The Life Of The Image Maker

 

When someone realizes that their thoughts about others are a projection of their own psyche, they are becoming a fully awake and realized person, and until then, when someone claims to know what's in another person's subconscious, they are actually projecting what is in their own psyche and going into areas of pragyaparad (mistake or misidentification of their mind), demonstrated in the ancient vedic and well known snake/rope story of thinking they see a snake instead of the actual rope that is in front of them, a metaphor for the root cause of disease, thinking something is something that it's not, and, not only are they then no longer in relationship with you, since they are in actuality, creating a relationship with their own mental image of you, which is the projection of the images in their own mind. 

When they then think they are so sure of their image making, and put this falsity into the world with such vigor as to repeat it over and over, it strengthens their mistaken relationship with their own mind. When repeated for weeks or months it becomes a habit and one's temperament, and when the habit continues for years, it is strengthened, and becomes a personality trait that alters their own brain wave patterns, and these brain wave patterns affect one's health, nervous system, and thereby one’s entire reality, and with continued misidentification, can become a personality disorder that psychologists named grandiose narcissism. 

It’s difficult for someone to access their own subconscious mind directly and for sure, someone else is not accessing another person’s subconscious mind, which is filled with lifelong undigested experiences that are unique to them. However, some techniques, such as meditation, yoga nidra, visualization, bodywork and shirodhara, can help people open their awareness to energy, and become more present with their subconscious thoughts and feelings which is, along with living according to one’s constitution and condition, the protocol for healthy living and in its highest view, self-realization. 

I’ve spent decades in this realm of study and practice and offer guidance and support to further one’s education and return to wholeness and  healing.

Who has had someone claim to know what is in your subconscious mind and did you realize they are actually projecting their own psyche? And how did it make you feel?

Read more about the Ayurvedic Root Causes of Disease

The Secret and Essence of Ayurvedic Marma Therapy

 

Marma Point Therapy is an energy healing practice that emerged within the 5000-year-old Ayurvedic system of healing. It is based upon an elaborate energetic matrix that is commonly believed to have been the foundation for later point therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure, and reflexology. Traditional Indian Medicine Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are the oldest systems of health care: the former mastering 5,000 years of documentations, the latter at least 3,000 years.

Marma Chikitsa or Marma Therapy, has origins in the martial arts traditions of Kerala, India. Ancient Kalari warriors used their knowledge of Marma for both healing and battle purposes. They were also trained in Ayurvedic medicine and Yoga to strengthen their bodies and eliminate obstacles.

From the perspective of etymology, the word Marma is derived from the root mri with suffix manin, meaning seat of life, meeting place, secret or essence in Sanskrit. Marma Therapy is the most subtle of all the Ayurvedic interventions, and the most powerful. Manipulation of the vital points in the body which are the meeting junctions of two or more types of tissues like ligaments, tendons, muscles and bones, they can both heal and harm, and for this reason, the knowledge of Marma was kept sacred and reserved only for the initiates who could be trusted with this knowledge.

Within the body there are 107  “energy points” called Marma Points or Marmani (plural). These points are tasked with being used as a diagnostic and healing mechanism that works to integrate the mind, body, and soul for deeper consciousness. They are located at anatomical sites where tissues intersect and are classified by the dominant physical regions muscle, vessel, ligament, and joint/ bony regions. These points connect through physical channels called srotas and energetic channels called nadis, which transmit to the tissues and organs (dhatus) and energy centers (chakras), where they become refined, opening the path for clear perception. This principle or role of Marmani can be found in raja or higher yogic practices, that involve spontaneous meditation with a focus on attuning to prana and yoga nidra on the 18 Yogic Marma Points.

Marmani have numerous similarities to principal acupoints in Chinese medicine, specifically having 75 corresponding points. Both fields focus on energy points that are utilized to restore harmony within the autonomic nervous system to provide therapeutic benefits to the body.

Marma Points have a correlation to the internal and external features, doshas (constitution) and subdoshas governing all of the bodily systems via the nervous system. According to Sushrut, a pioneer within Indian surgical practices, there are six regions based on major body parts: the four extremities, trunk, head, and neck. Which are then divided according to the five tissue structures: muscle, veins, ligaments, bone, and joints. From this basis we get the Marma Point classifications.

