Ayurvedic Therapies: Constructive Pampering for Your Senses

Ayurveda helps people live healthy, peaceful, and joyous lives by following the universal laws of nature. Ayurvedic therapies are unique because they are nurturing and fun to follow. This is important because to grow in peace and joy, shouldn't therapies also be pleasurable?

Ayurvedic therapies exist for all five senses. People choose their preferred therapies, making healing more natural and personal.

Dosha Therapies

Ayurveda offers therapies that heal illness while balancing doshas. For example, the herb Bhuamalaki helps Pitta (fire) and Kapha (water) liver conditions, however it imbalances Vayu (air) doshas. Another herb for the liver, Bhringaraj, balances Vayu, preventing side effects. Other sections of this article discussed massage, aromatherapy, foods, and cooking in detail. The remaining common therapies are described below.

Herbs

Herbal therapies come in many forms, tablets, teas, poultices, and juices, for body and mind. Herbs target tissues and organs; cleansing and boosting immunity and longevity. Ayurveda uses the whole herb because Mother Nature builds into each herb natural balancing properties. Isolated herbal extracts may cause side effects, and extracted, side effects can be more pronounced.

Colors & Gems

Colors influence the mind and emotions; seeing healing colors at home and work elevates and soothes. Ayurveda advises bright, healing colors; dark, murky colors muddy the emotions (eg, choose teal, pass on olive). Color-therapy applies to clothes, and home and office decor. People are advised to test colors in an accessory (eg, scarf) or paining, to experience the effect. If the colors uplift the mood, then new clothes, furnishings, and wall-paint are chosen based on dosha healing colors. Ayurveda’s sister science, Vastu Shastra (Indian Feng Shui) can be integrated for a richer Ayurvedic lifestyle experience.

People can choose gems by dosha color, as a general guide. Gems are more salubrious when touching the skin. Pendants turned around, or rings with holes in the bottom so the gem touches the finger, are the best way to wear gems. Generally it is advised to choose gems according to Vedic Astrology (Jyotish) for greater efficacy.

Mantra Meditation and Sacred Music Therapy

According to Vedic tradition, the first sound of creation is 'aum' (om or \). Both modern and Vedic sciences tells us the essence of material life is vibration or light waves. Health is harmonious vibration, and disorders, discordant oscillations. Mantras are specific sound vibrations that harmonize a person's mind and body to their nature and soul. There are many types of mantras, Ayurvedic health mantras, Vedic astrology mantras, general devotional mantras, and spiritual Guru-given mantras for Self-Realization. In essence, any positive word or idea, such as 'love thy neighbor' is a mantra. Meditation can be defined as both seated/silent, and actively helping others.

Music is another form of vibration or meditation. Classical Indian ragas help harmonize a person to the time of day, season, and to one’s inner peace. Devotional folk songs (bhajans) are sung to God and culture devotion, leading to greater inner peace and joy. Playing any soothing, inspiring, devotional songs, from any culture, is a form of music therapy or meditation. Whatever brings peace of mind is a form of meditation.

Lifestyle

• Yoga asanas (poses) according to one's dosha harmonize mind and body, tone muscles, and prepare one for higher spiritual meditation.
• Exercise/nature - a well-rounded life requires spending time in nature to re-attune to nature's rhythm. Walking and swimming are best for all doshas. Moderate exercise is advised for Vayu and Pitta; stronger exercise for Kaphas.

Spiritual Ayurveda

Life Purpose (Dharma)

One free and more profound healing therapy is living one’s life purpose. When life has meaning, energy and focus are clear, and people usually remain healthy. Ayurveda says that in many cases, illnesses, including cancers are caused by not living one's life purpose. The good news is that it is easy to discover one's life purpose (what one loves to do).

Spiritual Goals

Ayurveda says the goal of life is Self-Realization; the more one realizes their inner soul is the same as the eternal soul, they live more eternal peace and joy; radiating this eternal, divine love to all others. Manifesting spiritual goals is another priority therapy.

When a person is not aligned to their spiritual path, they experience varying degrees of spiritual emptiness. Material life is temporary; sense-pleasures have a beginning and end; then craving begins again. Developing inner peace and joy is the only permanent solution. [Defining ‘spirituality’ is left to each individual].

Conclusion

Physical and spiritual Ayurvedic therapies remove blocks to spiritual development, inspiring inner peace and joy. Ayurveda offers a truly complete range of therapies, so go ahead and pamper yourself, its good for your soul!