Ayurveda, which literally means the knowledge and wisdom of life, is the
traditional healing system of India. Often called the mother of all healing, it
originated in India over 5000 years ago.
Ayurveda views health and disease as the end result of how we interact with
the world, in terms of our beliefs, perceptions, thoughts, and feelings, which
then ultimately determine our actions. Actions in harmony with our inner nature
create health, while those dis-harmonious with our inner nature create disease.
Ayurveda is the science of developing greater harmony with our environment
through all of our senses.
Ayurveda assists the body in journeying back to optimal health by balancing
the five elements in the body and mind through the use of herbs, diet, colors, aromas,
lifestyle changes, yoga, and meditation along with other five sense therapies.
The rejuvenative and cleansing therapies (Pancha Karma)
described within help nourish our bodies while calming our minds from the
stresses of modern daily life.
Your inner nature is called your constitution or prakruti, and is an
individual blend of the three doshas, Vata,
Pitta, and Kapha. Your unique balance of these three energies was determined at
the moment of conception and is with you the rest of your life. It determines
what is in harmony with your nature and what will cause you to become out of
balance, sick, and diseased. Knowledge of your constitution is essential to
developing optimal health. Your constitution determines how you react to
various foods, colors, aromas, and general life habits.
Recently, Ayurveda has had a profound impact upon the world of health care.
Popular books by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and others have called attention to the
potential of this ancient healing system. Along with the potential to heal
chronic diseases, Ayurveda promises to improve health and increase longevity.
Ayurveda is considered the healing side of Yoga. Likewise, Yoga is the
spiritual side of Ayurveda. Both Ayurveda and Yoga strive to help a person
re-connect to their true nature through direct experience. Together, they
encompass a complete approach to the well being of the body, the mind, and the
spirit.
The monthly theme for May is the notion of the Chakra System.
Anodea Judith, author of Eastern
Body, Western Mind, says:
A chakra is a center of activity that receives, assimilates, and expresses life force energy.
The word chakra literally translates as wheel or disk and
refers to a spinning sphere of bioenergetic activity emanating from the major nerve ganglia branching
forward from the spinal column. There are six of these wheels stacked
in a column of energy that spans from the base of the spine to the middle of
the forehead. And the seventh which is beyond the physical region. It is the
six major chakras that correlate with basic states of consciousness...Chakras are commonly described, as above, as energy centers in the spine
located at major branchings of the human nervous system, beginning at the base
of the spinal column and moving upward to the top of the skull. Chakras are
considered to be a point or nexus of metaphysical and/or biophysical
energy of the human body. Each chakra is also associated with a
specific color, gem, and mantra/sound. Through asana practice, pranayama, meditation,
chanting, massage techniques, and color therapy we are able to open the chakras
and increase flow of energy up the sushumna
(similar to the spinal column).
Sahasrara
Sahasrara
or the crown chakra is generally considered to be the chakra of
consciousness. Its role may be envisioned somewhat similarly to that of the pituitary
gland, which secretes hormones to communicate to the rest of the endocrine
system and also connects to the central nervous system via the hypothalamus.
The thalamus
is thought to have a key role in the physical basis of consciousness.
Symbolised by a lotus with one thousand petals, it is located on the crown of
the head. Color Violet.
Ajna
Ajna (along
with Bindu, either or both are considered to correspond to the third eye)
is linked to the pineal gland which may inform a model of its
envisioning. Ajna is held as the chakra of time, awareness and of light. The
pineal gland is a light sensitive gland that produces the hormone melatonin
which regulates sleep and awakening. Symbolised by a lotus with two
petals. Color Indigo.
Vishuddha
Vishuddha
(also Vishuddhi) or the throat chakra may be envisioned as relating to
communication and growth, growth being a form of expression. This chakra is
paralleled to the thyroid,
a gland that is also in the throat and which produces thyroid
hormone, responsible for growth and maturation. Symbolised by a lotus with
sixteen petals. Color Blue.
Anahata
Anahata
or the heart chakra is related to complex emotion, compassion, love,
equilibrium and well-being. It is related to the thymus, located in
the chest. The thymus is an element of the immune
system as well as being part of the endocrine system. It produces T cells
responsible for fending off disease and may be adversely affected by stress. Symbolised by a lotus with twelve petals.
Color Green.
Manipura
Manipura
or the solar
plexus chakra is related to the transition from simple or base to
complex emotion, energy, assimilation and digestion, and is held to correspond
to the roles played by the pancreas and the outer adrenal
glands, the adrenal cortex. These play a valuable role in digestion,
the conversion of food matter into energy for the body. Symbolised by a lotus
with ten petals. Color Yellow.
Swadhistana
Swadhisthana
or the sacral
chakra is located in the sacrum (hence the name) and is related to base emotion, sexuality
and creativity. This chakra is considered to correspond to the testicles or the
ovaries that produce the various sex
hormones involved in the reproductive cycle which may cause dramatic mood swings.
Symbolized by a lotus with six petals.
Color Orange.
Muladhara
Muladhara
or the base or root chakra is related to instinct, security, survival and
also to basic human potentiality. This centre is located in the region between
the genitals and the anus. Although no endocrine organ is placed here, it is
said to relate to the inner adrenal
glands, the adrenal medulla, responsible for the fight and flight response
when survival is under threat. In this region is located a muscle that controls
ejaculation in the sexual act in the human male. A parallel is charted between
the sperm
cell and the ovum
where the genetic code lies coiled and the kundalini.
Symbolised by a lotus with four petals.
Color Red.
