INTEGRATING AYURVEDA & THE TOOLS OF YOGA THERAPY TO MANAGE ANXIETY Avanti Kumar-Singh, MD
Avanti Kumar-Singh, M.D. Rush Medical College Resurrection Medical Center Scripps + University of Maryland Centers for Integrative Medicine
Financial Disclosure I have nothing to disclose.
Avanti Kumar-Singh, MD Are You Listening?
Ayurveda Ayu = life Veda = knowledge Ayurveda = the knowledge/science of life Oldest system of healing over 5,000 years old Mother of healing contains roots of all other healing systems Ayurveda (5,000 yrs.) Functional Medicine (20 yrs.)
Essence of Ayurveda 1. By observing Nature, we realize we are Nature. We are not separate. 2. The 5 elements, ether (space), air, fire, water & earth, make up everything on this planet including you and I. 3. Everything and each of us is a beautiful expression of a unique combination of these 5 elements in distinct form. No two people have the exact same ratio of ether (space), air, fire, water and earth.
5 Elements 3 Doshas Universe & everything in it made from the 5 elements: Ether (space) Air Fire Water Earth In Ayurveda, the qualities of the 5 elements are described in the 3 doshas or body-mind constitutions. Ether (space) Air VATA Fire Water Earth PITTA KAPHA
Your Blueprint = Harmony Within At conception, the ratio of the 5 elements that make up your dosha(s) is established. This unique ratio is a blueprint of your prakruti, or true nature. Thus your prakruti is an expression of your physical, mental, emotional and energetic composition in harmony. Prakruti is a state of optimal and vibrant health.
Dis-harmony Within The first signs of dis-harmony within us are symptoms which lead to illness which lead to disease. This dis-harmony, however subtle or gross, is a state called vikruti.
The Journey The ultimate task in Ayurveda is to help us in making the journey from our current state of vikruti, or dis-harmony, back to our true nature (parkruti), where optimal and vibrant health is restored. Ayurveda is a qualitative science in which understanding the qualities of food, thoughts, seasons and time of day makes it clear how to restore harmony and health.
Guiding Principle Like increases like. & Opposites reduce.
Counterbalancing Optimal State of Living(OSOL) Mental-Emotional State Assess. Tool Amy Wheeler, PhD. amywheeler.com 4 Zones White Zone = Vata (air & space) Red Zone = Pitta (fire & water) Blue Zone = Kapha (earth & water) Yellow Zone = Sattva Move toward Yellow Zone
Anxiety: Ayurvedic Approach Anxiety = Vata = too much air/space (White Zone) Like increases like. Opposites reduce. Counterbalance with earth, water (fire) to move to Yellow Zone grounding slower pace warmth Internal focus
Ayurveda & Tools of Yoga Therapy Ayurveda Diet Routines (daily habits, schedule) Lifestyle (relationships, career, work, passions/pleasure) Movement Yoga Therapy Yoga Therapy Asana (physical practice/poses) Pranayama (breath work) Mudra (gestures) Meditation (focus)
Management of Anxiety Ayurveda Diet reduce cold, raw foods and beverages increase warm, cooked foods warm water (with lemon/ginger) throughout day Routines regular schedule- waking, sleeping, eating Lifestyle heat focus/hands- knitting, painting, gardening Movement asana floor practice Yoga Therapy
Management of Anxiety Yoga Therapy Asana forward bends lateral bends twisting postures hip openers Pranayama long exhale with pause anuloma ujjayi Mudra finger nyasam Meditation inward focus- eyes closed earth, mountains, trees, roots mantra meditation
Avanti Kumar-Singh, MD Counterbalancing to Manage Anxiety
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