A few key points:

3 Maha (major) Marma Points: Staphani/ajna (third eye), Hridayam (heart), Nabi (navel)

8 Sadyah (great)  Marma Points:

●            Adhipati/Murdhni (crown)

●            Brahmarandhra (anterior to crown)

●            Shivarandhra (posterior to crown)

●            Ajna/Stahpani (third eye)

●            Shanka (right and left temple)

●            Hridayam (heart)

●            Nabhi (umbilicus/navel)

●            Guda (anus)

 

5 Special or extra vital Marmani, those that can cause death or serious injury when traumatized:

●            Kantha (trachea)

●            Griva (back of the neck)

●            Basti (bladder)

●            Vrushana (testicles)

●            Yoni Jihva (clitoris)

 

Comparison of West/East:

Marma as a practice is described to have derived from battlefield culture, as in Vedic times it was realized that attacking enemies at Marma Points resulted in serious injury or fatality. This knowledge was only preliminary until the Susruta Samhita, an Ayurvedic classic, provided systematic knowledge of Marma. It provided 107 locations of Marma Points and their different classifications with detailed anatomical information. From this point Marma found its way into the medical realm and into Ayurvedic texts.

Coming from Ayurvedic practices and being born in Southeastern Asia there are some confusions to the practice in the Western realm. In the west there is the belief that there are 107 fixed points on the physical anatomy and due to limited understanding of how Marma functions there are few controlled trials on their mechanism. In comparison Ayurvedic practices believe that Marma Points are flexible and adapt depending upon the individual. Since Marma has been a key aspect of Ayurvedic healing there are studies and implantations of it as a diagnostic tool and healing modality. From this view Marma is said to be used for pain relief, calming the mind and balancing emotions, balancing the doshas, channel disturbances, organ dysfunction, enhances awareness, preventative care, and rejuvenation.

To activate Marma Points:

•       Use the tips of your fingers to gently or firmly stimulate each Marma Point.
•       Massage each point in a clockwise or counterclockwise circular motion for up to 5 minutes with holdings.
•       Optionally, use herb-infused massage oils, small hand stones and/or a tuning fork to stimulate or relax each point of the treatment.
•       Motion direction, pressure and products used are chosen according to the constitution and condition of the patient and the desired outcomes

Schedule a Marma Chikitsa treatment or 

Register for our Marma Chikitsa Course on June 21-22, 2024:  In Person or Online

Resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10382659/

Chayaveda Ayurvedic Massage & Bodywork Specialist Training Manual 

 

Ayurveda; Life Beyond Ordinary

 “Ayurveda is more than the absence of disease, it defines health as one who is established in one’s natural state, with balanced constitution and digestion, proper  elimination, well-formed tissues, and enthusiastic, with integrated body, senses, mind, and consciousness.”

AYURVEDA: CARING FOR YOUR WHOLE SELF

Ayurveda is the oldest continuously practiced healthcare system in the world. It originated in India over 5,000 years ago, and is a global medical system based upon the “Five Great Elements” of nature, that includes understanding nature’s rhythms and laws. 

Human beings are natural beings, governed by all the rules and laws that other natural beings are governed by, and if we choose to ignore these laws then imbalances will begin to appear. These imbalances are the precursor to disharmony and disease in the body, mind, and consciousness.

Ayurveda is a Quantum Mechanical Science, where, we are considered a “microcosm” of the “macrocosm”, whereby we are a mirror of the external universe, and the layers that make up our human experience, which includes the total integration; physically, energetically, psycho emotionally, intuitively, and spiritually or consciously, also considered blissfully. The psycho emotional level includes the level of the mind and emotions, that are made up of our conditioning and reactions.

This system of medicine understands our deepest connections with the whole universe and the influences of the energies that make up this universe and continue its evolution.

Ayurvedic health principles and practices contain the benefit of thousands of years of experience in understanding how we are integrated into the world around us, with a view of "holism" as compared to the view of "reductionism" that is provided within the modern medical system.

While Ayurveda focuses on the health of the whole individual, including lifestyle and lived experience, western medicine focuses on the management of disease.

The ancients didn't know of molecules, atoms, cells, micro biomes and the like, in those terms, because they did not have microscopes or external technology, as we know them today.  However, they honed their personal internal technology, their senses and mind, through which they observed the same relationships and referred to them by different names.

