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Ayurveda

Ayurveda, meaning “knowledge of life,” is yoga’s medical science. It is the oldest holistic healthcare system in existence, handed down from India’s Vedic seers (spiritual leaders).

The medical science of Ayurveda is based on the sankhya cosmology, which asserts that the physical world has evolved from non-matter. In this evolution, all matter differentiates into ether, air, fire, water, and earth and moves through time in a rhythmical and cyclical manner. Based on these fundamental concepts, health is achieved by aligning our bodies, minds, and spirits with nature.

Visit this link to learn more about Ayurveda: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda

Iyengar Yoga

“Yoga,” says B.K.S. Iyengar, “is a vast subject.” Brought to the west in the 1880’s, yoga has been popularized in its hatha (physical) form. It is, however, first and foremost a spiritual practice.

Classical yoga has eight aspects, or limbs, of which asana (poses) are just one. The first two limbs of yoga, yama and niyama, focus on moral and ethical foundations for living. Together with sound body, these lay the foundation for spiritual practice. Pranayama, or breath-work, forms a bridge between our physical, worldly practices and the spiritual realms. The remaining five limbs of yoga (pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi) bring practitioners progressively closer to the goal of yoga, which is the union with the True Self. The true self can be characterized as God, Spirit, reality, harmony with nature, or any other name or concept that describes an individual’s spiritual beliefs. Although, yoga is not a religion, it is a technology designed for spiritual self-actualization.

Visit this link to learn more about Iyengar Yoga: http://www.iynaus.org/

Holistic Massage

Materia Medica’s massage services are informed by Ayurveda and Western massage styles taught from a holistic perspective. Massage is a physical manipulation of the tissues of the body, including lymph, skin, muscles, and bone. The goal of massage is to promote health through relaxation, greater range of motion, improved circulation, amelioration of scar tissue, and muscular re-education (popularly known as the releasing of “knots” in muscles).

Holistic Massage Therapy recognizes that body, mind, and spirit are intrinsic to one another and that together, therapist and client can build on benefits of massage through diet, lifestyle, and spiritual practices.

Visit this link to learn more about Holistic Massage: http://worldschoolmassage.com

Please visit our blog at www.YouSmellLikeyoga.com for weekly tips and words of inspiration.