Ayurveda at The Amadeus Center
"Simple techniques to create balance in body, mind, relationships, surroundings.."
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About
the treatments
A complete ayurvedic
rejuvenation regimen is
recommended at least once a
year preferably at the change of
seasons: especially summer
into fall and winter into spring.  
These are times when there is a
tendency towards imbalance.
The complete regimen includes
a home preparation internal
cleanse and four days of therapy
with all the guidance and
support we can give you for
maintaining balance.
These therapies are the premier
ayuvedic treatment for mental
and emotional illness.  See our
link to research below.

Daily therapy includes:

Abyanga (herbalized oil
massage) stimulates, calms
and invigorates body and mind.  
It also promotes circulation, fat
reduction and elimination of
toxins.

Steam Treatment herbalized
steam treatment opens the
pores, improves circulation and
allows toxins to be released
through the skin

Shirodhara is a most simple
and powerful therapy.

It consists of pouring a constant
stream of herbalized oil onto the
"third eye" area of the forehead.  
Stimulation of this area affects
the pineal and pituitary gland to
release chemicals (one of these
is serotonin) that are our own
natural mood elevators.  
Through this all the major
centers (chakras) of the body are
gently soothed and opened.

Shirodara is administered by  
pouring warm herbalized oil over
the forehead, synchronizing
brain waves and profoundly
coordinating the mind, body and
spirit.

Shiro means “head� and
dhara means "stream of oil'�.
It is one of the most popular
Ayurvedic treatments where by
herbalized oil is poured over the
forehead in silence for up to 45
minutes. During this treatment
the brain waves become
synchronous, the metabolism is
lowered and the nervous system
disarmed so that the deepest
level of healing can be accessed.

As a bonus this treatment
promotes the growth of healthy
hair and tones facial muscles.
It enlivens subtle energy
channels in the face for a
radiant, vibrant look.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda, the oldest surviving comprehensive medical system in the world, can be traced back nearly
5000 years. The name is derived from the Sanskrit words ayur ( life ) and veda (knowledge).  So ayurveda
is the science of life.  It is a branch of the Vedic sciences of India.

The purpose of ayurveda is to bring perfect health, a life without suffering or pain to human beings.  In the
Vedic Scripture it is said that "Ayurveda is for those who desire immortality."

According to the Vedic scriptures, there was once a civilization in India in which all citizens were in
complete awareness of their divine spiritual nature.  The people enjoyed perfect health, peace and
prosperity.  The rulers were benevolent and cared for their citizens as their own children.  There was no
death as we know it.  Souls left the human form at will after completing their work on earth, using the
ancient yogic techniques for peacefully disengaging the soul from the body.

Over the long span of time, the knowledge of life began to be lost and dis-ease and disharmony crept into
life.  It was at this point in time that the ancient rishis and sages cognized in deep meditation the science
of ayurveda to restore wholeness to life.  Ayurvedic physicians, (vaidyas) were well versed in all medical
sciences including the branches of:  internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics,
psychiatry and rejuvenation.  Ayurveda encompasses all the yoga sciences including physical
excercises,(hatha yoga), breathing excercises (pranayama), and meditation.

Here at Amadeus we will focus on the healing treatments, lifestyle recommendations, diet and herbs, and
refer you to information on any of the other yoga sciences.

Theory of Ayurveda
Ayurveda re-establishes health in the body-mind system by enhancing digestion, both physical and
mental, and balancing the three doshas of the body.  In Sanskrit dosha means "that which can change".  
The doshas were known as humours by physicians in our culture before a high degree of specialization in
medical technology obscured this basic theory.

There are three principles that pervade the whole of nature:  the principle of movement (Vata), the principle
of energy (Pitta) and the principle of support or structure (Kapha).

Vata governs all movement through the body-mind system including: blood through the blood vessels,
food through the digestive tract, air into and out of the lungs, and the movement of thought.

Pitta governs the processes of digestion and heat regulation including the mental digestion of thoughts
and experiences.

Kapha governs the process of lubrication of the joints and mucus membranes and the building of the
actual structure of the body:  bone, muscle, fat, hair, teeth, nails, etc.

When all the doshas are in balance and functioning properly, the body-mind system is in perfect health
and digestion, both physical and mental is complete.  When the doshas are out of balance disease
(dis-ease) arises, first at minute, hardly noticable stages, but if not corrected into full-blown degenerative
conditions.  When the doshas are out of balance, digestion, both mental and physical, becomes weak
and the by-product of poor digestion (ama) is created in the body-mind system.

All people have all three doshas operating in the body.  However some doshas are more predominant in
the body-mind system of some people more than others.  We will give you a questionnaire that will help
determine your body-mind type.  From this we can offer general recommendations for you regarding diet
and lifestyle.

Ama
In Ayurveda, the toxic by-product of improper digestion is called ama.  The therapies of ayurveda work to
balance the doshas and to eliminate this sticky noxious substance from the body by improving digestion
and correcting constipation.

When you wake up in the morning, observe your tongue.  If it is clean and pink, there is very little ama in
your system.  However, if it is coated with a whitish or yellowish substance, this is ama.  The body will try
to excrete this substance through all the organs of elimination.  Foul smelling breath, sweat, gas or feces
all indicate an accumulation of ama in the system and a deficiency in proper digestion.

On a deeper level, ama collects in the finest channels of the body, (shrotas) blocking the flow of
intelligence that maintains perfect health.  When ama collects in the brain cells, the ability of neurons to
transmit messages between the cells is diminished and memory is affected.  When ama collects in the
skin cells, the intelligence that flows through the cells to maintain collagen and elasticilty, is diminished.  
Wrinkles and other skin abnormalities result.

Food
General Recommendations according to Ayurveda:
Eat foods that promote sattva.  Sattva is the elevating, peaceful, nourishing aspect of life.  A sattvic diet is
vegetarian, focusing on whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables with some dairy products.  In India, the
family cow, who was respected  and treated humanely, gave unadulterated milk.  In our society, factory
farming has replaced family farming with resultant deleterious qualities in our food.  Any food that is the
result of cruelty will not produce good effects in our body-mind system.  So many people find that
switching to soy products is preferable to large quantities of milk products.

Some foods which are considered especially sattvic and nourishing are:
-  ghee (clarified butter)
-  almonds
-  rice (especially basmati rice)
-   fresh green leafy vegetables and herbs such as basil, parsley and cilantro.
-  moong (mung) beans and other legumes
-  spices including mustard, cumin, ginger root, tumeric, fennel, fenugrek, coriander, cardamom,
and asafoetida. (Generally hot spices like chili powder is not recommended)
-  hot herbal teas and black teas (black tea in moderation
-  pure water (cool not ice cold)

Food should be fresh cooked and eaten in a happy environment in an attitude of gratitude.  Saying a
sincere blessing over your food especially with friends and family members improve mental and physical
digestion!

Overeating stresses the digestion and causes ama to increase.  Eat enough to feel satiated but not
stuffed and leave room for a dessert if you so desire.  Sweet taste pacifies vata dosha and is okay in
moderation for healthy people.  A fruit dessert made with only unprocessed sugars can be nourishing as
well as satisfying.

SPECIFIC DIET INFORMATION FOR VATA, PITTA, KAPHA
Single Session:
Includes Full-body Oil
Massage (abhyanga),
Shirodara, steam
treatment (swedana) and a
basti
(take-home internal herbal
treatment).  

Extremely calming to body,
mind and spirit, this
treatment is a wonderful
thing to do for yourself or
treat a loved one to.

