Have you ever wondered why you often fall ill right when you take a break from work? Or when you’re stressed? The answer lies in the intricate connection between your mind and body and my Integrated Ayurveda approach includes both in all consultations. I integrate traditional Ayurvedic practices with modern therapeutic techniques such as parts work to provide a comprehensive path to health and wellness. How does that work, you may ask? I’m so glad you asked…
Ayurveda: “You can’t separate the body and the mind”
In Ayurveda, the mind and body are seen as interconnected entities that can’t be separated. As Charaka, an ancient Ayurvedic scholar, stated, “The body and the mind are both considered the abodes of disease and happiness.”[1] This holistic view emphasises the importance of mental and emotional well-being in achieving overall health. One of the components of Ayurvedic treatment is psychic therapy (satvavajaya), which involves the “withdrawal of the mind from harmful objects.”[2] ‘Harmful objects’ can include not only desires for unwholesome foods and detrimental lifestyle choices but also overwhelming thoughts and emotions.
With helpful tools such as meditation, mindful activity and focus on the present moment, we can withdraw our mind from these harmful objects. For many of us, however, these attachments are strong and will keep pulling us back in. To successfully withdraw, just trying to separate may not be enough and deeper exploration of these attachments may be needed to loosen the knots. Charaka states that treatment of the mind must include all round knowledge of the self, “who I am”[3]. By exploring these mental attachments in a safe space, I help you achieve a state of mental clarity and emotional balance.
Ayurveda and Shadow Work: a masterful partnership
By combining Ayurveda and Shadow Work, we address the emotional and psychological barriers that prevent you from making lasting changes. Making changes can be very difficult without having all parts of yourself on board. Although we may have a part of us that wants to make changes, we also have ‘risk manager’ parts that can stop us from making changes because they pose risks to us in other ways. For example, losing weight might make us healthier but there may be a (potentially hidden) part of us that worries that it may make us more visible and gain unwanted attention. Following dietary guidelines might improve our symptoms but there could be a part of us that doesn’t want that as it may make us boring and unsociable, isolated and sad. It’s important to bring these parts on board to make changes that last.
This blend of Ayurveda and Shadow Work coaching is called ‘Integrated Ayurveda’ as it integrates the two methodologies into one approach. I also like the word integrated as is only through this internal integration that good habits can be made in a sustainable way.
This integrated approach has led to remarkable transformations in my clients’ lives. One of my clients, Laura, struggled with a persistent skin condition for years. After exploring and addressing suppressed emotions from her childhood through our integrated approach, the skin condition clear up and never came back. Another client, Deepa, who had been given a negligible chance of conception, successfully conceived after undergoing deep cleansing techniques (panchakarma) and Shadow Work.
An Integrated Ayurveda Session: what to expect
The integrated approach involves understanding what you truly want and identifying any obstacles in your way, incorporating emotional exploration from the start. Each session includes a traditional Ayurvedic clinical diagnosis, to determine the best path for diet, lifestyle, and herbal treatments. Alongside this, I integrate gentle Shadow Work, which, despite its intimidating name, is simply parts work where we engage with different aspects of you, building a comprehensive picture of how these parts interact and what changes might be needed to achieve your goals. Some of these parts may be hidden until discovered, residing in the shadow, but they are not inherently negative. Bringing them to light can be a significant relief, allowing you to understand their motives and actions.
The Arc of Integrated Ayurveda Sessions
The Integrated Ayurveda program typically consists of six to seven sessions, during which the treatment plan is continuously monitored and adjusted. Hand in hand with checking in on symptoms, adjusting diet, lifestyle, and herbs, we use each session to explore different parts until we build a visual map of your current internal emotional world. Between each session, reflective exercises as well as lifestyle recommendations are provided. There is also an option to do a Shadow Work process session towards the end, followed by an integration session.
Effective and Safe Through Qualifications
I have been practicing for 20 years and hold a BSc honours degree in Ayurveda, am a member of the Ayurvedic Professionals Association and have an extensive three-year training in Shadow Work™ coaching and facilitation. I undergo regular reassessment and supervision to ensure the highest level of readiness and safety for my clients. I feel it is vital that I remain open and ready to hold others, so I have weekly psychodynamic psychotherapy and regular Shadow Work sessions of my own.
By embracing the holistic approach of Integrated Ayurveda, you can achieve a balanced and healthy life. Ready to start your journey? If you feel Integrated Ayurveda is for you, you can book in an in-person or online appointment.
[1] Charaka Samhita Sutra Sthana 1/55
[2] Charaka Samhita Sutra Sthana 11/54
[3] Charaka Samhita Sutra Sthana 11/46
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