Did you know you can regain health by connecting with Ayurveda?
Ayurvedic wisdom follows an ancient system of health which urges an out-of-balance or sick person to seek stability and to regain health by connecting with Ayurveda, a science of the natural rhythms of life, beginning with the sun. Although it’s not hard to grasp something of the sun’s benefits to us humans, it’s another thing to bring that appreciation into practices that are both spiritual and health-oriented. A practitioner, educator, and interpreter does this with ease.
Ayurvedic Lifestyle Wisdom: A Complete Prescription to Optimize Your Health, Prevent Disease, and Live with Vitality and Joy. / Acharya Shunya, 2017. Sounds True, Boulder, CO. 306 p. Illustrations, tables, appendices, index.
In Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom, author Acharya Shunya’s insight makes Ayurvedic wisdom easy to absorb.
Connect with Ayurveda—with its original roots
Ayurvedic concepts originate from an immense body of ancient knowledge known as the Vedas, which were eventually channeled into many literary works. These became the cultural heritage of the country of India.
The Vedas, written in Sanskrit, have been studied by scholars and translated into English and other languages. One of the works on human health is known as Charaka Samhita (other works focus on philosophy and surgery), revered by Ayurvedic practitioners the world over. From the Samhita, Ayurvedic practitioners gain inspiration on how to develop their life force or longevity by living well, eating well, and appreciating the divine gifts of nature.
Connecting with Ayurveda, with its original roots in the Vedas, written in Sanskrit—itself an ancient language—requires interpretation for modern humans. Just think much Yoga, a physical practice in the West, has to be interpreted by teachers and instructors.
Author Shunya describes the art and science of Ayurveda in 7 chapters. At first I was impressed by her natural approach as storyteller. This charmed me, tempering the complexity of Ayurveda.
In Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom, I learned that its systems are based in part on a daily rhythm that closely matches segments of each day dedicated to three essential energies: wind, fire, and earth. In Ayurveda it’s said that human energy also is characterized by one or more of these energies, which in Ayurveda are termed vata, pitta and kapha.
Acharya Shunya’s years of experience as a teacher contribute to the organization of material on how to balance your life. Following the seven chapters on basic concepts of Ayurveda, Shunya offers appendices that instruct those ideas. There you’ll find recipes for “Healthy Elimination”, “Oral Health”, “The Ayurvedic Diet”. She labels these Resources Guides as they contain practical advice as well as recipes.
“Healthy Elimination Resource Guide” starts off with suggestions to look into your kitchen for remedies and ends with yoga asanas to alleviate or forestall any problems as well.
Ever tried bananas with cumin? It’s great for digestion, for sluggish intestines. Its taste is sweet and sour, with cumin-ish notes. To make it, simply sprinkle ground cumin over mashed bananas and then drizzle with lime juice. Allow to sit a few minutes so the flavors mix before eating. Benefit: Bananas are soothing to the stomach and digestion is greatly augmented with the addition of cumin. It’s also said that bananas are a food to have before bed since bananas help induce sleep.
Who knew that bananas are good for more than treats and ice cream?
A “Glossary of Sanskrit Words”, Notes, and Index follow the resource guides.
Align Your Daily Schedule with Nature.
In Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom you’ll discover how aligning your daily schedule with that of the sun, preparing and eating your food a certain way, engaging in practices of cleanliness, exercise, and “celebrating” the natural beauty and rhythms of the earth will make you thrive, with confidence.
Ayurveda, or Life Knowledge—the science of human health as told by the ancients in the Charaka Samhita, says that “… disease is a depredator of happy life.” So, author Shunya would have you avoid disease, just sidestep it. She claims you can do a healthful life by following her example and by adopting Ayurvedic values.
Acharya Shunya’s book is on my Herbs-Nutrition and Ayurveda Gift List for 2017!
See Acharya Shunya’s website here.
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