Ayurveda is a system of self-care that originated in India more than 5000 years ago, and is the sister science to Yoga. Ayurveda is becoming more and more popular all over the world as health conscious folks are opting out of conventional medicine, improving their health mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, on a cellular level without the toxicity of synthetic drugs or aggressive options. There are times when that and other combined options are necessary, so please always consult your regular physician as well.

With technology finally able to track results, more and more conscious consumers are opting for this proven safe and gentle option to align their internal constitution know as doshas, as well as all aspects of themselves. Take charge of your own health, now! You can do it, and we are here to help you through this incredible process.

Ayurveda (Science of life) is the traditional medicine and natural healing system of India and its cultural sphere. Its foundation comes from the Vedic Era, around 5000 years ago. The Vedic word ayurveda has two root words--ayu and veda. Every root word in the Vedic tradition has its own definition--Literally and concisely, ayu means "life" and ved means "science." According to this translation, ayurveda means "the science of life." 

How It Works
Ayurveda has classified the body’s digestive system according to Dosha’s (your constitution) to overcome all ailments by eliminating the basic cause rooted in digestion.

A consultation is necessary to determine what constitution you are in order to determine what foods cause you under-ling allergies causing toxic build-up. Also to determine the foods you like to customize your menus. Dharamjeet uses her unique abilities to further customize the traditional Ayurveda principles, by introducing the concept of alkalizing the body for optimum health results.

Proper digestion is crucial for health. When digestion is efficient and complete, all of the food you eat is either converted into nutrient fluids for absorption into the body, or flushed out as wastes. When the digestive process is incomplete or inefficient, partially digested food matter is left behind in the digestive system. This substance, called ama in ayurveda, becomes toxic to the physiology if allowed to stay in the body or build up over time. Ama is not only inherently toxic in itself, it also clogs the channels of the body, further disrupting the flow of digestion and leading to an escalating cycle of toxin build-up. Ama is fertile ground for infections, disorders, and disease to germinate, take root and flourish. Ama build-up is considered the first stage of imbalance in the physiology.
If not treated, disorders and disease invariably follow and compound.
What Are The Doshas?
The three doshas are vata, pitta, and kapha. The doshas are three general body types. More deeply dosha indicates three basic patterns of how we use energy. Vata spends energy. Pitta manages it. Kapha stores it.
Vata tends to be deficient, mobile and dry. Pitta tends to get hot, sour and inflamed. Kapha people are stable, gain weight easily and have congestion. Understanding the pattern or dosha helps us to understand what's happening from a broad or holistic point of view. Doshas are often a starting point for understanding imbalance. 

Constitution
Constitution describes the essential nature of your body physically, mentally and spiritually. Every person has a different constitution (Dosha) and perfect health is different for every person. In the early morning you can feel your constitution just to the right of the heart as a wish.

Body type is a combination of doshas that Ayurveda uses to understand and approximate a person's constitution. If a person has a vata body type they have the gifts of vata but also the tendency to get vata type illnesses. It is important for you to know what the signs are, so that you can avoid the foods that put you into imbalance, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Balancing the Doshas
Ayurveda helps people heal by balancing the doshas. When the doshas are balanced, the body is in homeostasis (a state of zero change) and that is a state of perfect health. When the body is healthy it automatically repairs and protects itself. 

Why Ayurveda Works
The whole universe is made up of five essential elements-Building blocks that all life forms contain: Ether, air, fire, water and earth. We can easily see how life was created from the subtlest to the grossest matter. From eternity, the subtlest form of matter is ether. Ether mixing with eternity creates air, more observable or experiential element. As air moves, it eventually creates friction, which creates heat or fire. Heat produces moisture, thus creating water, the densest element; if one tries to walk through water, one is slowed by its density. Finally, water produces the densest form of matter, earth. Ayurveda says that all of the creations, including humans, are made up of the combination of all five elements. These elements are the subtlest aspects of human life, finer than the molecular, atomic, or subatomic levels. This is the level that Ayurveda healing works on.

