Ayurveda has been around for 5,000 years – is it time we start listening?

As the wellness industry continues to expand, you can be forgiven for sighing at the sound of an unfamiliar practice. Our society’s at-times zeitgeisty obsession with the ‘trends’ of wellness can lead to polarising discomfort when a new philosophy begins to take the reins, knowing that your current regime may well and truly have passed its expiration date. 

But, for Ayurveda, this is more of a full-circle moment. 

The ancient Indian holistic healing method has been around for roughly 5000 years but it’s only taken until recently for the West to clue in to the power that it holds. While some of the disciplines' more intense offerings – leech draining or particular colonics – have kept their distance from our routines, the practices emblematic of Ayurveda have found themselves weaved within our regimes for years, albeit detached from their origins. 

That glass of hot water with lemon you have every morning? That’s Ayurveda. The morning meditation, yoga and body massage you set as precedent amongst everything else? Ayurveda again. 

Roughly translated from Sanskrit as ‘the knowledge of life’, Ayurveda’s central thesis is that the human body is governed by three doshas – vata, pitta, kapha – foundational energies that have direct bearing on anything from energy levels, concentration, even to hair loss. So, it may come without surprise then to say that if a particular dosha is under pressure – from stress or poor diet – then particular physical and physiological consequences may arise. 

We recognise that Ayurveda may sound complex and/or daunting, and so we offer you this one piece of advice – lean into what you already know about wellness, but with the intention and frequency that Ayurveda intends. 

With a focus on the root cause of an ailment, as opposed to treating the symptom, Ayurveda takes routine application to treat imbalances that may have compounded over months – or even years. 

Ayurveda is rooted in the power of ritual. 

So, how can you incorporate this time-tested philosophy into your own wellness journey?

Self-Abhyanga

• Self-massage with oil is paramount to the proper function of your lymphatic system, circulatory system and regulating your nervous system. Daily application is advised, but the time of day is completely up to you!

• Movement is at the core of all wellness mantras, but there’s a reason yoga has routinely transcended time and culture. Providing support and strength to our body’s physical structures, whilst centering the practice of mindfulness, daily yoga (even for 5-10 minutes) is a sure-fire way to align your mind and body.

• Advised for the morning, this soothing treat aids in your agni, or digestive fire, to set the precedent for your daily digestion. It’s also incredibly effective in clearing what may have sat for a little too long in your system from the day before – win-win. 

• Our agni is regulated by the sun – cool, right? Eating a medium breakfast, a solid lunch, and a light dinner ensures that our digestive systems aren’t under any undue pressure when they have other things to focus on. At night, our systems want to attend to our livers, and restoring our body for the day ahead, and digesting a heavy meal will only impede its effectiveness. 

All in all, trust in your body and the process of ensuring your wellness – which, just so happens to be another core Ayurvedic tenet.