Get ready for Inner Seed’s first Ayurveda retreat in the Himalayan Mountains in 2024.
We are honored to introduce to you the woman behind the Ayurveda Wellness Retreat
Shlloka, a renowned proponent of yoga and wellness, and the recipient of the Ratna Shree award, is an Isha Hatha Yoga Teacher trained extensively under the guidance of Sadhguru, the celebrated mystic and Yogi, at the Isha Foundation, Coimbatore, India. She is committed to making classical hatha yoga available to a larger audience across the globe and conducts yoga programs online and in-person at various destinations around the world.
1. What is Ayurveda and how does it differ from conventional medicine?
Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words Ayur (life) and Veda (science or knowledge). Ayurveda translates to knowledge of life. A science which explains about the dos and don’ts for a healthy lifestyle, it also emphasizes on protecting the health of a healthy person by preventive care. Along with this, it treats the disease, and unlike conventional medicine which works on symptoms and makes people dependent on medicines, Ayurveda works on the root of the disease. For instance: Allopathy would treat chronic diseases like diabetes, thyroid, hypertension and blood pressure by putting patients on lifelong medications, on the contrary, Ayurveda has methods to reverse it.
2. How does Ayurveda approach the concept of health and well being?
Ayurveda defines health to be in a complete balanced state of mind and body, which depends on normal functioning of all physiological factors – like “Sapthadhatu” (the lymph, blood, muscles, bones, bone, marrow, and fat) and “Tridosha”(Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) that governs all functioning of the body like cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, reproductive, excretory and nervous system.
3. What role does diet and nutrition play in Ayurveda? How does it personalize dietary recommendation?
Ayurvedic science believes that the kitchen is our pharmacy.
We don’t judge a food item by its calories, but by its Prana or Life energy.
We are what we eat, and every food is directly responsible for maintaining both physiological and psychological balance.
Eating as per season, region, and according to one’s body constituency (body type), is therefore essential, as going against that leads to the production of toxin called “Ama” — the root cause for the onset of all diseases. The perspective of health and nutrition in Ayurveda is therefore very different from that of biomedicine and modern nutrition.
4. What are some common Ayurvedic herbs and remedies used for promoting health and treating ailments?
As said, Ayurvedic science gives importance to food; we can see that our everyday food itself acts as preventive and curative medicine for most of the common problems. It’s nothing but Kitchen pharmacy, which can be used as preventive, first aid and also as medicine.
Some daily used spices which are medicines too:-
Tulsi or sacred basil – It has anti microbial, anti fungal, and anti-viral properties.
Neem or Indian lilac – It is anti viral, acts as blood purifier, regulates glucose metabolism
Guduchi or Tinospora cordifolia – It is the best immune-modulator, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and anti diabetic in nature.
Ashwagandha or Withania somnifera – It acts best as a rejuvenator and helps in anti stress. It also strengthens the nervous system.
Yashtimadhu or Glycyrrhiza glabra – It is a good antacid, acts on the vocal cord, respiratory system, and balances the HCL secretion in the stomach.
Turmeric – It is antiseptic, anti cancerous, anti microbial, anti viral, and immune-modulator in nature.
Ginger – It is helpful in relieving cough and cold and improves respiratory immunity.
Black pepper – It helps in reducing cough and phlegm.
Cloves – They are analgesic and anti-inflammatory in nature.
Cumin seed – It gives relief from acidity, flatulence, indigestion and vertigo
Coriander seeds – They are good coolant and can be used in relieving burning urination, excessive thirst.
5. How does Ayurveda view mental and emotional well being, and what practices are recommended for balancing mind
The definition of health given in Ayurvedic texts clearly mentions that the functioning of sensory organs, motor organs along with having a sound mind and body is the features of healthy person. To attain health at these levels Ayurvedic science advocates to follow some disciplinary regimes like “Dinacharya” (daily routine), “Rutucharya” (seasonal regimes), “Sadvrutta” and “Sadachara” (code of right conduct and practicing hygiene). To maintain discipline, three fields are mentioned – “Ahara” (food), “Nidra” (sleep), and “Bramhacharya” (celibacy). It also promotes practicing of yoga , pranayama and dhyana (meditation) for mental and spiritual well being.
6. What are the main Ayurvedic techniques for detoxification and rejuvenation?
Detoxification is carried out by a unique therapeutic procedure called Panchakarma. It indicates the five major therapies – “Vamana” (emesis), “Virechana” (purgation), “Nasya karma” (nasal drops), “Basti” (medicated enema), and “Rakta mokshana” (blood letting).
Rejuvenation therapy contains “Abhyanga” (Oil massage), “Swedana” (steam bath), “Shirodhara” (dripping of oil on forehead), “Shiro Abhyanga” (head massage), and “Padabhyanga” (foot massage).
7. How does Ayurveda incorporate lifestyle practices like yoga, meditation, and self care into its holistic approach to health?
The purpose of life is to gain ultimate liberation, to overcome re-births, and by passing the stages called “Purushartha”, which literally means an object of human pursuit. It refers to the four proper goals or aims of a human life. These are –
1. Dharma (righteousness / moral values)
2. Artha (prosperity / economic values)
3. Kama (pleasure, love / psychological values)
4. Moksha (liberation / spiritual values)
Written by: Shlloka
