As Ayurveda becomes a buzzword, ayurvedic food, cosmetics and spas are also becoming widely available across the world. It is perhaps time to really reflect on what Ayurveda is and how it can assist us in modern day life. The earliest documented text on Ayurveda (and probably the most used reference) is the Charaka Samhita, dated to be around 1000 BCE. ‘Ayur’ means life and ‘Veda’ means knowledge. So Ayurveda is the knowledge of life: a guide on how to live. Having originated from so long ago, how relevant is it to our lives today?
Effectively, Ayurveda is both a lifestyle one should follow to have a healthy body and mind, and a form of medicine (the traditional medical system of India and Sri Lanka) to heal the body and mind which might be in a state of dis-ease. It is a deep subject explaining how the body and mind works, what it consists of and how it interacts with the external environment. It is different than the modern notions of wellness, which seems to focus largely on aesthetics and ideal figures/weight, or ‘one solution fits all’ approach. In contrast, Ayurveda focusses on understanding how each body is different and finding the optimum state concerning oneself. It places a lot of emphasis on the mind and the impact it has on our body and vice versa, and introduces a spiritual context to our being (in the sense of `meaning` or reason to live). It moves beyond wellness towards holistic wellbeing.
Modern day efforts to squeeze Ayurveda into a ‘product for sale’ formula and commercialising it have created much confusion among many about what Ayurveda is and how to practice it. The extent to which it is understood and the lifestyle is practiced will determine the results it will deliver. Our modern lives are a far cry from an ayurvedic life and therefore the very essence of the subject, its philosophical approach to life and what it aims to deliver needs to be better understood if we are to truly practice Ayurveda and enjoy its many benefits.
At Plantation Villa, we offer you to experience the ayurvedic lifestyle and heal yourself (if you are suffering from any ailments) through the medicinal science of it or to maintain a state of health through detoxification and nourishing of the system. The idea is for you to experience and maybe incorporate some of the lifestyle elements in to your daily life when you return home.
