Ayurveda Walauwa

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is the 5000 years old Indian health care system, widely practiced, in time with the times. "Ayur" is Sanskrit means "life", "Veda" means "science". It is a perfect Science of health and longevity. This holistic science is the knowledge of complete balance of the Body, Mind and spirit, including the emotions and psychology, on all levels. It includes in its consideration, longevity, rejuvenation and self-realization therapies through herbs, diet, exercise, yoga, massage, aromas, tantras, mantras, and meditation. According to Ayurvedic tradition health is the balance of elements air, earth, fire, and water-and illness is as excess or deficiency of any particular element. Ayurveda treats illness at its source, rather than at the level of symptoms, and helps an in individual to take responsibility for their own health and well-being.

What does a typical Ayurvedic assessment involve?

An initial assessment with an Ayurvedic practitioner may last an hour or longer. The practitioner will ask detailed questions about your health, diet and lifestyle. He or she will listen to your pulse. Unlike mainstream medicine, 12 different pulse points are assessed in Ayurveda.
The Ayurvedic practitioner also examines the tongue; its appearance is believed to provide clues about areas of the body that may be out of balance. The appearance of the skin, lips, nails, and eyes is also observed.
After the assessment, the practitioner will determine an individual's unique balance of doshas, or metabolic types. One dosha is usually predominant and may be imbalanced, usually due to poor diet and unhealthy habits.
The practitioner also determines your prakuti, also called your constitution or essential nature. From there, the practitioner can create an individualized treatment plan, which often includes diet, exercise, herbs, yoga, meditation, and massage. The treatment plan generally focuses on restoring balance to one particular dosha.

What are the doshas?

According to Ayurveda, everything is composed of five elements: air, water, fire, earth, and space. These elements combine to form the three doshas, vata, kapha, and pitta, or metabolic types. In Ayurveda, doshas account for some of our individual differences.
The vata dosha is a combination of space and air. It controls movement and is responsible for basic body processes such as breathing, cell division and circulation. Vata body areas are the large intestine, pelvis, bones, skin, ears, and thighs. People with vata as their main dosha are believed to be quick-thinking, thin, and fast, and are susceptible to anxiety, dry skin, and constipation.                                                                                                                                                        The kapha dosha represents the elements of water and earth. Kapha is believed to be responsible for strength, immunity, and growth. Kapha body areas are the chest, lungs, and spinal fluid. People with kapha as their main dosha are thought to be calm, have a solid body frame, and are susceptible to diabetes, obesity, sinus congestion, and gallbladder problems.
The pitta dosha combines fire and water. It is thought to control hormones and the digestive system. Pitta body areas are the small intestines, stomach, sweat glands, skin, blood, and eyes. People with pitta as their primary dosha are thought to have a fiery personality, oily skin, and are susceptible to heart disease, stomach ulcers, inflammation, heartburn, and arthritis.
An imbalanced dosha is believed to interrupt the natural flow of prana, or vital energy. The disrupted energy flow is then thought to impair digestion and allow the build up of body waste, or ama, which further impairs energy and digestion.

What might an Ayurvedic treatment plan involve?

Ayurveda Diet:                                                                                                                                                                                                    Recommendations are individualized to a person's dosha and the season. Foods can either balance or cause imbalance to each dosha.

Cleansing and detoxification:                                                                                                                                                                                        This may be done through fasting, enemas, diets, and body treatments.

Herbal medicine:

Ayurvedic Medicine has become an increasingly accepted alternative medical treatment in Europe & America during the last two decades.

Benefits of Ayurvedic Medicines :

By using ayurvedic and herbal medicines you ensure physical and mental health without side effects. The natural ingredients of herbs help bring “arogya” to human body and mind. ("Arogya" means free from diseases). The chemicals used in preparing allopathy medicines have impact on mind as well. One should have allopathy medicine only when it is very necessary. According to the original texts, the goal of Ayurveda is prevention as well as promotion of the body’s own capacity for maintenance and balance.

Ayurvedic treatment is non-invasive and non-toxic, so it can be used safely as an alternative therapy or alongside conventional therapies.

Ayurvedic physicians claim that their methods can also help stress-related, metabolic, and chronic conditions.

Yoga :

The term yoga comes from a Sanskrit word that means yoke or union. Traditionally, yoga is a method that joins the individual self with the Divine, Universal Spirit, or Cosmic Consciousness. Physical and mental exercises are designed to help achieve this goal, also called self-transcendence or enlightenment.                                  On the physical level, yoga postures, called asanas, are designed to tone, strengthen, and align the body. These postures are performed to make the spine supple and healthy and to promote blood flow to all the organs, glands, and tissues, keeping all the body systems healthy. On a mental level, yoga uses breathing techniques and meditation to quiet, clarify, and discipline the mind.Yoga is a vital part of long-term Ayurvedic treatments.                                                                           

Meditation:

Meditation is the attainment of a deeply relaxed state of mind and body. One's rate of metabolism is said to slow down causing the release of anxiety, stress and even pain control. Breathing exercises, repeating mantras, and sitting in silence helps relax the mind and reduce focus on the stressful situations that surround us. Meditation is a component of serious Ayurvedic treatment that helps bring harmony to the mind and body.   Many people don’t want to start meditation because they think that it may be too difficult. In fact, meditation is very simple. Meditation can take many different forms, like singing, playing music, taking a walk in nature, practicing your favorite hobby, or praying. In short, whatever you love to do and whatever brings mental peace serves as meditation.

Ayurveda Exercise:                                                                                                                                                                                                   Ayurveda recommends to do exercises on a daily basis for good health and longevity. Thereby, the exercises don’t only focus on the physical benefits but also on the positive influence on mind, heart, senses, and spirit. Exercise programs vary according to which dosha they are aimed at. To balance too much Vata, the exercises should include slow movements and shouldn’t be too tiring. They should help to settle body and mind. Slow dancing,  yoga, walking, and leisurely swimming in warm water are all examples of Vata-balanced exercises. To keep Pitta in balance, exercises should be cooling for mind and body as well as allow for enjoyment and competitiveness. Water, snow, or ice based activities such as swimming, rowing, surfing, water- and downhill skiing are good choices.Exercises to balance Kapha should stimulate and generate intensity and liveliness. Distance walking or running, football, basketball, ice skating, cross country skiing, aerobics, and cycling are examples of Kapha-balancing exercises.

Ayurveda Massage:

Once up on a time Ayurveda Massage Therapy was given to the Kings & Queens of India & Sri Lanka only. When India & Sri Lanka  captured by British Government, this same Therapy was available only to the British people and the rulers. Why ? Ayurveda Massage Therapy generate flexibility, youth & energetic body, that was essential for the fight in ancient war field. Now from all over the world, people goes to India & Sri Lanka  to get these Ayurveda Massage Therapy.

Ayurveda Massage is the most natural and powerful method of relaxing and at the same time rejuvenating the body. Ayurveda Massage also focuses on promoting prana (or life force) through the body by manipulation of the marmas (or energy centers) thereby releasing stiffness & stimulating the functions of the organs, toning digestive system, heart, kidneys, liver, spleen & lungs.             

Salient features of Ayurveda.

Ayurveda Walauwa -  Bentota, Sri Lanka - Tel:  +41-43-2224578 / +94-112-735205 - Email: ayurwalauwa@gmail.com  -  www.ayurvedawalauwabentota.com