It is common today when people hear “Ayurveda”, that it connotes spiritual,
yogic, diet and lifestyle concerns. However, often it has been reduced to a few
mere Spa Therapies.
Ayurveda is the ancient medical system of India and the system of healing
behind Yoga. Just as Yoga has been reduced to a few exercises (asanas) and
breathing techniques (pranayamas), so also Ayurveda is largely popularised by
it’s massage therapies and spa therapies over others.
Many also do not realise in the West that Traditional Ayurveda is not what is
taught in the BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) curriculum in
India. Even it’s Yogic approach is not based on Ayurveda, but follows a largely
generic and allopathic model for application of asana-therapy or Yogic postures
for healing. Traditional Yoga and Ayurveda however disagree with this.
In New Zealand, this is especially true, since Yoga has only recently become a
fad, and Ayurveda is slowly gaining popularity. Yet, people are not often
exposed to the greater science of Traditional Ayurveda.
Special herbs, diets, massage oils and massage therapies in Ayurveda are very
helpful for Yoga practise, as also specific meditations, mantras or chants and
even deities for example.
This is because classical Yogis and Vedic Rishis or Seers behind the Yoga
traditions were not only masters of postures, but also Astrologers, Spiritual
Guides and Vaidyas (Ayurvedic Doctors). Many had a deep knowledge of Ayurvedic
alchemy (rasa shastra).
Traditional Ayurveda, like Traditional Yoga, focuses on the individual, and
individualised dietary, herbal and most importantly, personalised lifestyle
regimes, which include personalised marma or pressure-point therapies, aroma
therapy, sound therapy, colour therapy, yoga postures, breathing techniques,
hand-symbols (mudras) and even specific application of mantras. It also brings
in the science of Vedic or Hindu Astrology (Jyotish), especially for karmic
implications behind diseases, their timing and also psychological disorders.
Astrology and Yoga traditionally form aspects of Ayurvedic Psychology
(Bhutavidya). It assesses the influences of planets upon the mind-body complex,
relative to birth charts, planetary transits and cycles, and prescribes even
spiritual therapies such as fasting, charity, prayer, rituals, mantras, wearing
of special gemstones and amulets etc.
Healing of the astral sheaths (koshas) and recognising their place in causing
various diseases and dealing with them through various spiritual methods,
including Pranic healing are also a part of Ayurveda that we often hardly find
today – or if we do, in it’s much reduced or New Age form, which often does not
compliment the greater tradition and great body of wisdom and healing it stems
from!
Ayurveda also hence has a spiritual concern, and focuses upon the Vedantic view
in Hinduism that we are not the body, but rather the Soul-Self, beyond the
mind-body complex. By living an Ayurvedic lifestyle, we begin to recognise that
the body is composed of elements alone, and also how to work with our own
unique formation (prakriti, nature or constitution), and disease imbalances.
These require also opening up to and working with the energies of nature on a
deeper level.
Ayurveda also has a special system of detoxification – Panchakarma, meaning
“Five Actions”. These are Nasal therapies (nasya); Therapeutic vomiting
(vamana); Purgation therapy (virechana); Medicated enema therapy (basti) and blood-letting (rakta moksha).
Various massage therapies and other therapies are also involved, aim at various
disorders such as psychological and neurological disorders, rheumatoid issues,
broken joints amongst others. There are hundreds of specific medicated oils for
various diseases in Ayurveda, just as there are various medicated butters
(ghritas), powders (churnas), tablets (gudika), fermented preparations (asavas,
arishtas), medicated decoctions (kashayas) alchemical powders (bhasmas) etc.
It is important to know of these, since there are very effective and themselves
have specific properties, not only as per different constitutional types but
also disease categories in Ayurveda also.
I myself am a certified Yoga and Ayurveda Teacher, Ayurvedic Astrologer,
Ayurvedic Practitioner and Vedic Teacher, trained in all aspects of Ayurveda,
including the Kerala system (Ashtavaidya) of Ayurvedic Pharmacy and Panchakarma
therapies, and hence bring in a more traditional Integral Ayurveda, as opposed
to what many are doing in the West today – often a quick session taking the
pulse and giving a few herbs. But, that is largely an allopathic approach, just
as receiving some mild Ayurvedic massages and therapies (Spa Ayurveda) is alone
palliative at best, and can aggravate doshas
or biological humors if not properly dealt with by proper examination and state
of the client (which requires elimination of their excesses).
Many psychological disorders such as Stress and Anxiety for example, common in
the West can be helped by specific (not generic) application of special mantras
according to Ayurveda, as well as Yogic practices apart from the typical
breathing and posture techniques (which can be integrated), as well as
Panchakarma therapies, herbs and diets.
Seasonal changes, climates, age and sex amongst other factors also play important
roles in diseases and imbalances.
Above all however, Vedic Astrology and it’s importance in Ayurveda, like Yoga
here is important, especially assessing the spiritual karmic nature behind such
imbalances. Leucoderma and other skin conditions in Ayurveda for example often
are a result of not honouring properly one’s mentor or elders in previous
lives, amongst other issues.
Vedic Astrology gives us special practices by which we can strengthen weak
planets and propitiate harmful ones, as also specific herbal formulas and foods
to correlate with them, as well as more spiritual therapies and remedies
mentioned before.
This hence brings in a more Traditional Ayurveda, and is what we wish to
promote for people in the Western world, especially here in New Zealand, where
Ayurveda is relatively new, and often misunderstood in its complete and
Traditional system of healing!
Namaste!
-Durgadas (Rodney) Lingham
R.A.P (Registered Ayurvedic Practitioner, AAPNA)
Yoga & Ayurveda Teacher
Veda Kovid
Arogya Ayurvedic Health Ltd
Web: www.arogyayurvedichealth.com
