The Ayurvedic Kitchen is an integral part of 7 Centers' Yoga Arts Teacher Training Program, one of a kind in this country.  One of the sister sciences of Yoga, Ayurveda treats the individual constitution and uses food and herbs as medicine to create balance in the doshas allowing for proper assimilation of nutrition. A personal Ayurvedic wellness program begins as students go through an assessment of their physical constitution and understanding what choices will assist them along their parth to balance and health.

  Each week there is a class on aspects of Ayurveda - diagnosing the doshas, understanding the circadian rhythms, identifying food according to the six tastes, and creating meals that pacify one's constitution.

  While keeping an Ayurvedic journal, students record the affects of food, yogic practices, and sleeping habits and also experience the integration of the principles through the breakfast and lunch meals served.  Students also have several Ayurvedic cooking assignments.  We offer an Ayurvedic work/study program for those yoga students that have completed the Yoga Teacher Training program and want to continue learning how to cook and eat according to Ayurveda.

   Graduates often return to be Ayurvedic apprentices after completing their trainings where they contnue to grow in their yoga practices as well.  This becomes the basis for a personal healing program and spiritual lifestyle that leads to a more healthy and holistic life.  For more information on the Ayurvedic apprenticeship program contact Sydney at 928-203-4400.  Click here for application.  

Ayurveda - Sister Science of Yoga and Vedic Astrology

Ayurveda, India's holistic medical system is  based upon the universal natural law of balancing the five elements (ether, air, fire, water and earth) that make up the physical body. When one or more of these elements go out of balance because of improper diet and lifestyle, various diseases and mental disturbances can manifest. Ayurveda explains that these five elements are kept intact in the body by three subtle forces called doshas.

The three doshas are called Vata (sattva), Pitta (raga) and Kapha (tama). Vata is the subtle energy associated with movement - composed of Space and Air. In balance, vata promotes creativity and flexibility. Out of balance, vata produces fear and anxiety.

  Pitta expresses as the body's metabolic system - made up of Fire and Water.  In balance, pitta promotes understanding and intelligence. Out of balance, pitta arouses anger, hatred and jealousy. 

  Kapha is the energy that forms the body's structure - bones, muscles, tendons - and provides the "glue" that holds the cells together, formed from Earth and Water. In balance, kapha is expressed as love, calmness and forgiveness. Out of balance, it leads to attachment, greed and envy.

One or more of these doshas or elements will predominate in every individual living entity creating seven possible body types. By knowing which type you are by symptoms the proper diet and herbal treatment can be established for you.

The old saying, "One man's food is another man's poison", is perfectly applicable in Ayurveda, because every food contains these five elements and doshas in different proportions, and our ingesting them will effect our elemental balance in a positive or negative way.

-Excerpts from "Ayurveda in a Nutshell" - www.ayurveda-herbs.com - Teachings & "Balancing the Three Principle Energies of the Body" Published by Vasant Lad, MASc and The Ayurvedic Institute Copyright ©1996, 2002 All Rights Reserved.

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