The 5 Pathways

Ayurveda takes a very broad view of health. It is not just the absence of disease symptoms, but being in tune with our original nature - the unique constitution we were born with and that gives us our physical, mental and emotional character. It is also about being in harmony with nature in terms of the natural cycles of life - daily cycles of waking, eating, moving, sleeping, seasonal cycles of Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and the impact on our diet and lifestyle, and stages of life - youth, middle age, old age. We have normalised and very limited view of what ‘being healthy’ means, we assume it is normal to feel a bit groggy in the morning, to have low energy, to have digestion issues such as bloating or constipation, to have cravings, interrupted sleep. A person in full health would have purpose and enjoyment in life, enthusiasm, radiance, a clear and bright mind, glowing skin, bright eyes, good communication and healthy relationships.

So an Ayurvedic consultation does is not a one way process where the practitioner offers a medicine to the client who obediently swallows it. It is a process of empowerment working through 5 pathways

1. Lifestyle - our morning and evening routines,

2. Diet

3. Movement and Breath,

4. Therapies - our self care including the use of oils to nourish our skin, and promote oral and nasal health,

5. Herbs and Supplements - including the use of herbs and spices in our daily cooking that suits our constitutions. Sometimes particular Ayurvedic herbs will be recommended - but most of what we can do to bring ourselves back into balance relates to how we live, move, breathe and eat in our daily lives.

   
   

There are also practices that can focus on mental, emotional and spiritual health. It includes storytelling particular types of stories to elicit different effects, e.g. calming or energising. It includes music and singing - utilising different moods of the Indian ragas to impact different moods and different health conditions - there is no top end!

So Ayurveda coaching is not just something to turn to at the last moment when disease symptoms appear, but a way of living our lives that helps deepen our understanding of our unique selves and make adjustments that bring us back into balance and radiant health at all stages of life.