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Ayurveda & mental health with Andrew Stenberg
Andrew Stenberg, one of Australia’s leading Ayurvedic practitioners, met with the Yoga and Psychology Sangha in Mullumbimby last night to talk to us about Maharishi Ayurveda and Mental Health. He said his aim was not only to give us information, but also to have us leave happier than when we arrived. And I think he succeeded, and not only because of the way he helped us to pronounce Ayurveda…..
(you get the rest right?)
Andrew described the 3 controlling principles of Ayurveda; vata, pitta and kapha. From a mental health perspective, an imbalance of vata is associated with anxiety, pitta with anger and kapha with depression. He recommended some valuable tools for us to use for ourselves and our clients, including music, aromas and tea. Andrew particularly recommended Rain Melody music (Gandharva Veda), which promotes calm and bliss. I can attest to this…. this morning I played this CD on repeat, and my children and I had the most serene morning together…. it was indeed blissful!
Maharishi Ayurveda highlights the importance of a daily routine, digesting food for nourishment, adequate quality sleep and daily meditation to help us on our way to a healthier, happier life and the path to enlightenment. Andrew described for us a daily routine that adheres to these ideals which included:
- Adequate and regular rest – ideally in bed by 10pm and up by 6am, as this fits with the cycles of the laws of nature
- Start the day with a glass of room temperature water followed by a visit to the toilet. Then scape your tongue to remove the plaque build up from the night before.
- Meditate regularly
- Exercise regularly – at least 20 minutes of brisk walking every other day, breathing through the nose.
- Eat in a settled way – if we’re busy while we’re eating, blood flows to the brain instead of the stomach and digestion in inefficient, which can result in various ill effects over time.
Recommended while eating is: listening to beautiful music, uplifting conversation, silence, and/or sitting quietly for 5-10 minutes after eating to complete digestion. Not recommended while eating is – reading, using the computer or watching TV, ‘important’ discussions, upsets or hurrying, or cold drinks or excess fluids near meals
Andrew is currently studying a further Masters degree at the Maharishi University in the US, however is in Australia for a short time, travelling, conducting workshops and seeing private clients. Andrew can be contacted at ayuhealing@gmail.com.
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Its an ancient art to medicine which has answers to every thing and proved a great help in mental illness.
I am going for the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your fanciful writing abilities have prompted me to start my own blog now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it.
Ayurveda treatment is very effective and its effect are long lasting. Some points about the daily routine are very good. One must have to follow this things. This improves our health and blood circulation.
I am extremely impressed thanks for sharing all information. It is a great post for the people to get the proper information.
So true of you while pointing out the warmth and depth of the issue. Meditation and daily exercise prevents from many diseases.
You’ve got some interesting points in this article. I would have never considered any of these if I didn’t come across this. Thanks!.
Meditation and yoga give us full control to the body which help us to balance our life style equilibrium and health condition.