Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, 27 October 2022
Ayurveda- An ancient Science, for Modern Living
To commemorate World Ayurveda day on 23 October 2022, the High Commission of India, Wellington organised a talk with expert Ayurveda practitioners in New Zealand, Dr S Ajit for Auckland and Dr Namrita Sambhus from Wellington.
About the Speaker
Dr S Ajit is a leader in the field of Ayurveda and a Panchkarma specialist, clinician and the founding patron of the Australasian Ayurvedic Practitioners Association (Australia & New Zealand) and the President of the International Council of Ayurvedic Medicine (the body outside India for creating uniform standards of Ayurveda in the West).
Dr Ajit gave some great insights into the Mind, Body, and Soul balance and how a holistic balance between the three was considered essential by Ayurveda. He mentioned that all Modern yoga practices need to be more disciplined and aim to achieve a better outcome by working alongside a holistic lifestyle.
Dr S Ajit, Ayurveda expert
Holistic living starts with the mind
The four pillars of Yoga are Asana(posture), Pranayama (correct breathing technique/ Breath control), Dhyan (Meditation), and Ahar (Diet). For holistic living, one should try to balance these critical aspects in their life.
And while meditation (Dhyan) is not an easy feat for anyone in modern living, a simple starting point can be to regulate our vichar or thoughts.
On those grounds, he spoke about the importance of stabilising the mind along with the physical stability achieved through yoga. He mentioned how Ayurveda believes that an individual needs to follow a regime to purify oneself, and one’s mind, especially before going to bed each night.
It is quite often that we wake up feeling tired or exhausted even after we get the recommended sleep hours. The simple reason is that our thoughts and day’s occurrences can exhaust our minds and disturb our sleep patterns. An easy task of simply revisiting your day before you go to sleep can help put the mind at ease and help improve your sleep patterns.
Natural remedy for better health
In regards to the regular visits to the doctor due to colds, cough, sinuses and headaches, especially during the flu seasons, Dr Ajit mentioned how a simple practice of using cold-pressed sesame oil was the perfect and natural cure, and was especially beneficial for people in New Zealand, due to the climate conditions of the country. Safe and natural, he said warm Black Sesame Oil was a magical elixir with time-tested benefits.
Dr Ajit said that many times, there is no quick solution when the issues are often so deeply rooted, however, once you have embarked on a routine suitable to you and your specific constitution, the long-term benefits will soon start to become apparent. And Ayurveda, as a science Draws on the knowledge passed down from countless generations, with guidelines that are still relevant in the modern day, and countless people reap the benefits of this ancient science, simply by adjusting their daily routines to address the specific health issues that concern them.
A special High Commission of India curated talk
The webinar, hosted and Moderated by Ms Ankita Sood (Culture and Yoga Associate) and Mr Durga Dass, Second Secretary (Press, Info & Culture) at the High Commission of India, Wellington was insightful and a move in the positive direction for all those who are looking for holistic life solutions.
Indian Newslink will do a follow-up story for more insights from the session.
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink Reporter based in Hamilton.
