Introduction to Ayurveda
Ayurveda and Yoga Sadhana-from Dhanvantari.com
Ayurveda and Sadhana
It is a bit funny to say that Ayurveda can be used for sadhana, since this is likely the very origin of Ayurveda. The Rishis, the Seers, used it optimize their potential and the potential of their beloved disciples to help them attain Liberation.
Removing Distractions
To truly have peace you can have no doubt that you in fact are Peace. For this you have to put the brakes on the false notions that you are transient physical mental phenomena being. As my teacher says the only difference between the free and the bound is doubt. The Free have no doubt as to their true nature, and those who suffer have doubt that they are that transcendent being, That Nowness.
Any Distractions away from peace are doubts. And so these distraction/doubts do not need to be mental thoughts, but can be physical states of imbalance and weakness. And this is where the herbs come in to support Sadhana
Until this century, herbs and Ayurveda were never apart from Yoga and other forms of Sadhana. The premise is simple: Use herbs to help remove toxic impurities, disturbing imbalances, or weaknesses that keep you from your potential. Then distractions will decrease, and allow for easier access to the clarity that you are Peace itself. Peace is all about mind and conditioning so healing the mind and body gives fertile ground for seeds of truth to grow. And if the person is lucky enough to have a true guide, it will take just one instant for them to know the truth, and in their strong body it will be so much easier to honor this diamond of realization until there is no thing left but Diamond!
So, to borrow from Socrates; purify thyself, Balance thyself, know thyself! I know so many people who were given this diamond who could not honor it because their bodies and minds were not strong enough.
What's good for the Yogi is good for You
And note: what is good for the Yogi tends to be good for everyone else because the Yogi wants to be an ultimate being. So the herbs like Gotu Kola that the yogi takes to clarify their discrimination and intelligence will certainly work the same way for the CEO or for the Student. The Triphala the yogi takes to purify her entire body will help balance the 20th century bad habits and pollution and will keep your bowels from giving you headaches, hot blood, and lethargy. The Turmeric that the Yogi takes to purify their Chakras will also purify the Liver after a weekend binge. And Turmeric's Anti-inflammatory properties that the Yogi uses to go deeper in postures and remove injuries will allow you to have a more rewarding expereince at the gym or on that long Saturday hike with the family.
Now I hope that all this talk about Yoga Sadhana has not turned some people off as being too spiritual. Feel free to see that you have many aspects to you, many bodies that you wear from your physical body, to your mental body, to your energy body, to your intellect body, to your very subtle body of Joy! They are all connected, hopefully, and Ayurveda sees and treats them all. The myopia of a system of medicine that says that you are just your body is so limiting and arrogant. You are so much more! Yoga Sadhana is all about purifying and harmonizing all these aspects of your incarnation in order to clarify your awareness so that you know and function through the fullness of Existence. Whether you want to be the greatest composer or soccer player or CEO, Ayurveda will help you by giving you the power, wisdom and Freedom to move beyond any limits that have been placed around you. The nature of all limits is transient and artificial, and I invite you to use Ayurveda to transcend them and take that half step into your Fullness!
The Vata Dosha
Symbol: Air
Principle: Movement, transport and kinetic energy in the body-mind.
Essence: Prana, the Life Force.
Body Type: Small body frames, average amount of hair which tends to be dry and light brown, dry or rough skin, small eyes.
Mental Picture: Short term memory is best, changing moods and thoughts.
Vata in Balance: Alert and spontaneous
Vata out of Balance: Worried, mood swings.
Key words: Light, cold, dry, fast, quick, changing, movement, restlessness.
Herbs and Formulas: Triphala Massage Oils Gotu Kola
The Pitta Dosha
Symbol: Fire
Principle: Transformation, metabolism, and discrimination in the body-mind.
Essence: Tejas, Inner Light and Radiance.
Body Type: Medium size body frames, average amount of hair that tends to be reddish or gray and thinning, soft, slightly oily skin and medium size eyes.
Mental Picture: Good memory, sharp intellects, sound sleepers, quick tempers.
Pitta in Balance: Enterprising and joyous.
Pitta out of Balance: Angry, impatient, frustrated.
Key words: Hot, fiery, perceptive, and intense.
Herbs and Formulas: Triphala
The Kapha Dosha
Symbol: Water.
Principle: Integration, lubrication, potential energy and stability in the body-mind.
Essence: Ojas, Primal Vitality.
Body Type: Large body frames and thick, dark brown or black hair which tends toward oilyness. Oily, moist skin and large eyes.
Mental Picture: Calm, steady and stable, good long term memory, heavy sleepers, slow to be irritated.
Kapha in Balance: Strong and calm.
Kapha out of Balance: Dull and lethargic.
Key words: Slow, steady, solid, heavy, accumulation, and regularity.
Herbs and Formulas: Triphala Massage Oils Organic Turmeric
