Ayurveda
In Sanskrit, the word Ayurveda means ‘knowledge of life’ (Ayur = life, Veda = knowledge or science) and describes an ancient, holistic medical system that originated in India over 5,000 years ago, often referred to as the ‘Mother of all Healing.’ At the heart of the practice is the belief that health means harmony and comes from a delicate balance between body, mind, spirit and environment. Ayurveda views health as much more than the absence of disease, rather a state of vibrant wellbeing, where we tap into our innate vitality and capacity to thrive and experience joy in our lives.
Just as we all have our own unique fingerprint, we all also have our own individual constitution and this is made up of the three doshas or elemental base energies: Vata (air/ether), Pitta (fire/water) and Kapha (earth/water). All three doshas are present in each of us, but to varying degrees, and our own individual combination gives rise to our unique blend of physical, mental and emotional traits.
Each guest at the Sanctuary has a private consultation with our Resident Ayurvedic Doctor and is then prescribed a comprehensive, personalised programme of treatments and herbal medicines depending on their individual constitution and any imbalances present. Our skilful Ayurvedic therapists are expertly trained to deliver a wide range of traditional treatments depending on your condition. In Ayurveda these therapies and supplements are designed to work in combination with a balanced diet, yoga and meditation: this is the holistic approach we offer at the Sanctuary, encouraging your whole being to come into balance and providing guidance on how to maintain this health and harmony over the long-term, according to your own individual constitution.
Photo credits: @sylvia_lockhart