This week on Healthy You! my guest will be world-renowned Ayurvedic physician Dr. Vivek Shanbhag. Dr. Shanbhag’s resume is extensive. He is a professor, researcher and author, and he is also a personal mentor and teacher of mine. I am very excited to have him on the show! We will be discussing Ayurvedas.  Since Ayurveda is new to so many, I thought providing some background information might be helpful. In addition, there is a special opportunity this Saturday at Fern Life Center to attend a workshop led by Dr. Shanbhag about Ayurvedic home remedies. See the bottom of this blog post for details.

Ayurveda comes from the same source as the ancient science of yoga, the Vedas. The Vedas were written 5,000 years ago in India by sages who had the time to observe the interactions of many different aspects of the Universe. They watched, experimented, and wrote what they found. Ayurveda literally means the “science of life”.

Ayurveda teaches that we are microcosms of the macrocosm of the Universe. In other words, we are made up of the same elements and minerals that are contained in the Universe, down to even our cellular level. We are each made of different ratios of these elements and minerals and therefore unique in our constitutions. This means that one diet is not right for everyone. It also explains why the same medication reacts differently for different people. Ayurveda recognizes the unique nature of the person and offers a diagnostic tool which allows for assessment of each layer of the individual, including doshas, subdoshas, organs and tissues, chakras, mental status, and more. Ayurveda is a system of medicine which stresses balance and prevention over symptom management. The knowledge of self and SELF (that not contained by the body) obtained through the study of this science is empowering and provides tools for people to take responsibility for their own state of health and wellbeing.

Ayurveda looks at the body as an integrated whole, rather than isolated parts that occasionally suffer from break down. According to the Ayurvedic model, disease is an imbalance in the doshas, which if left unchecked leads to physical symptoms that manifest in the integrated, interrelated tissue layers, organs, mind, and consciousness of the patient. Dosha is the Sanskrit name for your specific psycho-physiological constitution. The physical body is also examined in the context of the integrated environment; the family, our society, and the world. We are a microcosm of the larger macrocosm of the universe and what goes on “out there” effects us on many levels.

The Sanskrit terms for doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. There are other ways of labeling the different constitutions or body types such as “Type A” or “Type B” people, etc. We are all made up of the same stuff that the Universe is made of; Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Our doshas are a combination of these five elements. Rarely is a person made up of only one dosha; and never do our levels remain static. We have fluctuating levels of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha that are influenced by all aspects of our lives; age, season, birth time, time of day, diet, exercise, rest, occupational environment, emotional patterns, stress, and interactions within our relationships. Most of us are a combination of the three doshas and then have different imbalances to top it off; this is what makes us unique. Ayurveda provides an “owner’s manual” of sorts to shed light on how to take care of the uniqueness of you!

To your health!

DR.SHANBHAG’S WORKSHOP AT FERN LIFE CENTER
Saturday, October 3rd, from 9am, to 5pm Dr. Shanbhag will lead a workshop on “Making & Using Popular Ayurvedic Remedies.” This will be a fun and interactive workshop and you will both observe and assist in the making of these remedies. Dr. Shanbhag will show you the benefits and explain the effectiveness of these simple preparations for preventing diseases and promoting your health.
Cost is $125
Please call the Fern Life Center to register or get more information: 425-391-3376