Ayurveda (pronounced i-yer-vay-da) is an ancient system of holistic healthcare that is becoming increasingly popular in the West today. Ayurvedic medicine focuses on all area of health, including diet, lifestyle, exercise, detoxification, sleep, and the mind.

A sister science to Yoga, Ayurveda emerged from the sacred texts of ancient India, known as the Vedas, or “Books of Wisdom.” These date back at least five thousand years and are widely regarded as humanity’s oldest literature. As a completely universal body of wisdom, Ayurvedic practices are as relevant today as they were 5000 years ago. Ayurvedic principles can be woven into any culture or time period, because they are rooted in the laws and cycles of Mother Nature.

According to Ayurveda, health is not a state defined by lab tests or yearly check ups. Health is a continuous and participatory process that embraces all aspects of life: physical, mental, emotional, behavioral, spiritual, familial, social, and universal. Achieving balance on all levels of being is the true measure of vibrant health. The average person and standardized treatment simply do not exist in Ayurvedic medicine. Every individual is a one-of-a-kind with an equally unique blueprint for health. By providing a universal framework for understanding these blueprints, Ayurveda teaches us to honor and support our true individual natures.

The underlying prescription of Ayurvedic medicine is quite simple: recognize the power of self-healing within, and you will become your own greatest doctor!