I am sorry for the silent treatment last week, dear readers. It was for a good cause.

I just finished 30 days of non stop fun (aka work…insert exhale here) but the last (and final) of these days was capped by teaching a week long seminar in Ayurveda (pronounced “ah-yer-veh-duh”) and Professional Yoga Therapy to medical professionals from across the United States.

This is where you come in.

For those of you who do not know – Ayurveda is the “medicinal” side of Indian healing and translated means “science of life.” It is considered the “sister science” of Yoga. Ancient and modern sages in Indian Medicine alike state that Yoga and Ayurveda are most effective for lending mind and body health when practiced together.

What does this mean for you?

If you are currently a Yoga buff or even if you are a newbie to Yoga…If you want the best results for your body and mind – seek a therapist who has training on both sides of the proverbial “fence” – in Yoga & Ayurveda and western medicine.

What can Ayurveda (a “new” old method for maintaining health) do for you?

Ayurveda can help you do the following:

1. Improve your current state of health by teaching you to identify pre-cursors of illness and disease. As a physical therapist, athletic trainer, and specialist in women’s health and rehabilitation – I am well versed in diagnosing from the point of view of the western medical model. However, western medicine does a far lesser job of preventing disease. It does not typically pick up on a disease process until it is full blown – or in a chronic state. However, Ayurveda can help prevent chronic illnesses and disease.
2. Put you in charge of your body, mind, and spirit to discover your Best Self. I use Yoga, Ayurveda, and western rehabilitation to help women achieve their best body, mind, and spirit. Yoga & Ayurveda address the components of your health that western medicine and rehabilitation typically leave out, like the energetic body. Mental, energetic, emotional, and spiritual health are just as important as physical health. In fact, it is well founded that experiencing chronic stress in ways that aren’t seen – but are felt in your mind – can lead to physical stress and illness in your body.
3. Teach you how to perform self-healing techniques such as massage, yoga postures and breathing techniques, conflict management and resolution, improving your diet, essential oil therapy, meditation, sound therapy, color therapy, and environmental analysis (interior “re”-design of your space to make it fit you). I teach my students how to perform all of the methods above in order to help them help you create your most fulfilling life. Ayurveda does not conflict with your spiritual roots nor ask you to practice anything you are not comfortable with. Ayurveda helps you identify your constitution through something called a Dosha Test. If you have never taken a dosha test, you can download and take a free test by visiting the PYT Bookstore page. A dosha test helps you determine what areas of your life are imbalanced – and which ones are beginning to experience pre-disease states of “dis”health. A therapist trained in the PYT method can help you stop chronic stress and disease before it starts.

I teach my students in the PYT Program how to implement Yoga and Ayurvedic methods in their medical practices. To find a therapist in your area that is dually trained – meaning they are a licensed medical provider AND a Professional Yoga Therapist – visit this link.

Here’s to finding your optimal health – and your Best You.

And a belated Happy Mother’s Day to all of you!

*photo of the PYT retreat taken by Tianna Meriage-Reiter, a student from last week’s PYT training and upcoming graduate in the PYT Method. Tianna has a blooming PT and PYT practice in Alameda, CA.