Ayurveda: A Brief Introduction and Guide With Daniela Escobar

Photo by: Daniela Escobar (@ayush.prema)

GET TO KNOW THE INTERVIEWEE:

 Daniela Escobar 

Ayurvedic Health / Herbalist & Australian Bush Flower Essence Practitioner

Dani specializes in Streeroga and Prasooti Tantra (Women’s Health)and herbalism. She works with women from pre-conception to Post-partum Care. She is also the Co-founder of Autism Naturally (www.autismnaturally.com.au) with Dr. Rama Prasad and the founder of Soma-Shakti a clinic for women (www.soma-shakti.com.au)

She practises with loving devotion and believes that her purpose in this lifetime is to serve through the healing qualities that Nature abundantly offers to us.

With profound humility, she offers all of her services to her teachers that have guided her into the path of service .

INTERVIEW:

NR: WHAT IS AYURVEDA?

DAN: Ayurveda is the ancient wisdom of life with its roots in the area of India. Ayurveda teaches us how to live in harmony with nature and offers us the opportunity for a long, healthy, and balanced life. The term Ayurveda is taken from the Sanskrit word ayuh= life and veda=knowledge, truth, wisdom. 

The practice of this beautiful art and science prevents and treats imbalances in the body and mind that could lead to disease.It does this by creating and maintaining equilibrium in the body and mind through diet, lifestyle, herbal protocols, yoga, meditation, body treatments, and advanced detox programs.

NR: HOW AND WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO START?

DAN: I think the best way to start is by creating a deeper relationship with the food we eat and our digestive fire. 

Bringing more self-awareness to what we eat and ask ourselves these questions.

How is my digestion feeling today? how do I feel after eating, do I have any bloating, gas, or acidity? How are my energy levels? and  how is my mind affected after eating certain foods?

These practices are designed to bring mindfulness, and it is a great way to start! I also suggest that finding an Ayurvedic practitioner that can offer you guidance and support is also important throughout your journey. 

NR: WHAT IS A DOSHA?

DAN: The Doshas is a way of categorizing the pancha mahabhutas (the five elements). 

It is explained in Ayurveda that everything in the Universe, organic and inorganic, is made up of  five elements.  

These elements are ether (space), air, fire, water, and earth. The Doshas create three categories that combine these elements into certain missions or purposes  in the body and mind. 

Vata: Ether + Air (The principle of movement and vibration)

Pitta: Fire + Water (The principle of transformation, digestion, absorption, and assimilation)

Kapha: Water + Earth (The principle of stability and cohesion)

NR: WHAT ARE SOME ACTIVITIES YOU DO TO FEEL GOOD YEAR ROUND?

Dan: Some things I do to feel nurtured and grounded throughout the year are:

• Abhyanga: Self- Oil Massage (Nurturing the body with love)
• Gentle Yoga
• Meditation
• Pranayama (Breathing exercises) 
• Eating two meals per day and for dinner a light soup 

 NR: WHAT ARE SOME SMALL POSITIVE CHANGES WE CAN APPLY TO OUT DAILY ROUTINES?

 There are so many practices that we can start to apply in our day-to-day. But they depend on each individual. The one that I would suggest for everyone is the daily practice of meditation. 

To dedicate 10 - 20 minutes daily to sit and connect with the heart. 

Another beautiful practice is to bring more awareness to our digestion and what we eat. In Ayurveda, we usually don't recommend snacking. So this could be a good practice to start to apply in our lives. 

If we feel the need to snack to sincerely ask ourselves if it is coming from hunger or if it is emotional eating? Allow some time to breathe and connect with the body. 

 NR: HOW DO SPICES FUNCTION ON AN AYURVEDIC WAY OF EATING?

Spices are so wonderful, and they have so many magical benefits! In Ayurveda, we use them for cooking as a way to kindle the digestive fire, to digest toxins or undigested foods and also we can use them as medicine. 

I invite you to connect with the different spices and start to add them to your meals. Notice the difference in your digestion. Allow your creativity to flow in the kitchen. 

My favorites are fenugreek, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, and black pepper. 🙂

Fenugreek: Kindles the digestive fire, balance cholesterol, improves milk flow on breastfeeding mamas. 

Cardamom: Helps dissolve phlegm or mucus, supports respiratory health, aids digestion.

Ginger: Anti-inflammatory, kindles the digestive fire, soothes stomach cramps, or spasms. 

Turmeric: Anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, antioxidant, and promotes healthy digestion. Black pepper: Cleansing and antioxidant properties, healthy respiratory system, enhances digestion and circulation.