Ayurveda is a set of dynamic principles given by sages and seers in an exquisite form that promises everyone, everywhere, in all times and places, the potential to be able to “live well and prosper.”
WHAT IS AYURVEDA?
The goal of Ayurveda has always been to establish lasting beauty by strengthening the body’s own resilience, calming, and clearing the mind, and restoring or building radiance from within. This multilevel approach gives a whole being the best chance to live the best life possible – a life in which that individual has sufficient surplus energy, resources and resourcefulness, mental clarity and spaciousness, and the inclination to be useful and help others to develop on their own spiritual path.
A classic definition of Ayurveda is that it is the science of life. It offers a holistic approach to beauty and well-being, as well as a remedy for the many infirmities individuals encounter over the various ages and stages of life. Some claim that Ayurveda is 2,500 years old and is from the Indian subcontinent. There are some who wish to claim that it is a part of the Hindu tradition. However, Ayurveda pre-dates and has nothing to do with any particular religious tradition, although it has been adopted by many. In fact, the origins of Ayurveda go back thousands of years and the first vestiges of it have it birthed in the Indus Valley (now a part of modern-day Pakistan) and developed by a people who are the least studied of the great ancient civilizations – whose cities were very recently being excavated, possessing a written language yet be decoded. Fortunately, the basic principles were recorded in the Sanskrit years after its birth in texts called the Vedas. There are also commentaries that offer further guidance. These commentaries are where a record of massage techniques, spa therapies, and product recipes can be found.
WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
As one of the most complete ancient healing systems on the planet today, Ayurveda can be used to address every form of complaint, including those problems clients often present in the spa setting. In fact, Ayurveda suggests all illnesses start with what are thought of as minor complaints: indigestion, insomnia, tiredness, weakness, and mental stress – the very problems that spa clients often comment on experiencing, along with their more specific skin problems, such as dryness, puffiness, breakouts, rashes, various types of discoloration, and, of course, wrinkles and loss of skin tone. What is gratifying, if not wondrous, in offering Ayurvedic remedies for the aesthetic complaints’ clients come to professionals for is that, because they are customized, many of the other stress-type symptoms seem to go, as well. This is because all remedies and cures in the body of Ayurveda are designed to work in harmony with a client’s body type, mind tendencies, and ability to follow instruction – along with their commitment of time to follow through. Healing is considered a journey – a partnership between the doctor or spa therapist, the client, and those who support them. Though this sounds like a tall order, the approach is rooted in practical simplicity. Like the philosophy seen in classic spa therapy, the Ayurveda approach starts with prevention: offering treatments and remedies and teaching lifestyle practices that notice and take care of health and beauty issues before they run deeper, with timely follow-up to encourage ongoing success in re-establishing balance, health, and well-being.
