As part of a holistic self care regime, doing some experimentation with Ayurveda may prove helpful for Social Workers and other case workers and counsellors in the helping/healing profession.
I hadn’t heard of Ayurveda before I started studying my holistic wellness coaching course. Ayurveda is soooo complex and I don’t have my head around it entirely, but I think its fascinating and thought you might too.
So, this article is just a quick introduction to the idea of Ayurveda for anyone that is interested. You never know…it could be the key to your good health!
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originated in India more than 5,000 years ago. The word Ayurveda is derived from two Sanskrit words, “ayu,” meaning life, and “veda,” meaning knowledge or science.
Ayurveda is often referred to as the “science of life” or the “art of longevity.” It is a holistic system of medicine that seeks to promote balance and harmony within the body, mind, and spirit to achieve optimal health and well-being.
History of Ayurveda
The history of Ayurveda dates back to ancient India, where it was first documented in the Vedas, the ancient texts of Hinduism.
The Ayurvedic system of medicine was developed and refined over centuries by sages, scholars, and physicians. The first known Ayurvedic text is the Charaka Samhita, which was written around 2,000 years ago.
The other major Ayurvedic text is the Sushruta Samhita, which was written around the same time. These texts contain detailed descriptions of Ayurvedic principles, practices, and treatments.
Objective of Ayurveda
The primary objective of Ayurveda is to promote health and prevent illness by achieving balance and harmony within the body, mind, and spirit.
Ayurvedic practitioners believe that every person has a unique constitution, or “dosha,” made up of three primary energies: vata, pitta, and kapha.
When these energies are in balance, a person experiences good health, but when they are out of balance, disease can arise.
Ayurvedic medicine seeks to restore balance through a variety of approaches, including diet and lifestyle changes, herbal remedies, massage, meditation, and yoga.
What happens in a session with an Ayurvedic practitioner?
During an Ayurvedic session, the practitioner will first assess the client’s constitution and health status by taking a detailed medical history, performing a physical examination, and analysing the client’s pulse, tongue, and other indicators.
Based on this assessment, the practitioner will develop a personalised treatment plan that may include dietary recommendations, herbal remedies, massage, and other therapies.
Ayurvedic treatments are tailored to each client’s unique needs and may involve a combination of different therapies.
Associations that advocate for Ayurvedic practice
There are several organisations that advocate for Ayurvedic practice, including the Australasian Association of Ayurveda, National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) in the United States and the All India Ayurvedic Congress in India.
These organisations work to promote the practice of Ayurveda, support Ayurvedic practitioners, and educate the public about the benefits of Ayurvedic medicine.
In summary, this is a quick introduction to Ayurveda. I had never heard of it before studying Holistic Wellness coaching, however, as soon as I did, it clicked that this way of health promotion and prevention of illness resonated with me.
I think it is important that we all know our own bodies, and what works for us and what doesn’t. Who knows, maybe discovering your Dosha may help you in your wellness journey?
