Episode 33 – Learning about yourself through the lens of Ayurveda
In today’s episode, I share some pearls of wisdom from Ayurveda, a rich and complex holistic preventative medicine system originating in India over 5,000 years ago. One translation of the word “Ayurveda” means “the science of life.”
Ayurveda can deepen your understanding of your unique mental and physical constitution in ways that can help you cultivate and craft your life in ways that promotes recalibration in times of stress, transition, and imbalance.
Ayurvedic healing modalities include:
- food, nutrition, and spices
- specific physical activities
- addressing thought patterns and actions,
- lifestyle practices, pranayama (breathwork), meditation, bodywork (e.g., abhyanga (warm oil massage), marma therapy),
- detoxification practices,
- daily and seasonal rituals and routines, and more.
This body of wisdom is well beyond the scope of one episode, so today’s focus will be on a few key nuggets.
In addition to sharing more about what Ayurveda is and what personally drew me to Ayurveda, I share some key Ayurvedic principles (e.g., various Ayurvedic modalities, 5 elements, tridoshic theory, impacts of daily and seasonal rhythms) and offer some tips for self-study that can help you learn more about yourself through the lens of Ayurveda. I also describe examples of specific pranayama (breath work) and meditation practices that from an Ayurvedic practice can bring you more into balance depending on what is happening for you mentally, physically, seasonally, etc.
Additional Resources & Information
- If you’re interested in personalized support that integrates Ayurveda in addition to other tools from evidence-based psychology and ancient wisdom traditions, check out my 1:1 Coaching Program and if the fit is right, apply today for one of my final 2 spots for 2021: https://melissafoynes.com/1-1-program
- If you are interested in a free consultation to chat about whether the 1:1 program may be right for you, feel free to email me at hello@melissafoynes.com to set-up a time to connect. I’d love to hear from you!
- For more strategies that can support you in finding balance in times of transition, stress, and hardship, check out my free 4-part video series on building resilience: https://melissafoynes.com/free-series
- Check out the free 49-page workbook “A Guided Self-Assessment: Understanding Perfectionistic Tendencies” (https://melissafoynes.com/perfectionistic-tendencies) and the accompanying 3-part perfectionism series on the podcast (Episodes 28, 29, and 30).
- Follow @drfoynes on Instagram for more tips on gaining insight into and thriving with the support of Ayurveda and its many practices.
Please note that the information provided in this episode does not constitute professional advice or therapy, mental health services, or health care services, & is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional advice or services. If you are struggling with a mental health crisis or need immediate assistance, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Before you go…
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LEARN MORE ABOUT MY COACHING PRACTICE THROUGH THIS FREE VIDEO SERIES:
The Science & Soul of Building Resilience
In this 4-part series you’ll learn:
- Body awareness to help us center ourselves and live in a present-focused and embodied way even in the midst of stress
- Decreasing our stress response so we can access intuition and connect to our needs
- Values clarification to guide decisions about prioritizing our time, attention and energy
- Self-compassion to soften our harsh inner critics and facilitate growth following mistakes
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