Focusing on the cause of the grosser levels of life, the denser aspects will be taken care of since they are made of these five elements. Just as a strong foundation supports a strong building, the five elements (the foundation of all matter) when strong and balanced in a person, they will automatically balance the more material levels. Thus, Ayurveda does not need to look at isolated parts of the human anatomy, or at the vitamin, chemical, or nutritional level of health. It simply balances the elements, and this balances the more physical levels.

For Example…
A person diagnosed with a duodenal ulcer is an example of this balancing. Rather than creating a name for a symptom, Ayurveda identifies the illness as an excess of the fire elements. Acid is a by-product of heat. Ayurveda will look to see in what part of the patient's life overheating occurs. It may be due to eating excessive fiery foods and spices like tomatoes and peppers. One's career may be causing undue anger (i.e. hot temper). Perhaps the person drinks alcohol (fire water).
Once the cause is learned, suggestions for reducing a person's excessive intake of fire are discussed. Simultaneously, the patient is advised to use more of the air and water elements to balance the heat with coolness (air cools heat, water puts out the fire).

Thus, the holistic approach of Ayurveda seeks the cause of an illness and restores balance, using the insight of the elemental creation of the universe.

The functioning and existence of the body entirely depends on Vata, Pitta, Kapha energy. Period!

Ayurvedic 21 Day Cleansing and It’s Importance
Ayurvedic cleansing was originally created for the Indian royal family. Its purpose is to prolong life by removing physical impurities from the body, while also clearing your mind of negative thoughts and energy. More and more conscious people are turning to the "proven" natural and holistic approach of Ayurveda and Ayrvedic cleanses. Oprah swears by them!

This cleanse is beneficial for everyone, but it is especially important as you get older and your body becomes less able to flush out toxins by itself. It’s a good cleanse to do twice a year to really flush the toxins out of your body.

Purva Karma (Pre-Cleanse) Usually 3 -7 days prior to selected cleanse
Purva Karma is the first stage in the Ayurvedic cleansing process, which prepares your mind and body for the release of toxins and negative energy. It involves changes in both your diet and your lifestyle based on your dosha and yogic principles, because an Ayurvedic cleanse at Yoga Rays is designed to improve both your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health on a cellular level. Dharamjeet will custom select simple and tried recipes from her own collection, specifically designed for your dosha and personal tastes. Special detoxifying yoga & meditation sets are prepared to facilitate the healing and detoxifying process.
You will be given easy referencing step by step healing guidance to follow along with daily reccommendations. Do as much as you like.

Pancha Karma (Cleansing Phase) 3 - 7 days depending on cleanse
The cleansing phase of the Ayurvedic diet is comprised of three practices - cleansing, colonics and massage.  You will be given organic, proven, detoxifying supplements from the Brazillian Rain Forest (what I have been using), to detoxify the blood, liver and kidney. Additionally, we will further customize your dosha eating plan by adding in delicious, alkalizing recipes from food choices you already love, to balance the blood's PH level, and get you to a neutral level. It is also essential to detoxify the largest organ of the body, our skin. We activate the lymph nodes to detoxify this organ by yoga, massage, skin brushing and/or jaccuzzi.
Also essential is to clear the years of blockages impacting the large intestine. Many of us don't realize that we reabsorbe toxins if we don't clear them out regularly. Yoga Rays has excellent prices for massage, and a super price for colonics at a nearby spa.
 
The Rejuvenation Phase 3 - 7 days and beyond...
The last step in the Ayurvedic cleanse is rejuvenation, lasting about a week. This is where you end the cleanse (or fast for the advanced) and return to the simple diet for your dosha that you followed during the preparation phase. Ideally, you will feel so incredibly healthy and conscious after this process, you will naturally resonate and continue with your new found routine and lifestyle.

It is very important to continue your “prescribed” yoga and meditation throughout this phase. Your body has now been cleansed, and it is during this time that your mind will start to be healed too. It is often a very emotional time for cleansers, and it is a good idea to take some time off, or try to eliminate any unnecessary agitation of your System. Dharamjeet will lovingly guide you through this process, if you like. Private yoga & meditation classes are available.

Keep on the diet for your Dosha. Cleanse, and follow-up with regular consultations to fine-tune yourself each season.