What Is Ayurveda?
The word Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words, Ayur — life and Veda — knowledge; it is commonly referred to as “the science of life.”
Overview
Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest continuously practiced systems of traditional health knowledge, with roots in ancient Vedic tradition. It teaches that health is influenced by daily habits, food, environment, and the mind–body connection.
Ayurveda views each person as a unique, interconnected system. Rather than focusing on labels, it focuses on patterns of imbalance and practical steps involving diet, herbs, lifestyle, and self-care (as per Ayurveda).
Understanding the Doshas
Ayurveda is based on three doshas (body–mind types):
- Vata — governs movement and nervous-system patterns
- Pitta — governs digestion and metabolic patterns
- Kapha — governs structure, stability, and fluid patterns
Each person has a unique combination of these energies. In consultations, we look at your original constitution (Prakriti) and your current patterns (Vikriti) to provide practical, constitution-based guidance.
Ayurveda focuses on understanding the root patterns of imbalance in tissues (Dhatus) and channels (Srotas) rather than chasing symptoms.
Ayurvedic Diets
Modern nutrition can be confusing and one-size-fits-all. Ayurveda teaches that each person has unique dietary needs based on constitution, digestive strength (Agni), ama (Ama), and seasonal influences.
During your consultation, you may receive:
- A clear understanding of your dosha
- A custom food plan aligned with your constitution and current patterns
- Herbal and spice suggestions traditionally used to support digestion, clarity, and cleansing routines (as per Ayurveda)
- Seasonal and lifestyle guidelines for long-term consistency
In Ayurveda, it’s not “You are what you eat,” but “You are what you digest.”
Why Personalized Nutrition Matters
Food is fuel — but not all fuel works the same for everyone. Ayurveda recognizes that:
- Foods affect individuals differently
- Some combinations can aggravate imbalance
- Digestive capacity matters more than food theory
Ayurvedic diets are traditionally used to:
- Support cleansing routines and reduce ama (as per Ayurveda)
- Support resilience (Ojas) and digestive power (Agni)
- Support a calmer mind and steadier nervous-system patterns
- Support harmony between the elements in the body (as per Ayurveda)
Individual Zoom Consultations
What to Expect in an Ayurvedic Consultation
An Ayurvedic consultation typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes, depending on your needs and goals. Following traditional methods, I use:
- Darshanam (observation)
- Prashnam (questioning)
- Sparshanam (touch, including traditional pulse reading)
This helps identify:
- Original constitution (Prakriti)
- Current patterns (Vikriti)
- Digestive strength (Agni)
- Ayurvedic concepts such as ama (Ama), vitality (Ojas), and energy (Prana)
Personalized Recommendations
You may receive:
- A constitution-based meal plan and lifestyle guidance
- Suggestions for Ayurvedic herbal formulas (powders, tablets, ghees, or oils)
- Guidance related to tissues (Dhatus), channels (Srotas), and elimination processes (Malas) (as per Ayurveda)
All recommendations are tailored to your constitution, stage of life, and seasonal factors, following classical Ayurvedic principles.
If you would like my perspective or wish to schedule an appointment, see: Fees & Online Health Assessment Forms.
Khabir Southwick, C.A.S., A.P., A.H.P., P.A.C.E. Provider
Certified Ayurvedic Specialist (CAS), [Registered] Ayurvedic Practitioner (AP), [Registered] Ayurvedic Herbal Pharmacist (AHP), [Registered] Professional Ayurvedic Continuing Education (PACE) Provider
Member of: Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America (AAPNA), American Herbalist Guild (AHG), Ayurvedic Institute, Ayurveda Association of Canada (AAC), National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA)
~ Over 26 years of practice ~
Note: Ayurveda is a traditional system of health knowledge. Consultations are provided for informational and educational purposes and are not a substitute for licensed medical care.
(888) 611-0878
