Ayurveda

Once in a blue moon an opportunity arises and it is time to take the plunge and do 12 days of Ayurvedic panchakarma in Ubud Bali.   I have over the last few months  thought I could get away with  staying up late, getting up early and cramming a packed day inbetween but honestly I don't think any one can get away with it. Inevitably tiredness and fatigue creep in, ama builds up in the body. 
I arrived on the sunny beautiful happy island of Bali to find it has taken quite a few days to  remove my tiredness and inertia from the atmosphere of wintry Sydney. The last few days have shown me - we need to rest and rejuvenate and what better place to soak up the blissful state of sleep, rest, relaxation, reflection and rejuvenation - than Bali. 

What strikes one straightaway in Bali is the happiness and smiling nature of the Balinese. There is a softness in the environment that makes one feel  rested and centred uplifting the spirits to a higher plane immediately on arrival.

Our lives are so vibrant, full and exciting these days as we adapt as best we can to the fast pace of life and to technological and environmental change. At some point it is good to step back and consider the ancient traditions that may aid us in adapting to change and to  create balance in our fast paced living.
This is what bought me to Bali - Ayurveda from the ancient Vedic traditions cognized by the great seers of India and the wealth of knowledge of  those traditions. 

Ayurveda is the healing therapeutic side of the science of Yoga and Yoga is the spiritual aspect. 

Ayurveda has four main levels of healing

~Treatment of disease

~Prevention of disease

~Enhancement of life

~Developing awareness

In simple terms Ayurveda is about balance and balancing the mind and body.Each of us has a unique physical make up or constitution that is affected differently by foods, our environment and lifestyle.  By us understanding our own constitution we can adjust aspects of the body to create healing and well being.
I will share with you over the next few posts some insights drawn from my days at an Ayurvedic clinic that has miraculously transformed my spirit, my weight, sense of purpose, health and clarity and the best part is I feel well rested at last. The next part of my stay in Bali is to incorporate these changes into new lifestyle habits ~ one of which will be more sleep or how to stay well rested. 

The basic make up of our physical being is made up of three forces called VATTA PITTA KAPHA in Sanskrit and these relate to the elements of AIR  FIRE  WATER  and how they function within our mind and body.
Vatta ~ air or movement
Pitta ~ fire or digestion
Kapha ~ water

Saksakti

VATTA is air or movement within the body so is all about spaces within the head, the  joints, bones and lower abdomen. Also the sense of touch and hearing. Vatta is the aspect of life that makes us dynamic, energetic, vital and enthusiastic. Vatta also allows us to respond mentally to external and internal impulses (when Vatta is out of balance it creates the opposite effect of anxiety and fear)

PITTA is fire and a secondary aspect of water. Fire exists in the body through hot liquids such as blood and fluids.( small intestine and liver). Pitta looks after the transformation both in the body and the mind, digestion and assimilation from food to the mind. It governs so to speak the heat and light of the body from the senses to metabolism. Reason, intelligence and our understanding or ability to discriminate judge and perceive. ( The opposite effect is anger due to heat which makes us defend ourselves)

Photo credit: Helminadia Ranford

KAPHA is water and a secondary aspect of earth. Kapha governs form, substance, cohesion, weight and stability. Like an internal ocean Kapha lubricates the body and looks after discharge and secretions and then cushions the nerves, mind and senses - the stomach the lungs and the head where mucous accumulates and is also responsible for taste and smell.

The knowledge of Ayurvedic comes from ancient sanskrit texts which give us practical advice on living a healthy well-balanced life with profound formulas for the complete curing and balancing  the body and mind for a long and healthy life through the balance of these three elements ( called Dosha's).

Panakarma is the main way that Ayurveda purifies the body and restores the balance of the three  dosha's through various treatments that I will discuss  in my next post. Time for more rest and massage, maybe a swim.

Cheers Di