Ayur (life) veda (knowledge)
You may not of heard the word Ayurveda but it is the oldest natural healing system in the world. Dating back 5000 years. Every western natural healing system has some basis in Ayurveda. Both are used to create healing in the body, mind and soul. The science of Ayurveda peers into the nature of life through the wisdom of Mother Nature. and as a philosophy of life it teaches us to live in harmony with the basic laws of nature. One of its philosophical beliefs is that we are not just physical beings, but are also expressions of energy, and consciousness.
Ayurveda is an ancient healing system that focuses on creating and maintaining health and happiness, through balance in mind, body and spirit.
It is important to have a starting point for change to happen. The Dosha Assessment is a great place to start. Many of my clients have been online and taken a generic dosha assessment and were left more confused than ever. If this is you, my personalized assessment will start to clarify everything. Every part of the protocol that comes from an assessment must be designed for you! If you are not at your ideal weight? Having digestive issues? Feel fatigue? Have digestive issues? Can’t sleep? Low energy? Anxiety or depression? or more serious concerns? An understanding of how to live your individual Ayurveda blueprint is the basis of health, not just the next superfood or vitamin you consume.
If you are relatively healthy and want to live a more balanced life? This is for you too.
In a world full of books and programs that suggest everyone can get healthy from their books or programs, Ayurveda states that you need a unique body, mind and spirit program.
You may ask yourself, what is a Dosha and how do we balance them?
Knowing and understanding your doshic type is done by constitutional/dosha) assessment.
This assessment is a diagnostic tool that is used by the Ayurveda practitioner (me) to determine the best plan of action for improved health and well-being for you. Food, herbs or routines that will benefit one doshic type may aggravate the other and therefore create more of an imbalance, so knowing what is right for you is essential. Instead of “catching something”, like a cold, a disease, or mental state, Ayurveda sees illness as a manifestation of panchamahabhuta ( the five great elements) imbalance and addresses the root causes whether it be physical, energetic or emotional.
Treatments may consist of working with lifestyle choices, routines, body therapies, food, herbs, yoga and inner energies to create health.
There are three dosha in Ayurveda--vata, pitta, and kapha and everyone has a unique combination of these three dosha. The dosha is established at brith and is your blueprint life . Learning your unique dosha combination and understanding your constitution makeup and its imbalances, can reveal your natural inherent strengths, and illuminate your greatest challenges.
This health/dosha assessment and the complete protocol that follows will give you a complete analysis of your personal needs for health and includes a deeper understanding of how everything that you do affects everything in your life, from physiology and digestion to body structure and personality. Erica will teach you how you can take charge and master your own health in simple and very effective ways. You will be well equipped with herbal, diet, and lifestyle guidance to live a balanced life.
Erica is also a yoga therapist. When used therapeutically, yoga also becomes part of Ayurveda. The therapeutic application of the modalities of yoga, asana, meditation, chanting and pranayama are as unique to you as the food you eat.
At Okanagan Ayurveda Erica also uses many of the traditional Ayurveda treatments that she was taught in India.
From the traditional abhyanga and shirodhara to less well know treatment like udwartana ( used to reduce adipose fat) to pinda sweda.
Seasonal and daily cleansing, rejuvenation and Panchakarma programs are specifically designed for your needs.
If you are already familiar with Ayurveda and you now the treatment that you are looking for, wonderful, feel free to book a treatment!
If you have questions, feel free to contact me or call or text me at 250-718-0835.
You are the healer..... you just need a guide!
If you are looking for traditional AyurvedaHerbs and OIls, you can browse.
Workshops
An excellent resource for your continuing Ayurveda education.
Three course for this fall. Cooking, Skin care and Understanding Food.
Food as Medicine. The power of Ayurveda Cooking
Ayurveda cooking is a practice, much like yoga. As such it is not something you do for a few weeks but it is a cooking style that creates a vibrant, healthy and self-healing you. This style of cooking inspires an integration of stewardship towards your body and the world.
Testimonial...
"I had been looking on the internet about Ayurveda and I was more confused than ever. I decided to visit Erica at Okanagan Ayurveda.
I was happy that I did. Erica made Ayurveda very approachable and started my on a lifestyle plan suited to me.
What the internet did not tell me was that just because you are a certain dosha,
it does not mean that you need all the protocols. If you are interested in
understanding Ayurveda and getting on the correct plan,
I suggest you go and see Erica."
– Jan
I was happy that I did. Erica made Ayurveda very approachable and started my on a lifestyle plan suited to me.
What the internet did not tell me was that just because you are a certain dosha,
it does not mean that you need all the protocols. If you are interested in
understanding Ayurveda and getting on the correct plan,
I suggest you go and see Erica."
– Jan
Who I am...
A little more about me...
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Erica’s passion for yoga and Ayurveda began 20 years ago. Desiring a deeper and more subtle understanding of the human experience led her to yoga teacher training and a yoga therapy certification at Mount Royal University (2009). There she met and studied with Nischala Joy Devi who offered her unique feminine perspective of the Yoga Sutras. Nischala Joy Devi is a master teacher and healer and monastic disciple of Sri Swami Satchidananda. She studied with Susi Hatley and her functional synergy “ approach to anatomy and asana and Robin Rothenberg and her energetic models for using asana and pranayama for healing. While studying at Mount Royal, Erica was certified as a Thrive instructor. The Thrive program was designed specifically for cancer patients at the University of Calgary.
At Mount royal she had her first formal Ayurveda class which took her on another journey to initial study with Matthew Remski and Todd Caldecott until she found her true home in traditional Kerala Ayurveda. At Kerala Academy it was an honor to learn traditional Ayurveda from Dr. Jayarajan Kodikannath and Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar and accomplishing an Ayurveda Practitioners certification. Along the way, she interned in an Ayurveda hospital in India and took courses in Panchakarma and Ayurveda body work. While in India she had the opportunity to intern at Ayuervedagram, a private clinic outside of Bangalore, India. My training continued with Ayurveda formulation and bodywork certification at CCa and the study of Yoga Nidra and mindfulness-centered somatic psychotherapy. I volunteer with the baby program at the food bank. I am also going to start my doctoral program in Ayurveda Medicine this spring! I am so excited. |