One of the ancient secrets to good health in Ayurveda is learning how to live in harmony with our bodies and the environment. Realising our true oneness with nature and feeling aligned in mind, body and spirit can in turn lead us to create more balanced and healthier lives.
Ayurveda, or “the science of life” originates from India. It is the oldest healthcare system in the world and is profoundly healing. It is a more than 5,000 year old medical, diet, lifestyle and spiritual science that splits the world into elements. These elements are air, fire, water, earth and ether (or empty space) And they make up biological forces in our body called the doshas. These doshas are bio-energetic forces present in every cell and organ system, we are each born with a unique mixture of these energies, which is known as our prakruti. But they can become imbalanced for many reasons including life circumstances, grief, stress, pollution, improper diet and by not living in harmony with the seasons.
These elements are present within our bodies and also in the environment in which we live. In the environment they rise and fall at different times of the year which impacts our bodies. In the Winter time Vata, or air and ether is high – so we need to learn how to cultivate the opposite qualities to the cold, light, dry qualities of Vata so that we don’t suffer. Common winter ailments are things like anxiety mixed with feeling low as the imbalanced wind, aggravated by the doshic tide in the environment can fluctuate in our systems. At this time we are likely to need warmth and heavy, moist nourishing foods like hearty soups and stews containing heavier earthy elements like root vegetables that are warming and appropriate to our constitutions.
With this in mind full-body abhyanga is an especially brilliant ayurvedic massage for this time of year – as it cultivates the opposite qualities of Vata and helps to pacify it. It is a soothing, restorative and deeply healing warm oil massage that is excellent at pacifiying the Vata dosha, partly due to its heavy, warm and moist qualities which counteract the cold. It increases and regulates circulation and energy flow. The massage was designed by ancient Vedic physicians thousands of years ago to unblock toxins in the physical body and clear both physical and energetic channels in the body. It uses marma points – which were the precursors to meridians used in Chinese medicine and also herbs which pacify Vata. Many clients tell me the massages are transformational, which is always wonderful to hear and they report feeling better for a considerable amount of time after the treatment ends.
N.b They are designed to be preventative and curative health measures. People with chronic health conditions, or imbalances that have been going on for some time will usually need more than one – depending on the length and severity of the illness and may need some extra help to recover with diet too.
Book yours on Sundays and Wednesdays by calling About Balance in North Laine in Brighton and asking to book in with Emma on: 01273 686882