About  Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word meaning life knowledge or science of life. It is an ancient Indian system of medicine dating back as far as 6000BC. It is a sister science to Yoga. Lisa completed an Advanced Diploma in Ayurveda with Dr Ajit at the Australasian Institute of Ayurvedic Studies in 2017.

Ayurveda is holistic, a complete philosophy of life with an aim to heal and maintain balance in body, mind, senses and the soul by living in harmony with the unchanging universal laws of nature. This is why it is still so relevant today. Central to Ayurveda is the acceptance of the spiritual nature of man whose ultimate purpose is to reconnect consciously with the source of life.

In Ayurveda all of creation including man is described as containing varying quantities of the five elements – earth, water, fire, air, space. From these five elements, three doshas or vital energies arise. 

Vata - predominantly made up of space and air is the energy of movement

Pitta – fire and water is the energy of transformation

Kapha – water and earth is the energy of stability

We each have these three qualities within us as they govern the biological and psychological processes of our body, mind and consciousness.

Each person is unique due to the varying proportions of the doshas that they are born with. This inborn constitution is known as the individuals Prakriti or constitution. Prakriti can be discovered by observing such things as physical characteristics, diet and lifestyle habits, personality traits and pulse.

Most of us are generally more dominant in one or two of the doshas.  Someone who has a Vata dominant constitution shows characteristics of a light, thin build, enthusiasm, quick movements and thought, a tendency towards dryness, anxiety, fear, insomnia, constipation and changeable moods.

Pitta dominant types are generally of medium build, strength and intellect with strong drive, appetite and digestion and a tendency to overheat both physically and mentally.

Kapha types are solid with a larger frame, strong, slow, calm, cool and affectionate with a tendency towards obesity and possessiveness.

When a person is healthy and happy their doshas are most likely in a balanced state. When there are symptoms of dis-ease balance has been lost. This deviation from our natural balance sows the seeds of disease and is called Vrikriti. Knowing your body type and which dosha is most out of balance allows a targeted approach to reclaiming health.

Everything we consume either through our diet or our senses will have either a healing or detrimental effect on us. Also of great importance in Ayurveda is the way our body metabolises what we consume and that is dependent on the state of our Agni – our digestive fire. Disturbed agni creates Ama (toxins) and is one of the main causes of disease. Optimal agni brings prana (life force energy), nourishment to the tissues, burning of ama, health, intelligence and longevity through ojas (immunity).

Lisa has a passion for empowering people to take their health into their own hands and sharing the common sense knowledge of Ayurveda through yoga classes, workshops, retreats and courses.