In the ancient healing tradition of Ayurveda the human body is seen as wise. It is the physical expression of a complex matrix that also includes our emotions, our mind and our spirit. All these different aspects of our individual nature are held to be inter-related and are part of an energetic whole. As such physical symptoms in our bodies are meaningful and worthy of our attention, if we can learn to understand them.
In this context, Ayurveda embraces the concept of balance, a state of being where we feel relaxed, have energy to spare, are connected to ourselves and others and experience peace of mind. From the perspective of modern science when we are in this place of balance, or wellbeing, our hormones, neuro-peptides and our immune system function as they are meant to. We are free from disease, have a sense of good health and are able to enjoy our lives.
By the same token, when we go out of balance, we get messages from this wise matrix to let us know that all is not well. These messages are at first more subtle, perhaps in the form of aversions to or cravings for different kinds of food or situations that we may find ourselves in. Whether it be the wrong job, a relationship that is not good for us or even a house that it is better not to buy; our bodily intelligence is ever speaking. However if we do not heed these messages, at a certain point the body gives us stronger and more forceful signs, in the form of physical symptoms such as pain, nausea, discomfort, fever, inflammation and swelling. Over time, if unattended to, these physical symptoms may become part of a recognisable disease entity that a doctor can diagnose.
Ayurveda, as a science of self-healing, looks at how we can construct a diet, life style and way of being in the world that keeps us in this place of wellbeing more of the time. Inevitably life will throw us curve balls that will challenge us on many levels, but because we have established ourselves in healthy habits, our ability to move through these difficulties is enhanced and an inner physical resilience is supported. We are then more able to prevent the onset of acute as well as chronic illness.
In this way physical symptoms are seen as the body speaking its mind. My job as a health care practitioner is to help my patients better understand the language of their bodies. One patient of mine, a young mother with a ten-year history of debilitating lower back pain, had a real break through with her condition through a careful listening to her body. Jenny had seen orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists, Feldenkrais, Alexander technique and other complementary health care practitioners with very little relief. In fact I was the 27th practitioner she had seen! I introduced her to a new way of relating to her symptoms and taught her some gentle yoga and a body-oriented lying down meditation practice. She took to these well and was soon having deep experiences of connection to her body and mind during her meditations at home. We had been working together for around six weeks when at the beginning of our next appointment, she announced, “I know what my back pain is related to.” I listened attentively. “I need to forgive my father,” she said with a conviction it was impossible to doubt. To her credit Jenny was able to have a meaningful conversation with her father and start the process of forgiveness. Needless to say her back pain reduced from 9 out of 10 (10 being maximal pain) to 1-2 out of 10 within a couple of weeks.
So how can we start to learn more about this language? In a world where the body is held to be in service to the mind and more specifically to the will of the individual, it can be challenging. “No pain, no gain” is a motto that has held sway in the western world for a long time. As a society we often fail to listen to and can over-ride our bodies for lots of “good” reasons, whether that be in the service of our families, our work or in the pursuit of pleasure. We don’t go to the toilet when we need to, we forget to eat, we sit at desks or stare at computer screens for hours without taking breaks or we endure unsatisfying and even abusive relationships for longer than is healthy.
In order to facilitate a more careful listening to the body, Ayurveda encourages us to cultivate self-care practices such as gentle yoga postures, yogic breathing exercises and body-oriented meditation in our daily lives. These can help us to find some space so that we can become more aware of what our wise body is saying to us. As many of us can get caught up in a busy, modern lifestyle, it is not always easy to create this kind of spaciousness. It can be uncomfortable, to say the least, and is easily relegated to the too hard basket.
We are also recommended to spend time in Nature, whether it be in our back garden, walking in a park or spending time by the sea. If there is any God in Ayurveda, it would be Mother Nature, she reminds us that be are a part of Nature, not separate from Her. By helping us to connect with our inner stillness and wisdom she supports us in our journeys through life.
In this journey our intuition is seen as a God given guide, a guide that has our best long-term interests at heart and is tailored specifically for each individual! This inner GPS can give us guidance in all the different areas of our lives, from the food we eat, to the type of work we are best suited to and to the company that we keep. It is always with us, if only we can tap into it.
In a world where science is the dominant paradigm, it is easy for the quiet voice of our intuition to be lost or disregarded. However it is also possible to create the conditions in your life so that your intuition is supported. The Ayurvedic self-care practices mentioned previously are certainly a great help, as is taking time to connect with Mother Nature, who is never far away.
There are also other ways to connect with the wisest part of ourselves. The Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung, spoke about the role of dreams, meaningful co-incidences or synchronicities, accidents and mishaps in this process. It is also true that the company we keep can have a big influence on whether or not we are able to listen to and learn from our intuition. It is easy for logically minded individuals to dismiss our intuition as illogical or crazy from their perspective, leaving us doubting ourselves. This is where the non-judgemental ear of good friend or counsellor can be invaluable as we learn how to connect with our inner knowing.
Ultimately Ayurveda is concerned with how to live a life well lived, the life that was meant for you and no one else. In this way our physical body is seen as full of intelligence, something to be honoured, cared for and attended to. Not in an overly precious way, we certainly can’t control for large parts of our lives, but at least bringing it into the equation and benefiting from our body’s presence in our lives. Rather than being seen as a nuisance or a curse, in this way physical symptoms can be a blessing, helping us to get back on track. Some of my patients have even described serious illness, from cancer through to PTSD, as a gift, a hard gift, to be sure, but one that has brought much learning and has become an integral part of the rich tapestry of their lives.