The science of physics explains how energy is the quantitative property that must be transferred to an object, to perform, work on, or to heat, the object. Energy is a conserved quantity; the law of conservation of energy states that energy can be converted in form, but not created or destroyed.

Common forms of energy include the kinetic energy of a moving object, the potential energy stored by an object's position in a force field (gravitational, electric, or magnetic energy), the elastic energy stored by stretching solid objects, the chemical energy released when a fuel burns, the radiant energy carried by light, and the thermal energy due to an object's temperature.

The Sun is the source of energy for most of life on Earth. As a star, the Sun is heated to high temperatures by the conversion of nuclear binding energy due to the fusion of hydrogen in its core. This energy is ultimately transferred (released) into space mainly in the form of radiant (light) energy.

The ancients understood this on a subtle level and thereby revered the Sun, the digestive fire, role in metabolism and the understanding and value of the flame of attention, needed to make good decisions, leading to health and a balanced body, mind and senses and ultimately “Ayur” or life, which is defined as the intelligent integration of the body, senses, mind and consciousness that occurs through the metabolism of the mind necessary to access the state of “veda”, to know life beyond ordinary perception, and therewith is the root of Ayurveda and it’s root cause theory and philosophy.                 

  THE SCIENCE OF LIFE

The science and philosophies of Ayurveda explain the world and creation, through the archetypical elements of ether (space), air, fire, water, and earth. Ether and earth are static in nature while air, fire and water are dynamic and ever changing. These elements have inherent energies expressed by their qualities that govern their functions. We are a product of all these energies and their subsequent qualities, with everyone having slightly different proportions of the individual elements, making everyone unique in their own constitutional or genetic composition.

Ayurveda assesses and treats everyone, according to their unique physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual constitution and its tendencies. We evaluate the imbalances of the body and its function through this system of the elements and root cause theory as well. Our world and bodies are in constant interplay, constantly adapting to changes in the environment as well as new environments, and our perceptions of them, all of which affect us in some way.

Ayurveda concentrates on prevention through understanding one’s own constitutional makeup, and the effects that the outer world, environment, relationships, diet, and lifestyle choices make on our constitution and our daily lives.

 Ayurveda defines a healthy person as someone whose doshas (constitution) are in balance, the digestive fire (agni) is regulated (sama), the body’s tissues (dhatus) are well formed, wastes (malas) eliminate properly, the mind (mana), sensory organs (indriyas) and spirit/soul (atma) must be also in a pleasant state (prasanna), to know who I AM (swastya). 

“Samadosha Samagnischa Samadhatumala kriyaha Prasanna atmenindriya manaha Swasthya ityabhidheeyate”

 Ayurveda is a health and wellness lifestyle system based on natural healing through strengthening one’s own body, mind, and spirit or consciousness, attaining optimal health through a deeper understanding of ourselves and our own nature, in relationship to the world around us, and allowing the body’s own natural healing mechanisms to work to their fullest, unlocking their highest potential.

World Health Decade of Action & 6 Global Health Issues

 

Did you know... today is World Health Day and the World Health Organization, WHO, has declared this the “Decade of Action”.

World Health Day seeks to raise awareness about a major global health concern selected by the WHO. This day aims to increase awareness about the selected health concerns and hopes to encourage countries to focus their resources on addressing them.

The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded on April 7, 1948 to better address the needs of global health issues. Every year, the WHO Assembly meets in Geneva, Switzerland to choose a major global health concern and promote it through World Health Day in the hopes of increasing awareness and preventing more cases.

St. George University, SGU, has listed 6 Prominent Global Health Issues to Be Aware of:

• 1.       Pandemics
• 2.       Environmental Factors
• 3.       Economic Disparities & Access To Health Care
• 4.       Political Factors
• 5.       Non-Communicative Diseases
• 6.       Animal Health, Food Sourcing & Supply

The ever-growing list of global health issues can be overwhelming, but there are so many ways individuals can make a positive impact.

“Everyone can make a difference,” Dr. Macpherson asserts. “Small contributions quickly add up if enough people take up the cause.”

One suggestion is to expand your perspective on medicine by gaining a unique perspective on integrating medical care at both the holistic and patient levels which is at the core of Ayurvedic Medicine, which looks at the root causes and inter-relationships in all areas of life and their impacts on health and quality of life.

