Derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Ayur' meaning life and ‘Veda' meaning science and knowledge, Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest holistic practices. An ancient whole-body healing system developed over 5,000 years ago in India. Ayurveda is based on a belief that our health and wellness depend on the delicate balance between our mind, body, and spirit. For many years Ayurvedic knowledge was taught as tradition from accomplished masters to their disciples who shared the principles of natural healing systems which have developed over time into a defined set of external and internal practices and beliefs.
In contrast to Western medicine, Ayurveda does not focus on disease, rather it maintains that all life must be supported by energy in balance, taking a slower and more consistent approach to overall good health. Ayurveda employs a wide range of practices each with its own benefits. Introducing Ayurveda into your life can help promote a strong, healthy heart, reduce inflammation in the body, improve sleep and promote weight loss.
Introducing Ayurveda starts with identifying your Dosha or Ayurvedic body type, a guide to which can be found here. The three Doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha - are health types that are used in Ayurvedic medicine to define how one should eat, exercise, and sleep to optimize their overall health and wellbeing. Identifying your Dosha also helps guide individuals to recognize emotional strengths and weaknesses and are represented in varying amounts, the constitution of which should be balanced in order to achieve good health.
Complementary and alternative medicine like Ayurveda presents itself in many forms, with around 38% of US adults now using treatments like acupuncture, massage, and reiki. Ayurvedic practitioners today focus on the maintenance of the balance of energy through diet, exercise, and mindfulness, considering these as the most essential factors to overall health; believing that low-stress levels and alignment of body and energy allow the immune system to effectively ward off disease.
To integrate Ayurvedic practices into your daily lifestyle after identifying your dosha, a good place to start would be by incorporating recommended ingredients into your diet. Your Dinacharya or daily rituals, emphasizes the morning as your most sacred time. These rituals can help to keep the body in tune with the energy and rhythm of the Earth. Waking up earlier, or even rising with the sun allows time to transition into the day slowly, opening the opportunity to align oneself through Dinacharya. There are many different ways to practice these morning rituals. Read more about our blog on Dinacharya here.
At PRESSOLOGY, our products are infused with Ayurvedic cold-pressed oils and superfoods like turmeric (natural antiseptic and antibiotic properties), moringa, jasmine, and marula. We recognize the sensitivity of our body and purposefully reduce the intake of toxins into the bloodstream, which can over time aggravate the body’s inner workings. This ties into our philosophy, "what you put on your skin is just as important as what you put on your body". Our products are formulated with USDA organic ingredients that work with the natural harmony of the human body to heal and enhance your skin's long-term health.
There are many different ways to fuse Ayurveda into your lifestyle. Ayurveda empowers us to take our health into our own hands by consolidating practices that help to balance our energies and work slowly yet consistently towards a healthier and happier lifestyle.