I was first introduced to the ancient science of Ayurveda when I did my Yoga Teacher Training in January of 2015.
The history, philosophy, and science behind Ayurveda was intriguing to me and I knew I wanted to dive deeper into my Ayurvedic studies. Little did I know, that a decline in my health later that year would drive me right to the doors of Ayurvedic Medicine.
To summarize, I spent years bicycling to commute all over Los Angeles to serve as a waitress, teach yoga classes, and work the front desk at the yoga studio - skipping meals and exhausting my body, but staying somewhat energized off of health bars and caffeine. I embedded myself in the "LA hustle," constantly pushing myself to keep working, and working, and working just to make a living until... I collapsed at work one morning.
My body had completely shut down - days and weeks spent skipping meals and filling my belly with acidic foods and coffee to keep me running led to the pain in my abdomen which prevented me from standing upright and disabled me from eating or keeping any food down whatsoever for days to come, yet I my bloated stomach made me look like I was three months pregnant.
I was bounced around from physician to specialist, clinic to hospital, received ultrasounds, MRI scans, an endoscopy and a colonoscopy only to be informed from multiple physicians that "there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with you, and you are a yogi so you're pretty healthy." Was I losing my mind?
Enough was enough! These doctors were not about to tell me that my Vata and Pitta had completely derailed, so I chose to search for local Ayurveda classes, workshops, and programs to finally take full responsibility for my health. I was blessed to find workshops in Malibu taught by Ayurvedic Practitioner Julie Bernier, and then receive the opportunity to deepen my practice in Ayurvedic Studies at Mount Madonna Institute College of Ayurveda.
The majority of people come to Ayurveda after they've seen every specialist, undergo every medical procedure, take all prescribed pharmaceuticals, and simply have no other option left than to try a more natural alternative approach to healing.
Rather than offering a magic pill to remove a symptom, Ayurveda offers 5,000 years of knowledge, science, and practices to heal diseases by nullifying the root cause of imbalance, and preventing disease or maintaining health through daily self-care for the body, mind, and soul. Each and every human being has a specific body constitution that is unique and different than the next. The body is made up of three fundamental energies, called "doshas" in Sanskrit, that govern our psychophysiological tendencies. Through the ancient medical science of Ayurveda, together we will discover what foods and lifestyle practices are balancing for me, for you, and for all of us.
A practitioner of Ayurveda would be lying to you if they said that incorporating Ayurveda into your daily life was easy. However, I can honestly say that this form of preventative, holistic medicine and way of life has proven (in my life and the lives of my clients) to have a profound and massive impact on the quality of life and overall well being, even when the smallest and subtlest changes to diet and lifestyle have been made.
I am so happy to be sharing the gift that has been given to me, and I look forward to a journey to health with you!
For more questions about Ayurveda or to schedule a one-on-one Ayurvedic Health Consultation, please email aloha@hoolamamma.com.
