from the heart, not from the mind”. When you feel ready to accept your current situation and get back to healthy habits, it will be easier to take action.