Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda remind us that we are part of nature, not a bystander to her beauty, power, and processes. When we live in accordance with Nature and her rhythms you naturally experience more balance, connection, peace, and love in your life.
I LOVE MODERN BIO-MEDICINE
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Modern Bio-Medicine works incredibly well for certain things, but there are gaps in the current model. So, as I and many others see it, this is where the holistic practices from Chinese Medicine/East Asian Medicine, Ayurveda, Yoga, and other indigenous healing practices fit into our lives - to fill the gaps left by modern bio-medicine.
Together, the best of many health systems can work together to provide an even more effective healthcare system.
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These holistic medicines and scientific traditions, coupled with modern bio-medicine, bring healthcare back to YOU.
Chinese Medicine
a.k.a. East Asian Medicine
a.k.a Acupuncture & Asian Medicine (AAM)
In the United States, Chinese Medicine is mostly associated with acupuncture, the insertion of tiny solid filament needles into specific scientifically measured points on the body that produce a physiological effect, restoring a person's ability to rebalance and heal itself.
The field of Chinese Medicine is a complete system of medicine. Acupuncture is one therapeutic modality used in Chinese Medicine. There are many treatment modalities used in Chinese Medicine, all of which seek to treat you as a whole person while addressing the root causes of symptoms or diseases. While some practitioners may use Acupuncture as a band-aid technique for pain, a highly trained Acupuncturist and practitioner of Chinese Medicine will go beyond the band-aid approaches to care.
Chinese Medicine treatments include: cupping, gua sha (therapeutic scraping of the skin), acupressure, tui na (medical massage), moxibustion (herbal heat therapy), food and dietary guidelines, herbal supplement recommendations, electro-acupuncture, meditation practices, tai chi, qi gong, medical qi gong (subtle energy healing), sound healing, aromatherapy, and feng shui. Yes, I'm trained in all of these.
While most of these techniques require a trained professional to assist in their application, Chinese Medicine wisdom is also full of self-care routines and suggestions guiding you to create your own balance. With successful application this can mean less time at the doctors and more savings in your bank.
Ayurveda
Science of Longevity
Ayurveda, a Sanskrit word that means "science of longevity," is a complete medical system from South Asia. It is known as the sister-science to Yoga because of their shared philosophical and historical roots in the Vedas. While Yoga has exploded in popularity, Ayurveda has not been honored or received with the same enthusiasm and popularity.
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Practicing Yoga without Ayurveda, is like reading a book with missing chapters.
Ayurveda is one of the oldest continuously practiced whole-person healing systems on the planet. With its roots in Vedic wisdom, Ayurveda is practiced all over the world by those who recognize and seek individualized holistic solutions for physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being challenges or prevention.
It's my belief that most people coming to Yoga for healing are actually looking for Ayurveda. Ayurveda's holistic wisdom is full of simple, yet powerful, tools and strategies for holistic self-care and lasting healing.
If you have intuitively thought, "There is so much more about yoga and its healing abilities, where do I begin?"
Ayurveda is a beautiful place to start.
Ayurveda entered my life as a teenager when my mom brought an Ayurveda book from a garage sale. It spoke straight to my heart. Growing up with un-diagnosable digestive problems, this book brought me hope.
After many years of Ayurveda self-study, committing to the spiritual path of Yoga, and beginning my Master's degree in Chinese Medicine, I completed Kerala Ayurveda Academy's Ayurveda Wellness Counselor program under the lead of Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar, BAMS, MD (Ayur. India).
Since 2009, I have been an educator and advocate for integrating Ayurveda (the forgotten sister) into Yoga spaces, I offer online courses, workshops, and in-person retreats helping yoga teachers, Yoga spaces, and dedicated yoga practitioners integrate Ayurveda into their life on and off the mat.
Chinese Medicine + Ayurveda
Today, Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda continue to be used in hospitals in China and India (respectively). Both effectively prevent and treat illness, disease, and pain and offer individualized approaches to health and wellness.
Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda are even more powerful when applied to your daily life as preventative medicine.
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Recognizing Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda have many shared philosophies and each has their own strengths and specialties, I integrate the two profound systems to create an even more complete, holistic, person-centric
model of empowering self-care.
The more self-care you apply in your daily life, the less medical care you'll depend on.
Having devoted the last two decades of my life to learning, using, and practicing both systems, I can easily say Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda come from the same roots but evolved over time influenced by cultural and environmental differences, all while keeping the needs of the people at the center.
Both systems guide you back to your center, your unique you-ness so you know how to make life decisions that keep you in balance and connected to the flow of life.
Together, they create a complete, deeply profound paradigm of self-care and medical care that can be used and adapted for modern times.
You are Whole Already
You = Body + Mind + Spirit
These two healing sciences remind us of our wholeness and endless potential. Both recognize and honor the truth that in order to "heal," you must address and treat the body, mind, and spirit together, each treatment, each interaction, every single time.
Both give us an accessible road map showing us how to adapt to life's inevitable changes. Our ability to adapt to these changes is deeply linked with our personal and spiritual growth and our health or dis-ease.
Both medicines give us masterful tools for adjusting, adapting, and going with the flow while still discovering and maintaining our sense of Self.
Ultimately, integrating Chinese Medicine or Ayurveda into your life, you'll befriend your wholeness (body, mind, and spirit) and from a place of self-love, understanding, and trust, will make decisions in your daily life that supports your inner Source of life, light, and power.