Introducing Ayurveda

AYURVEDA is a union of the two words 'AYUR' + 'VEDA'. 'AYUR' means life and 'VEDA' is a body of knowledge. Combining the two words yield the meaning ‘body of knowledge of life.’ Yes, “of life!” What life? Whose life you may ask? The answer is “all life!” Anything that is alive. That includes all living creatures, plant life, and mother earth herself.

Ayurveda is an ingenious ancient system for living healthily in balanced harmony with nature. Ayurveda considers people as an inextricable part of the whole universe and not as a separate and isolated group or species. It is a comprehensive holistic health system that recognises life as an exchange of energy between individuals and their extended environment. If an environment is thriving, the individual thrives; if the environment is toxic, the individual becomes sick. If the environment is thriving, and the individual leads an unhealthy life-style, the individual becomes sick.

Ayurveda teaches harmonious and balanced ways to dynamically integrate our body, mind, and spirit in a given environment, climate and age. Ayurveda advocates regimens that are designed to help humans stay vital and healthy throughout their life-time. It offers practical tools, insights and guidelines for daily and seasonal diet, routines and behaviour that encourage vitality and healthy living and a holistic treatment of all diseases with no known side-effects.

This ingenious system works on the premise that, ‘the human body has the innate intelligence to divinely heal itself by manufacturing the appropriate medicinal needs to restore and maintain a healthy body.’ Due to prolonged unhealthy life-style in an unhealthy environment, the natural mechanism for the body to naturally heal itself and to maintain good health is crippled, leading to illness.

To gain a deeper perspective of this great ancient wisdom, attend World Yoga Festival 2016 for the programme of presentations which explain in layman’s terms how you can apply some of the wisdom for a healthier life for you and your loved ones. We look forward to welcoming expert and author Angela Hope-Murray this July who will be teaching the ways of Ayurveda to us - she began training in Ayurveda with Dr Vasant Lad in 1986 and continued her education in India and at Middlesex University. Tickets are on sale now.