For more information about living a healthier lifestyle and how we can support that, please check out the information on future instructional classes in the trainings tab and free resources in the Wellness Services Tab or contact us for information or an appointment. 

World Hearing Day

 

Did You Know that March 3^rd is World Hearing Day? 

World Hearing Day is a day-long campaign by the World Health Organization (WHO) that focuses on spreading awareness of hearing defects and deafness, as well as sharing preventative strategies for maintaining “healthy hearing”. 

As of 2020, it is estimated that over 5% of the world population (466 million people) suffer from a disabling hearing issue, and this statistic is projected to double in the next 20 years. Additionally, the WHO estimates that over 1 billion young adults are at permanent risk of hearing failure due to unsafe listening patterns daily (i.e. headphones, music, etc.). Thus, the WHO has dedicated this day to learn about such issues, and easy-to-follow steps that will help ensure that an individual’s hearing does not depreciate. 

Therefore, to begin March with our “Did you know series”, we have decided to discuss preventive strategies as well as viable treatments (both from a Western and Eastern Background) to maintain healthy hearing! If you already employ these techniques, please take a moment, and share this article that others might find helpful! 

Firstly, what is “deafness and hearing loss”? According to the World Health Organization, hearing loss is when an individual cannot hear over the threshold of 20 decibels in both ears (a sound quieter than a whisper), while deafness is the innate loss of hearing where no sound is audible. These deficiencies can arise from genetics, however, in the context of this article, we will be discussing hearing loss that occurs due to unknowingly mistreatment. These mistreatments can be due to untreated infections, unregulated noise over a period, smoking, ototoxic (medicines or drugs that can affect hearing) chemicals, and prolonged wax stoppage. For the full list of causes, please visit the World Health Organization website to view a full list that spans from birth into adulthood. 

The preventative strategies that are commonly recommended are the converse of the causes. For example, an individual should monitor the amount and level of noise being heard every day, such as music through headphones, or in the car. High levels of noise through these methods are heavily present in the young adult communities and must be rectified by either reducing the noise or limiting the number of times the high noise is heard. If this lifestyle is still wanted, there are some external equipment, such as personal and permanent earplugs, to reduce the number of decibels experienced by an individual. Other ways to combat the loud noises are removing oneself from these environments, as well as allowing at least 18 hours of recovery if exposed to prolonged noises. Furthermore, it would be most prudent to get one’s hearing tested to discover the health of the hearing. Conversely, mindful meditation and yoga might suffice when controlling or transforming the mindset of wanting to experience loud noise in the first place. 

Although the most common causes are already stated, sometimes hearing loss does occur and treatments must be administered. The western viewpoint of these treatments ranges from according to the varying degrees of severity. To start, a practitioner might advise the removal of ear wax, which can be completed in a single session. However, if this is not the issue, a practitioner will then recommend several other options depending on the symptoms. In cases of infections, an audiologist might insert small tubing to help assist in the draining of fluids from the ear. Often, in most cases, an audiologist will recommend a hearing aid to alleviate any discomfort. However, in severe cases, an audiologist will implement surgical procedures to alleviate the hearing loss. These procedures can be due to abnormalities in the eardrum or ossicle bones, or in the direst of cases, cochlear implants are used. These treatments all have risks and benefits and should be discussed with a practitioner. These western treatments do have validity and history, and ancient treatments from Eastern Medicine are gaining acceptance in the west “new” from the area of Ayurveda. 

Ayurvedic Medicine addresses the whole person for healing, so it will take into consideration and choose methods of healing according to the constitution, age and condition of the person and look for root causes and best ways to remove them, as well as the nourishment and rejuvenation of the person afflicted, so typically treatments are in steps. Hearing has to do with the element of ether and air, or vata dosha, which we experience in the ears and on the skin, so oil applications are most beneficial along with addressing diet and lifestyle to balance vata dosha and it’s subdoshas of prana vayus which control movement and when impaired will affect the ears and the nervous system. In recent studies, Ayurvedic practitioners look to root causes of diseases and will often implement Karnapuran therapy to help combat Badhirya, or hearing loss. Karnapuran Therapy is the use of oils within the ear. These medicinal oils give all parts of the ear nourishment, including external ears, middle ear, inner ear, and eardrum, and can help combat multiple symptoms such as vertigo, tinnitus, swimmer’s ear, hearing loss, and reduce swelling due to infections. Ear wax can occur do to a imbalance of kapha dosha resulting from low agni or digestive capacity, so agni deepana and ama pachana or ways to improve digestive capacity and remove toxins are also addressed. Tinnitus or ringing in the ears is very common and can have multiple causes, so a skilled practitioner needs to determine the cause to make the correct recommendations. It can occur do to imbalances of vata, pitta or kapha dosha with issues of the nervous system, inflammation, the structure, congestion or allergies. 

