Yoga and Ayurveda
The Art and Science of Living
My Āyurveda Specialist Training began, ironically or perhaps serendipitously, the last weekend in January 2022 when I had myomectomy surgery (see my last blog). This Āyurvedic Specialist Training with Kathryn Templeton via Yoga International has been a mixture of live online and prerecorded classes, which include lectures, question and answer sessions, Āyurvedic yoga sessions, meditations, and pranayama (breathing exercises). Even though I couldn’t begin the live classes with the other Āyurveda students, being able to work at my own pace provided me with a sense of peace and calm that, yes, I would be able to complete this training.
The COVID pandemic has yielded one thing that has been quite wonderful for me, and that is the increased offerings of online education programs. I am very grateful to continue my education. I knew I needed this learning experience, and I’m so happy that I seized the moment!
“Āyur-Veda” is “The Science of Life” and is part of the ancient Vedas. This collection of knowledge has informed and guided people and civilizations for thousands of years. Yoga and Āyurveda are sister sciences. Yoga is the art and science of self-realization or enlightenment, and Āyurveda is the art and science of optimal health and healing. Āyurveda is designed to support each individual and their unique constitution, or collection of elemental qualities, to discover balance in mind, body, and Spirit.
This course has required more time and energy than I originally anticipated and has in turn invited increased dedication and time management skills into my life daily. The tapas, or hard work, for me was buckling down and studying, reading, and absorbing the information. This is an intensive professional training course and I felt like I was back at university. The course reading from David Frawley and Dr. Lad has been very challenging and has required serious study. There have been four units, and unit one was the heaviest, for me. I spent months with Kathyrn’s class recordings and the readings. We learned about the Shad Darshan, or The Six Philosophies of Life, and both basic and in-depth information from those philosophies.
Sānkya philosophy is foundational to the understanding of Āyurveda. I love Dr. Lad’s beautiful illustration that appears on page 7 of his book Volume I—Textbook of Ayurveda: Fundamental Principles showing “The Journey of Consciousness into Matter.” This drawing by Dr. Lad illustrates the origin of supreme intelligence, universal and individual consciousness from Purusha and Prakrati. From this energy and our individuated self then come the three Maha Gunas, or the three great qualities, Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. These universal qualities pervade all of existence and represent “light of Consciousness, kinetic energy, and inertia” respectively. (abbreviated excerpt from Dr. Lad, page 8, Volume I—Textbook of Ayurveda: Fundamental Principles). Then there are the sense faculties, the faculties of action, the mind, and the tanmātras, or the objects of sensory perception. And then there are five elements of life, ether (space), air, fire, water, and earth.
We also are learning about the vital essences of tejas (pure intelligence), ojas (vitality), and prana (life energy).
Part of our homework has been to write in a journal and describe the weather and how we feel with an Āyurvedic mind. We’re supposed to describe the time of the day and the characteristics we notice in our energy and how we feel with respect to the Āyurvedic clock! This assignment includes observing the elements and the qualities (gunas) as well as exploring the doshas (the three aspects of constitution) within ourselves and others.
One of the goals of this training is to be able to give an ayurvedic consultation, so in unit four we observed several ayurvedic consultations. The basis of a consultation is observing and identifying the gunas, or the qualities present within a person’s experience. Observing these various qualities help us to determine the doshic balance (prakriti) or current doshic imbalance (vikruti). These doshas are vata, pitta, and kapha, and the very cool thing is that we all have all three doshas present within us. Typically, individuals present as single dosha dominant or as dual dosha dominant. It is a bit rarer to have an individual that is tri-doshic, meaning there is an equal balance of all three doshas.
As you can see, there’s a lot to Āyurveda. I know! It is a lot. But I continue to remember to keep it all as simple as can be—somehow. Āyurveda is about getting to know ourselves, our tendencies, and the qualities (gunas) that we experience throughout our day.
It’s fun and interesting to me to learn about Āyurveda. The study of Āyurveda is helping me to learn about myself and life, the cosmos, the universe, and creation, and it feels, like, WOW. I’ve been pausing a lot. I read and reread. I’ve learned a lot and I know I have forgotten a lot too. Flashcards have made a comeback into my life. I am a total ayu-nerd that wants to reach her full potential!
The most rewarding aspect so far has been devoting myself to learning more about myself from a holistic spiritual science that has endured thousands of years. The immensity of information can feel overwhelming at times, but when I take baby steps, like I do in my yoga practice, the practice of Āyurveda is life affirming and empowering!
The big deal is one’s dinacharya, or daily practice. The newer practices I resonate with include beginning my day with tongue scraping to remove gunk (ama), drinking water with lemon to wake up digestion and hydrate the systems of the body, and eating regular warm meals with culinary spices and herbs to bring balance to my constitution (doshas). The regular practices that are equally as important are yoga, pranayama, deep relaxation, and meditation with an Āyurvedic approach to balancing and supporting our constitution. These practices are met with the awareness that is needed for the correct movement of energy and balancing the qualities of the doshas. Additionally—and luckily—taking thirty-minute naps are great for supporting ojas (one’s essential vitality). The other newer practices that have been challenging for me to incorporate include dry brushing and abhyanga (warm oil massage before bathing) as well as using a neti pot and nasya oil.
It feels really good to be a part of a community that is devoted to improving the well-being of ourselves and the well-being of others. When I was younger, I wanted to be a doctor or a therapist. As I continued with my education, I was invited to teach yoga, loved it, and never stopped. I endeavor to help others feel their best with the information I have to share. Learning has been a continual source of inspiration, creativity, and self-empowerment.
My boyfriend says something to me that I find hilarious. He says, “Get to know me.” It’s the way he says it and the context that makes this so funny to me. He is totally kidding around, but his message does stick—and resonates with me beyond that goofy moment! We are gifted with this beautiful life. When we have the opportunity to get to know someone else, that is a true gift. To me the exploration and inquiry of Self is what yoga and Āyurveda are about—getting to know ourselves and each other.
The question now is what’s next? The answer for me is how can I be of service to help myself and others find greater health, harmony, and ease within our minds, bodies, and Spirits?
My intention is to start offering Yoga and Āyurveda classes and workshops. I want to share my love of Yoga and Āyurveda with others. I will also offer both in-person and online Yoga and Ayurveda consultations and private sessions. Feeling increasingly better is available to us all with proper nutrition with the use of culinary spices, lifestyle choices, yoga, pranayama, and meditation. It makes good sense to gladly receive support to guide us into balance, optimal health, and healing.
I strive to remember every day before I get out of bed to say, “I invite all the things, experiences, and people into my life that bring happiness, joy, love, and peace. I wish all of these things for every being. I am grateful for this day and will receive it as a gift.”