What is Ayurveda?
Ayur means life. Veda means knowledge. Science of mind, body, soul & senses. Ayurveda is based on the individual & nature, which we humans are part of. The science of self-healing is referred to as the mother of medicine, it is a living science & must be practiced to be understood. Developed together, Yoga & Ayurveda influence each other, referred to as “sister sciences” they work together to enhance great benefits on all levels. Yoga may be prescribed in an Ayurvedic context as a healing method. With Ayurveda, one discovers their body constitution & what may be out of imbalance causing issues in one’s body & life. Ayurveda works WITH Western medicine/science, offering suggestions and lifestyle changes. The number one precept of Ayurveda is “Food is Medicine”! We are truly what we eat!
What is an Ayurvedic Practitioner?
Ayurvedic practitioners are concerned with promoting, maintaining, and restoring health. They help people to maintain a healthy lifestyle, eliminate impurities from the body, reduce stress, and fight against various health problems.
An Ayurvedic practitioner focuses on the interconnectedness between body, mind, and spirit to attain the entire well-being of the individual. Ayurvedic practitioners are also known as Vaidyas, particularly in the Indian subcontinent where Ayurveda originated.
An Ayurvedic practitioner can apply therapeutic treatments according to the Ayurvedic system of medicine. They utilize a deep knowledge of disease diagnosis according to constitution or prakriti, Ayurvedic pathology, Ayurvedic anatomy, three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), Agni or digestive fire, panchakarma (purification therapies), dravyaguna (Ayurvedic herbal medicines), other Ayurvedic formulations and pharmacology, srotas or channels and eight branches of Ayurveda.
Ayurvedic practice requires both a detailed knowledge of the academic disciplines and a decent competence in its applied practice.
In addition to being an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist, Nicole now has the additional training to conduct a more in-depth consultation with clients looking for alternatives to work with their allopathic medicine protocols to maintain and achieve greater health. Yoga is one of the modalities recommended by Ayurveda. Yoga and Ayurveda are considered sister sciences.
Nicole completed her first Ayurvedic Practitioner training in April 2024, before this she had become an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist in December of 2022. She is currently working on an Ayurvedic Practitioner/Yoga therapist course which is sanctioned by the Ministry of AYUSH in India. Her mission for adding Ayurveda training to her extensive Yoga training is to add the "piece of the puzzle" that yoga alone was missing. These two sciences were once developed together. As Nicole says, "They have the same tap root". When they work together, there is an opportunity to improve upon wone's life and overall health and well-being.
The Three Doshas (Body Constitutions) & Their Elements
Everyone contains some combination of these 3 doshas & their elements.
Vata Dosha
Made up of the elements of Air & Space
Pitta Dosha
Made up of the elements of Fire & Water
Kapha Dosha
Made up of the Elements of Earth & Water
Curious to know more about your body constitution (Prakriti) and what your imbalances(Vikriti) are? Banyan Botanicals has a great Dosha quiz on its website. This is not a paid endorsement. Nicole has tried several different online Dosha quizzes and this one happens to be the one she likes the most. You can visit it here: https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/dosha-quiz/