In these busy times, having peace, calm and gentleness is a real asset. Ayurveda practices are included in my book Whole Beauty, and have really helped me calm my Vata dominated Dosha over the last decade. A few years back I brought you all the amazing work of Surya Spa and later Poppy and Someday. Now I am very happy to bring you Vedic wisdom. I feel that this could be the beginning of shelters all over our country. My dream is to see places like this all over America. The Veda can be an example of spaces that will allow us to balance and rebalance our bodies, minds, and spirits.
I was so grateful to visit Veda and receive the Udvartana Swedena treatment from the wonderful Julia. Julia with her calm, gentle demeanor, has great wisdom from her decades of experience. I knew this treatment had helped me a lot when afterwards, driving back to work, I got a distressing phone call and was able to manage it without any feelings of anxiety. I felt strangely calm, safe, and hopeful that everything would be okay. It was another example of how much more productive we are when our systems are calibrated. Please see below for an interview with Julia.
1) Can you explain a little about Doshas for those who are unfamiliar. Why is it good for us to balance our Doshas to prevent illness?
Doshas are biological forces found throughout the body and mind. They control all physical and mental processes and provide every living being with a blueprint for life and fulfillment. The doshas are based on the five elements and their related properties. Vata is composed of Ether and Air, Pitta of Fire and Water, Kapha of Earth and Water. Another way to balance our Doshas
2) I felt that my vata Dosha was depleted due to traveling the day I came to you. After our treatment I felt relief and relief from anxiety. What did you do or how did you choose the remedy I had that day?
We decided to offer you Udvartana Swedena to calm the mind and body. We customize the herbal powder used and potted Dashmula which is Vata balancing and helps in relieving severe stress, anxiety and frustration. Swedena (smoke tent) activates the herbs and allows them to enter the body while detoxifying them.
3) What are the three basic things for a newcomer to the world of Ayurveda.
In Ayurveda, the body, mind and consciousness work together to maintain balance. They are considered as different characteristics of a person. Everyone is born with a certain dosha that can change over time due to environmental conditions. It is important to meditate, have positive thoughts and eat healthy food to keep the doshas balanced. Doshic imbalances can turn into disease over time.
4) What makes your soul sing?
Seeing our patients improve their health through our Ayurvedic and Integrative medicine.
5) Do you have a favorite Ayurvedic beauty treatment?
Yes, our Ayurvedic Facelift Massage! The techniques used in this massage are excellent for lifting, brightening and bringing a youthful glow to the skin. Doing this regularly will help your skin stay young and soft. It is also good for draining lymph and removing facial puffiness.
6) Do you see Veda growing in such a way that people open this ancient medicine?
Yes, we have seen growth and we are happy to see how people are opening up to this ancient medicine. We find many women who are trying to conceive are interested in our treatment. Our Ayurvedic and Integrative medicines are ideal for relieving stress in the body and helping them conceive.
7) Do you have a favorite mantra or quote that you live by?
“Because we cannot scrub our inner body we need to learn a few skills to help cleanse our muscles, organs and mind. This is the art of Ayurveda.”
8) How did you come to the world of Ayurveda?
When Western medicine didn’t work, we looked for natural remedies and herbal remedies. Once we learned about Ayurveda, we were hooked and wanted to bring this healthy, nurturing, healing science to those in and around West Hollywood.
9) What is a simple herb or supplement that a woman can start with to improve her ojas?
Ashwaghanda roots and Ghee are good for men and women to build their Ojas. For women especially, we recommend Shatavari. This plant nourishes the whole body and strengthens the reproductive organs.
10) Do you see Vedic spas popping up in many cities?
Yes! We would love to grow and bring this beautiful, life-giving science to new cities.
Photo by Morgan Pansing