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By Carrie Demers, MD As a culture, we are obsessed with looking young. We dye our hair, whiten our teeth, use botox, have surgeries! - all attempts to hide the signs of our encroaching age. However, what we are truly seeking is not to look younger, but to feel...
by Gwen Burdick The dualistic theory of creation or causation is called Sankhya Philosophy and it appears in texts as ancient as the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. Its founder was the sage Kapila who is considered by scholars to be older than Buddha. It is also the...
by Gwen Burdick Fire, or Agni in Sanskrit, is one of the five basic elements of creation. It dominates the Pitta dosha of Ayurveda. Agni allows for heat, light, color and vision and is essential for combustion, cooking and our ability to digest food. When the element...
The purpose of the Vedic sciences is to promote Self-realization, and the spiritual disciplines of Ayurveda and Jyotish, Vedic Astrology, share their ancient roots. Ayurveda, which means knowledge of Life in Sanskrit, provides regimens to harmonize the mind/body...
According to Vedic science, when Spirit (Purusha in Sanskrit) takes form as life it is called Prakriti. Prakriti is made up of five elements from finest to grossest: space, air, fire, water and earth. In Sanskrit they are called Akash, Vayu, Agni, Jal, and Prithvi,...
The word Guna means "that which binds" in Sanskrit. According to Vedic science, all matter and energy that make up the manifest world consists of the three gunas in different quantities. They describe the qualities of nature and states of awareness, and are likened to...
Kapha dosha is the mind-body constitution that is made up of the two elements earth and water. People who have a dominant kapha dosha tend to be passive, peaceful, calm, and consistent. They can also be lethargic and stubborn. They are deliberate in their actions and are very loving.
Pitta dosha is the mind-body constitution that is made up of the two elements fire and water. People who have a dominant pitta dosha tend to be intense, responsive, sociable, and knowledgeable.
The number 108 is considered an auspicious, or sacred, number. For this reason there are 108 beads on a japa mala, or prayer garland. It is why many people do 108 sun salutations on summer and winter solstice. During our chanting for peace at The Yoga Sanctuary this...
Vata dosha is the mind-body constitution that is made up of the two elements air and space. People who have a dominant vata dosha tend to be on the move, energetic, and always seeking new experiences. Like air and space, vatas are difficult to pin down.
The doshas are the three mind-body constitutions. According to Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old sister science to yoga, there are five elements that make up everything in the universe: earth, water, air, fire, and space (or ether). These elements, in different combinations, make up each of the three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha.