What is Ayurveda?
'ay-ur-vay-duh'
Ayurveda, the 5,000 year-old healing system founded in ancient India, is derived from the Sanskrit words 'ayus' meaning life and 'veda' meaning wisdom. Ayurveda, the wisdom of life, offers a proven guide for a life of happiness, vitality, love and purpose.
It is a consciousness-based, holistic mind-body approach to health and healing
From the Ayurvedic perspective, human beings are not viewed as mere thinking physical machines, but rather as fields of intelligence in dynamic exchange with the energy and information of the environment. Health is a state of vibrant balance in which all the layers of one’s life are integrated.
The modern world is filled with practices that affect us - physically, mentally and spiritually. From the food we eat, to the work we do, our daily routines and sleep patterns - everything is affected by how we digest and process information. Ayurvedic practices teach that the more we can sync with the cycles of nature, the greater the chances for optimal health.
HELLO, I'M GINA
SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGIST, AYURVEDIC LIFESTYLE INSTRUCTOR & YOGA TEACHER
I am of Anglo Indian descent. I grew up in 1970's Britain, wore pale blue NHS specs and rode around on a sunbeam yellow Chipper - at a time when the sun always seemed to be shining. Ayurvedic practices were woven into my childhood. I did neti cleansing and abhyanga and we routinely cooked with spices. There were other things that appeared to come from another land (concepts of the Self and health and healing for example) but I didn't really realise this until much later in life.
I studied Social Anthropology at University and had an ethnographic interest in South Asia. I came across religious ideologies and societal norms far removed from the Fens where I had grown up and it fascinated me. I then went on to work in India for a non-governmental organisation tackling child labour. From the cows in the street, to walking 30km through the forest to reach a 16 member matriarchal-led family, to bathing in a tin bucket and eating dinner off banana leaves, India was an assault on my senses. Decades later I became a yoga teacher and it was with this, I felt a sense of belonging and coming full circle. It is something I still explore in my (ayurvedic) understanding of consciousness, nature and inter-connectedness. It is this I wish to share with you. Helping you to reveal your version of Self, a place of calm, joy and happiness.
HELLO, I'M GINA
SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGIST, AYURVEDIC LIFESTYLE INSTRUCTOR & YOGA TEACHER
I am of Anglo Indian descent. I grew up in 1970's Britain, wore pale blue NHS specs and rode around on a sunbeam yellow Chipper - at a time when the sun always seemed to be shining. Ayurvedic practices were woven into my childhood. I did neti cleansing and abhyanga and we routinely cooked with spices. There were other things that appeared to come from another land (concepts of the Self and health and healing for example) but I didn't really realise this until much later in life.
I studied Social Anthropology at University and had an ethnographic interest in South Asia. I came across religious ideologies and societal norms far removed from the Fens where I had grown up and it fascinated me. I then went on to work in India for a non-governmental organisation tackling child labour. From the cows in the street, to walking 30km through the forest to reach a 16 member matriarchal-led family, to bathing in a tin bucket and eating dinner off banana leaves, India was an assault on my senses. Decades later I became a yoga teacher and it was with this, I felt a sense of belonging and coming full circle. It is something I still explore in my (ayurvedic) understanding of consciousness, nature and inter-connectedness. It is this I wish to share with you. Helping you to reveal your version of Self, a place of calm, joy and happiness.
EXPLORE
AN AYURVEDIC LIFESTYLE
HELLO, I'M GINA
SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGIST, AYURVEDIC LIFESTYLE INSTRUCTOR & YOGA TEACHER
I offer practical tools and strategies to help people to move towards optimal health and wellbeing. I address six key pillars of health: sleep, nutrition, movement (yoga), emotional wellbeing and grounding practices. I am of Anglo-Indian descent and Ayurveda was woven into my childhood. I grew up with ayurvedic practices such as neti cleansing and abhyanga and we routinely cooked with spices - ginger, garlic, chillies, cumin, cardamom, tumeric - which filled the kitchen with glorious aromas. I did however also, live in 1970's Britain and had a penchant for Birds Trifle and Angel Delight. As a kid, I wore pale blue NHS specs and rode around on a sunbeam yellow Chipper - at a time when the sun always seemed to be shining. I have always been fascinated in other cultures and being of mixed heritage (French, English, Portugese and Indian) my path unfolded onto this anthropological /spiritual journey, bound up in a search for identity and belonging and it is in this space I find myself at home. When I started yoga I discovered that the prevailing representation of this discipline is that of slim, bendy, lycra-clad young women positioned in elaborate poses. However, this depiction tells only part of a 5000 year story. Yoga is, actually a science of the mind, open to everyone and what you learn on the mat is for you to take off the mat into life. It's sister science, ayurveda is even less well known, let alone know what a wonderful practice it is - furthermore it is frequently seen as being a bit 'out there'. However, Western science is catching on to these 5000+year sciences and there is much research and evidence to support its efficacy. I hope to bring these two sciences to you in a way you understand, in a caring, warm environment where no question is too daft. Finally, being an anthropologist, I am fascinated by people and to what makes us tick. I'm not just interested in the bright bubbly side but also look to those darker moments which, once illuminated, help us to connect with each other. When creating bespoke yoga or ayurvedic programmes I therefore delve a little to find out a bit about you and your lifestyle. Understanding your personality and preferences or dislikes helps me to plan a class with you in mind. Additionally, the more of a connection you can make between your own mind, body and spirit, the greater enjoyment and progress you can make along your path, I am here just to guide you. So, whether it be working towards better sleep, improved nutrition, focusing on your tight hamstrings or wanting to learn how to do a headstand, practice backbends or simply sitting quietly in meditation, I will do my best to help you in your journey. Kindest wishes Gina
EXPLORE
AN AYURVEDIC LIFESTYLE
HELLO, I'M GINA
SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGIST, AYURVEDIC LIFESTYLE INSTRUCTOR & YOGA TEACHER
I offer practical tools and strategies to help people to move towards optimal health and wellbeing. I address six key pillars of health: sleep, nutrition, movement (yoga), emotional wellbeing and grounding practices. I am of Anglo-Indian descent and Ayurveda was woven into my childhood. I grew up with ayurvedic practices such as neti cleansing and abhyanga and we routinely cooked with spices - ginger, garlic, chillies, cumin, cardamom, tumeric - which filled the kitchen with glorious aromas. I did however also, live in 1970's Britain and had a penchant for Birds Trifle and Angel Delight. As a kid, I wore pale blue NHS specs and rode around on a sunbeam yellow Chipper - at a time when the sun always seemed to be shining. I have always been fascinated in other cultures and being of mixed heritage (French, English, Portugese and Indian) my path unfolded onto this anthropological /spiritual journey, bound up in a search for identity and belonging and it is in this space I find myself at home. When I started yoga I discovered that the prevailing representation of this discipline is that of slim, bendy, lycra-clad young women positioned in elaborate poses. However, this depiction tells only part of a 5000 year story. Yoga is, actually a science of the mind, open to everyone and what you learn on the mat is for you to take off the mat into life. It's sister science, ayurveda is even less well known, let alone know what a wonderful practice it is - furthermore it is frequently seen as being a bit 'out there'. However, Western science is catching on to these 5000+year sciences and there is much research and evidence to support its efficacy. I hope to bring these two sciences to you in a way you understand, in a caring, warm environment where no question is too daft. Finally, being an anthropologist, I am fascinated by people and to what makes us tick. I'm not just interested in the bright bubbly side but also look to those darker moments which, once illuminated, help us to connect with each other. When creating bespoke yoga or ayurvedic programmes I therefore delve a little to find out a bit about you and your lifestyle. Understanding your personality and preferences or dislikes helps me to plan a class with you in mind. Additionally, the more of a connection you can make between your own mind, body and spirit, the greater enjoyment and progress you can make along your path, I am here just to guide you. So, whether it be working towards better sleep, improved nutrition, focusing on your tight hamstrings or wanting to learn how to do a headstand, practice backbends or simply sitting quietly in meditation, I will do my best to help you in your journey. Kindest wishes Gina
