About Ayurveda
Traditionally Ayurveda is known as the science behind a healthy and happy life. Whilst it has ancient origins Ayurveda is as relevent today as it has ever been. High levels of stress, chemical pollutants in our food and environment and unhealthy diet and lifestyle are making us increasingly unwell; an epidemic of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure is underway. The incidence of cancer has almost doubled in the last 50 years and that means 1 in 3 of us will develop it. More than ever we need Ayurveda to give us simpler ways of living, eating and being so that we can reclaim our birthright to vibrant health and energy.
A blue print for health
Ayurveda recognises three types of energy that contribute to the health of our bodies. Vata made from air and space, Pitta made from fire and water and Kapha made from earth and water. Each of us has our own unique combination of these energies when we are born and providing our energies stay in this state of balance our bodies will stay healthy, but that is easier said than done. If we have to breathe air, eat supermarket food and cope with the daily stresses and strains of modern life the chances are that even the healthiest person will become a little less healthy as time goes by.
Illness or dis-ease
The older we get, the more likely we are to eat, drink, think and behave in ways that alter our original blueprint and create a sense of imbalance or dis-ease. This lack of ease may show up in the early stages as mild symptoms which you treat with over the counter drugs or a visit to your GP. But if you don't change the way in which you live your life, the cause of the condition will remain and may eventually develop into a fully blown condition.
The 6 stages of disease
According to Ayurveda the development of disease is a gradual process and there are said to be six stages. The first three are fairly easy to treat with changes to diet, lifestyle and some gentle Ayurvedic herbal formulas. If these changes are not made however then the disease is likely to progress to the fourth, fifth and sixth stages which become progressively difficult to cure. Most diseases are so much easier to prevent than they are to cure so the earlier we can act the better.
Regaining balance
First and foremost Ayurveda aims to prevent disease. An Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle can help you to correct the imbalance within to avoid it ever developing into disease. Ayurveda encourages you to take notice of small changes in your body, to hear the messages that tell you something needs to change. The earlier you address the situation, the easier it will be to resolve it; this is the basis of Ayurveda. Nevertheless, if we fail to take notice of the early warning signs and we find ourselves diagnosed with some worrying condition, Ayurveda can still help with a deep, systematic process of detoxification called Panchakarma; click here for further details. The human body is remarkable; if we can learn how to understand it's needs and find a way to meet them it is never to late to reclaim vibrant health and wellbeing.
*What a relief it was to attend Sharon's clinic. I had reached the point where I didn't know where to put myself. I had been to my GP with stomach pains, aching limbs, hair loss but worst of all a loss of concentration and ability to organise my day. The doctor couldn't find anything wrong but my life felt totally out of balance. Sharon told me that I had an imbalance in my energy system due to eating the wrong things and following a life pattern that was not suitable for my body type. She gave me Ayurvedic herbs and a diet, but more, I was so far gone she actually wrote out a daily activity chart for me so that I didn't even have the stress of remembering when to exercise, eat and rest! Regular visits meant that Sharon could alter things as I progressed. Life feels as though it has slowed down now, my mind feels more organised, events in my life don't seem to knock me off balance any more and I am happy in myself.'
Michelle, Leeds
*Results may vary from person to person