Yoga is one way Vancouverites socialize and relax, but another kind of treatment could release stress in a whole different way.
West Coast Ayurveda, located in downtown Vancouver, offers different Ayurvedic treatments – based on an ancient naturopathic system of medicine – for every body type.
“[Ayurveda] is the oldest, continually practiced system of medicine known to man; and predates traditional Chinese medicine,” says Sam Hari, founder of West Coast Ayurveda. Hari is also an advisor to the Board of the Canadian Ayurvedic Medical Alliance and an Ayurvedic practitioner.
Healing the third eye
According to Hari, a favourite treatment at West Coast Ayurveda is Shirodhara, a treatment that involves the continual pouring of a liquid over the patient’s third eye. There are four types of liquids used, depending on the ailment and treatment associated with the patient’s Ayurvedic body type: infused oil, buttermilk, warm water and a milk decoction. This treatment can be used to alleviate stress, neurological disorders (such as severe anxiety, depression and migraines), sleep disorders, tinnitus and skin problems. Hari says there are a multitude of uses for this treatment.
The treatment itself consists of a 10-minute shoulder, neck and scalp massage to relax the muscles and relieve any tension, which will prepare the body for what happens next. The patient is then asked to lie down on an Ayurvedic massage table.
The practitioner, in order to deprive the patient of the sense of sight, will place cotton and then a light towel over his or her eyes. About six to eight inches above the patient’s head will be a clay or copper pot (each is used in different circumstances). From the pot, there will be a continuous and steady pouring for 45 minutes onto the patient’s third eye. On occasion, there will be a slight sway, like a pendulum, so the liquid will cover the entire forehead. Shirodhara is usually done in the morning, after sunrise. Traditionally, a patient would be given three days of massages and steam, before the Shirodhara treatment would take place. However, due to the time constraints of Western culture, the shoulder, neck and scalp massage is given instead, which is just as effective. Hari notes, however, if a person has time, the traditional method could be used.
There are eight branches that make up Ayurveda as a subject, says Natasha Vaz, a student taking Holistic Nutrition with a specialization in Ayurveda at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition and the Dogwood School of Botanical Medicine. Vaz states one of those branches is yoga, a much-loved Vancouver pastime.
Uniquely tailored
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that breaks down into life wisdom, and uses a combination of herbs, oils, lifestyle adjustments and yoga to bring the body back to its natural state of being. Vaz says it could also involve different seated positions.
“All Ayurveda works off the principles of doshas,” says Hari.
Doshas are made up of a combination of the five great elements of the universe: space (like the dark spaces between stars in the night sky), air, fire, water and earth. There are three doshas a person is made of: vata, being a combination of space and air; pitta, being a combination of fire and water; and kapha, being a combination of water and earth. According to Vaz, these elements are omnipresent within us and our environment. A person’s unique combination and balance of dosha is known as his or her Ayurvedic body type, which impacts his or her personality, body and how Ayurvedic medicine is implemented for that person. No person is treated the same way: treatments are all based on each person’s Ayurvedic body type.
“[Shirodhara] has a really, really good effect on your overall health and nourishes your mind, body and your soul,” says Hari.
