by : Yogi Cameron
Q. Do I have to completely change my lifestyle to follow Ayurveda?
A. One thing that is important to remember about Ayurveda is that, while it can form the basis of a lifestyle, it is ultimately a body of information about how to attain balance in the body on any given day. Two people could live particularly unhealthy lives filled with processed foods, late-night eating, multiple forms of medication, and the use of any number of chemical-based products in their day-to-day life, and the extent to which they forsake that lifestyle for the ideals of Ayurveda will directly affect how much balance they find. One person could simply decide to cut out late-night eating, but do everything else the same. The other person could cut out late-night eating but also start eating exclusively from the natural food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, etc.), forsake over-the-counter medication for the sake of herbal remedies, and use oils on their skin instead of chemicals. Both people will benefit from making their respective changes, but the one who does more will have all the more satisfying an experience. In other words, when it comes to using Ayurvedic information, you get out what you put in. In my next book, I’ll be addressing the value of incremental change, so making large changes to one’s lifestyle won’t be quite so overwhelming.