Please remember today, and every day, that the health of your ears does matter!

For more information and Ayurvedic Consultation and treatments, please visit https://chayaveda.com/

For hearing consultation visit https://www.clearsoundaudiology.com/services/

A list of more resources is linked below.

Works Cited

“Deafness and Hearing Loss.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss.

“Hearing Loss.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 16 Apr. 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373077.

Kotwal, Dr. Shweta, et al. “Concept of Lashunadi Taila Karnpooran as an Adjunctive in Treating Hearing Loss (Badhirya).” Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences, https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/832.

NHS Choices, NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/-5-ways-to-prevent-hearing-loss-/.

Victory, Joy. “Hearing Loss Treatment: What Are Your Options?” Healthy Hearing, 26 Apr. 2021, https://www.healthyhearing.com/help/hearing-loss/treatment#:~:text=Hearing%20loss%20treatment%20options&text=Hearing%20loss%20treatments%20include%20hearing,health%20conditions%20facing%20Americans%20today.

Web.s.ebscohost.com. https://web.s.ebscohost.com/abstract?direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=crawler&jrnl=13055992&AN=108438135&h=hDwZ0aNQjn1g%2bOH4MWxz3hDdVSYcHP2rO3Sm8vLeU7uwtTGcg11cNyqN5fe0S4htb6nk45pqTYlv0N8uYCfiYg%3d%3d&crl=c&resultNs=AdminWebAuth&resultLocal=ErrCrlNotAuth&crlhashurl=login.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26profile%3dehost%26scope%3dsite%26authtype%3dcrawler%26jrnl%3d13055992%26AN%3d108438135.

“World Hearing Day 2022.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hearing-day/2022. 

Did You Know......About Heart Healthy Foods and National Chili Day Recipe

 

Did you know... about Heart Healthy foods? 

As today is the last Thursday of February, we have decided to combine two different themes for our Thoughtful Thursday; International Heart Month and National Chili Day! 

Although International Heart Month is coming to an end, remember that taking care of your heart shouldn't just happen 28 days out of the year! One easy way to maintain your heart's health is to monitor what you're eating and eat according to your constitution, age and condition. However, eating a healthy diet is not synonymous with dieting, instead, it is focusing on foods that you should eat more of and foods to avoid, so it's not about limiting but improving the quality of your digestion by the food choices you make. By focusing on this ideal, the benefits are endless! These benefits can be the lowering of cholesterol levels, lowering of blood pressure, maintaining healthy body weight, improving energy and mood and much more! These are all crucial elements that help keep the heart strong and pumping! If an individual's diet is not regulated, it can lead to imbalances and eventually to serious illness, including heart failure, or in some cases fatality. Although it sounds daunting, it is much easier than one would think to improve our diet and our wellness index and since it's National Chili Day, we've included this Ayurvedic style chili dish recipe. This dish wonderfully blends multiple vegetables, along with protein sources to create both a tasty and healthy dish! The link for the dish will be typed below. 

Contact us for more details on how to live a healthier, lifestyle and Happy National Chili Day to all!

http://www.mindfulyogahealth.com/food/ayurveda-sweet-potato-black-bean-vegan-chili-recipe/

The Potential Of Loving Kindness

 

Did you know... that today (2/17) is National Random Acts of Kindness Day? To continue with our series about the human heart, we have decided to showcase that Love and Compassion spring forth from the heart, especially through acts of kindness.

In a recent study, it has been shown that Loving-Kindness Meditation, Compassion Meditation, and acts of kindness have strengthened the areas related to empathy, as well as intangible positive effects. Take this day to reflect on the kindness you have felt and experienced, and pay it forward to someone else.

Enjoy the day!

Read the complete study here