The word Ayurveda means “the science of life” and is composed of the Sanskrit root words: Ayu/Ayus which means life + Veda which means science or wisdom. Health is more than simply the absence of illness. Ayurveda considers health a state of wholeness and balance between the body and mind. Ayurveda treats illness by addressing both.

Ayurveda is a holistic health practice that comes from the Vedic tradition in India and has been around for more than 5000 years. Its premise, which is now being validated by modern science, is that our mind—to include our thoughts, emotions, and desires—is inextricably linked to our body and, therefore, emotional and physical health are inseparable. According to Ayurveda, preventative and restorative actions for many illnesses focused solely on the body alone are ineffective or minimally so because remedy does not include a focus on the mental and emotional aspects of the illness.

Emotions are the physical sensations in your body associated with the thoughts your mind. Your thoughts trigger chemical messages to each cell, telling them how you feel. This means that what happens to either the body or mind always impacts the other.

Living in a constant state of stress has been shown cause chronic inflammation in the body, a precursor to serious diseases such as cancer and heart disease. At the same time, cultivating healthy emotions promotes self-healing. This means it is important to be mindful of the choices we make, the thoughts we focus on and carry, and the experiences we have moment to moment to preserve our overall health and well-being.

Happy Meditating!

~Alicia