Approximate Time of
Completion: 120 minutes

Cost of Session:$120

Separate Treatments:
Massage: $75
Shirodhara $75

Ayurvedic Rejuvenation
Course

Four consecutive mornings
of  treatment; including: an
internal cleansing regimen
to be done at home prior
to the treatment, body-type
evaluation, and diet and
lifestyle  recommendations.
 Many travel to India or to
remote health spas at
great expense of time and
money.  At The Amadeus
Center, you can receive
the health replenishing
effects "in your own
backyard."
Cost of "Mini-Retreat": $450
To set your
appointment::
(203) 787-0869
Vata, Pitta, Kapha
"Knowlege of your body type enables you to evolve to a more ideal state of health."
-- Deepak Chopra, M.D. from "Perfect Health; The Complete Mind-Body Guide", 1991

The first question of an Ayurvedic practitioner is not ""What disease does my patient
have?" but "Who is my patient?"  or rather, "How is my patient constituted."  Understanding
the basic body types or "Prakriti" (nature) and their manifestations is the essence of
Ayurvedic medicine.

The three doshas or "body types" are called Vata, Pitta and Kapha.  Although they regulate
thousands of separate functions in the mind-body system, they have three basic functions:

Vata dosha controls Movement.
Pitta dosha controls Metabolism.
Kapha dosha controls Structure.

In brief, the telltale signs of the three pure body types are:

Vata:  Thin body, quick, changeable mind, vivacious manner.  These people strike others
as unpredictable.  Under pressure they grow excited and anxious.

Pitta: Medium body, orderly and decisive mind, forceful manner.  These people strike
others as intense.  Under pressure they become angry and abrupt.

Kapha: Heavyset body, calm, steady mind, easygoing manner.  These people strike others
as relaxed.  Under pressure they balk and grow silent.

Knowing your body type can help you to plan your diet and lifestyle to enhance your life
and minimize mental and physical imbalance.
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Making Healthy Lifestyle Changes.....
Ayurveda recommends a general daily routine to preserve the tridoshas in a state
of healthy equilibrium and to ensure proper digestion and metabolism. These are:

a) AWAKENING - Since our biological clocks are set to the timing of the sun, one should arise in the early
morning preferably one hour before the sun.
b) NATURAL PROCESSES - Drink a glass of warm water or light tea to stimulate elimination.
c) EXCERCISE - Yoga, walking or aerobic excercise according to body type.
d) OIL MASSAGE - Daily light oil massage before bathing promotes relaxation, stimulates circulation and
"insulates" the body against heat and cold.
e) MORNING BATH OR SHOWER
f) MEDITATION -   It quiets the mind by contacting the source of bliss which resides within us.
g) CLOTHING - Comfortable practical clothing is recommended.
h) MORNING ACTIVITY
I) LUNCH - Eating the main meal in the middle of the day  allows for optimum digestion.  Noon time is
when the digestive fire is at its peak.
j)  AFTERNOON ACTIVITY
k)  MEDITATION: in late afternoon before dinner gives a recharge for the evening's activities.
l)  MODERATE DINNER: eating light at night promotes restful sleep and good digestion
m) LIGHT EVENING ACTIVITY
n)  EARLY TO BED: before 10 pm is ideal, but at least a few hours after dinner.
When we sleep and wake following nature's rhythms our own biorhythms are enhanced.
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Testimonial

My work is very physical.
I lift a lot of weight every
day (5 days a week).

Before I started having
the Ayurvedic
Rejuvenation treatments
my body would ache
constantly plus I had a
sciatica problem.

I take a treatment once a
month and now I am
almost pain-free the whole
month.  The relaxation is
so deep.  I've had
chiropractic before and the
relief lasted a few days.  
With this treatment I feel
good for weeks afterwards.

--R. Luby
Seymour, CT
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Body Type Questionnaire--
to be filled out before your visit.
Resources for
Ayurveda Clients*
Picture from Perfect Health, Deepak Chopra
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More Ayurveda Information & Resources*

* Content of Resources for Ayurveda Clients is based on Ayurvedic spiritual theory and practice
and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of The Amadeus Center.