What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda, literally translated as “science of life” in Sanskrit, is an ancient system of medicine developed in India almost 5,000 years ago. It believes the human body is a microcosm of nature and consists of three doshas, or bioenergies: Vata (Wind), Pitta (Fire), and Kapha (Earth). Disease arises when there is an imbalanced expression of these forces relative to an individual’s optimal constitution. Ayurveda seeks to identify these imbalances and help the body restore health through nutrition, herbs, yoga, aromatherapy, massage treatments, music, meditation, and regular detoxification (panchakarma).
According to Ayurveda health is not a state defined by lab tests or checkboxes. Health is a continuous and participatory process that embraces all aspects of life: physical, mental, emotional, behavioral, and spiritual. Achieving balance on all levels of being is the true measure of vibrant health. There is no "average person" or "standardized treatment" because everyone is unique with an equally unique blueprint of health. By providing a universal framework for understanding these blueprints, Ayurveda teaches us to honor and support our true individual selves.