Ayurveda: Beauty From The Inside Out
Guest post by Maryanna of NY Skin Goddess.
There are so many factors that contribute to aging…
The fountain of youth. Let’s face it, everyone’s heard of it and everyone’s looking for it. Juan Ponce de Leon searched for it five centuries ago.
I’m sure, many of us can remember hearing the universal phrase “you are what you eat” in grade school.
The truth is, nourishment and digestion are in fact key ingredients to obtaining youthful skin and vibrant inside health, which is a direct reflection of our outer beauty.
As an Aesthetician for over 25 years, I have treated many different skincare concerns, however I always knew that the cause of what we see on the exterior, was pre-existing on the interior.
Hence, I began a quest a few years ago and studied AYURVEDA.
WHAT IS AYURVEDA?
Ayurveda is a traditional healing system from ancient India and one of the world’s oldest medical systems. The word Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit word ayur meaning life and veda meaning knowledge.
It’s a consciousness based system of healing based on the five principle elements in nature, that we also have in our body.
The universe is made up of ether, air, fire, water, and earth. As humans, we are also made up of all five elements.
We each have different DOSHAS.
There are three main Doshas, they are called VATA, PITTA, and KAPHA. Each Dosha has specific qualities.
VATA is made of air and ether (space), PITTA is fire and water, KAPHA is earth and water. This explains why some people seem airier (Vata), fierier (Pitta), or earthier (Kapha).
Each Dosha is also connected to a season of the year, we are currently in PITTA season. If you’are a pitta constitution, you’re sensitive to heat and more uncomfortable at this time of the year . It goes much deeper, into the foods we need to stay in balance, and what to avoid.
Knowing your Dosha is merely part of knowing the right balance for you, Ayurveda teaches us the mind/body/soul connection. It’s so interesting to see the difference in yourself once you identify your Dosha and can start incorporating those specific needs into your lifestyle.
It has been very rewarding for me to help people learn what their natural tendency is and when you get your body into that rhythm, which follows the cycles of nature, your internal balance and beauty will be reflected.
The goal: healthier-looking skin and a better sense of balance.
Connecting the mind, body and soul of our beings and consciously being aware and mindful of our choices is the key. If I can give you a metaphor, think of a building or house.
You need to start with the foundation first. A house can appear well-built. However, if the foundation is cracked we would have to start from the ground up to repair it.
Let’s apply this to your skin and health in general. Healthy skin doesn’t just appear, the aging process doesn’t just happen.
A lifestyle built on overindulging, alcohol, smoking, processed foods, lack of sleep, drugs or a poor diet puts stress on the body.
Over time, that stress can show up in your skin as well as your overall health.
Ayurveda teaches us balance.
Balance is the key in all areas of life.
Many of us operate on auto-pilot, going through the motions because that’s what we know. I believe and I’m witness to how this system of Ayurveda works by moving away from habitual patterns that no longer serve us.
It’s never too late to start rebuilding that foundation of health, which results in beauty.
A note on safety
Ayurveda is not a substitute for medical care. Research on most Ayurvedic treatments is limited, and some Ayurvedic products have been found to contain lead, mercury or arsenic, according to NCCIH.
"Natural" doesn't always mean safe, and herbs can interact with medicines, as MedlinePlus notes. Talk with your doctor before trying Ayurvedic herbs or supplements, and see a dermatologist for skin problems that don't clear up.
To quote Maya Angelou “when you know better, you do better “. I believe my mission is to help you know better…
MaryAnna NardoneNY SKIN GODDESS
MaryAnna Nardone a licensed Paramedical Aesthetician with over 25 years of experience in aesthetics. MaryAnna is also a Certified Chopra Center Ayurvedic Instructor. Through both modalities, MaryAnna helps her clients achieve “Beauty from the Inside Out”.
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If you would like to learn more about Ayurveda, go to my website and take the Dosha quiz. Connect with me for one on one consultations and workshop as well.
Sources
- Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Herbal Medicine, MedlinePlus
