What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is the traditional system of medicine that originated in India more than 2,500 years ago. The term ‘Ayurveda’ is derived from the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge), so it can be described as the science of life.

This ancient wisdom states that health is defined as a state of balance, tranquility,

clarity, and contentment in the body, senses, mind, and spirit. Each person is unique,

and there is no single solution for all. One’s individual constitution, and environment

must be taken into consideration to assess for imbalances and create solutions to mitigate

them; a constant endeavor to sustain balance.

Ayurveda describes the Universe and everything contained within it as consisting of one

or more of the five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. These elements all have their own qualities, and they combine to create the three doshas: Kapha (earth + water), Pitta (water + fire), and Vata (Air + Ether). Each person is born with a certain amount of each dosha (prakruti), but usually one or two are more predominant. Over the course of our life we inevitably become imbalanced in one or more of these doshas (vikruti) for a variety of reasons, and this can manifest in numerous ways. Each dosha has attributes that are present when it is

balanced, and others when it becomes excessive. For example, balanced kapha could manifest as a very sweet and nurturing person, but when kapha becomes excessive they may become possessive, stubborn, or lazy. A person with balanced pitta has strong digestion, is intelligent, and an excellent leader. But when excessive, pitta can tend toward anger or frustration,

inflammation, and can get quite hangry. Balanced vata could show up as creativity, intuition,

and spontaneity, but when excessive we see insomnia, anxiety, fidgetiness, or lack of

focus.

When I first heard about Ayurveda, the name sounded so familiar to me, but I didn’t

know why, and I honestly never figured it out; I suspect it was from a previous life.

However, in this lifetime it was through yoga that I was introduced to Ayurveda, as they

are considered ‘sister sciences’ and have roots in the ancient Vedic texts. I wanted to

learn more, so in 2019 I embarked on a 110-hr training (having already completed the

200-hr prerequisite of being a Certified Yoga Teacher) through the Himalayan Institute

by Kathryn Tempelton to become an Ayurveda Yoga Specialist. During my training

everything just clicked. It all made so much sense to me, and my life was transformed

forever. Now in 2025 I'm deepening my studies in a 2-year 600-hr Ayurvedic certification through the Shakti School of Ayurveda.

Ayurveda informs everything that I do, as well as all of the services I offer at The Soma

Haus, and the yoga classes and workshops I teach online and in Naperville, IL. In a massage

session, I’ll use specific oils and massage techniques to bring in opposite qualities where

you may be experiencing an imbalance. In a yoga class I’ll intentionally sequence my

class and introduce different posture variations based on the season or time of day. I

know how powerful this wisdom has been in my own life, and it is my joy and great

privilege to be able to share it with others, and I do so with the utmost reverence and appreciation for the roots of this ancient wisdom.

If Ayurveda interests you, and you’d like to learn more about how it could help you live a more balanced and peaceful life reach out to schedule a consultation. Please understand, while I can absolutely provide education, assessment, and recommendations, these sessions are educational and informative in nature, as I am not an Ayurvedic Doctor and I cannot diagnose or

prescribe. You will receive personalized recommendations and will gain a new

understanding and perspective on the things you perhaps previously thought were

“wrong” with you. It is always my goal to make Ayurveda easy to understand, and to

provide recommendations that fit into your life.