In the World of Wellness: Ayurveda

Wellness is a term widely used that has multiple meanings around health and positive life style changes leading to well-being. Here we will use the term "wellness" as a means of defining a life free from disease as well as a way to explore alternative medicines, what they offer, and what this could mean for you.

Every month I'll do a post on a health and wellness related topic. This will give you a chance to explore other options, become informed, and make the best overall decision for your own well-being.

In the World of Wellness: Ayurveda: "Life - Knowledge"

I'd like to introduce you to a different type of medicine today: Ayurveda, the medicine of India. It is a complex medicine which focuses around the three dosha or vital energy: Vata, Pitta, Kapha. Each type has it's own specifications and for those specifications treatments can be done on the patients to bring them to their best health, help them maintain their best health, or even just help them understand who they are and why they are the way they are.

I would dare say Ayurveda is awesome, from my little knowledge of it. Which is, by the way, little. You see, Ayurveda is extremely detailed and for those who want to study this type of medicine they must go to very specific schools with very specific teachings to learn all the in's and out's of it. While Ayurveda can be broken down and easily understood at a basic level, when you really get into it you see how much there truly is to this 5000 year old ancient art of healing.

Because wellness is about you being empowered and informed to make decisions that lead to your best life, I'd like to introduce you to the world of this Indian medicine. But, because I am no Ayurvedic guru, and because I respect the hard work that goes into being someone who is, I have posted several links below that take you to sites with incredible detail on this subject. The first set of links will take you to posts my teacher did, who is incredibly well versed in the Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas. There's even a quiz so you can find out which one (or which combination of ones) you are. I'm a vata-pitta, or a pitta-vata, depending on the time of year and how I'm feeling and probably about 7 other things. See what I mean by complex? Ah yes, but fascinating.

The other links take you to some well written articles that break down the medicine in an easy to understand way. My suggestion, as always, is to read the info, see how you feel about it, and if you want to pursue it find yourself an expert on the matter.

Enjoy empowering yourself with the interesting and amazing knowledge of Ayurveda!

The Balance of Being by Melanie Jackson
Grounded, Consistent, and Loyal: The Kapha Dosha
Passionate, Fiery, Focuses, and in this heat...Hot Tempered! Pitta!
Creativity, Spontaneity, ever ethereal energy...Vata
The science of life recognizes how wonderfully unique you are (a quiz to determine your dosha type)

Ayurveda: The Chopra Center (you can take a quiz here as well)

Ayurvedic Medicine: An Introduction

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