Including Ayurveda in its Yoga Teacher Training is one of the things that sets Axis apart from other YTT programs. As exemplified below, students experiment with using Ayurvedic principles to balance their dosha. The application of these principles is where the real teaching begins. This student used Ayurveda to treat PTSD symptoms.
To be totally honest, I came into Ayurveda mildly skeptical. I grew up in a family of scientist who believe only in western medicine and ideals. This has worked for them, but I have always struggled to maintain my health both mentally and physically.
Recently (well… 7 months ago which still feels very recent) I was diagnosed with PTSD and have been trying to put myself back together ever since. I can’t remember a time when I actually felt good and happy within myself. Something was always out of balance.
The concept of balance in everything within Ayurveda really resonated with me and when the vata dosha was taught, I identified with all of it, especially the out of balance part. So for my experiment I wanted to try to pacify my extremely excessive vata and see if it helped with my PTSD symptoms of difficulty sleeping, anxiety and depression.
I believe that a self-care routine can take the edge off of some of my anxiety and help me sleep better.
Due to my medical constraints (medications, etc), I opted for a low intensity experiment. I decided to add drinking warm milk with nutmeg before bed and a daily external oleation routine. Near the end of the experiment I took up trying meditation with a mantra.
1 – a half hour before I intended to go to bed I would warm up my milk, turn off all electronics and read or just sit with it for a while, then get ready for bed.
2 – right before bed, I would oil my feet with sesame oil and sleep with that on (with socks, of course)
3 – every day before my shower I practiced an external oleation with sesame oil all over my body. Since the time is there for me right now, I tried to really make this a treat and not to just slather the oil on, but to really enjoy it.
4 – Attempt at meditation with the gayatri mantra (ongoing)
Overall, I would say that the self-care treatments that I started to use were effective in calming my mind and helping me sleep. My skin is in better condition now as well! As for my PTSD symptoms, I think that the routine of all of it really helped me the most. I would finish all electronic things for the day and then read for a half hour with my warm milk. I’d oil my feet before bed and this usually helped me sleep fairly well. I have a long way to go, but I think these techniques will remain in my daily care routine.
The more I learn about Ayurveda, the more I love it and it makes sense to me. From growing up in a very scientific household, this has been a truly new way to view the world and people. I really like the idea of trying to find balance and that the things we eat and do directly impact our health.
Though I didn’t do a dramatic cleanse or anything, I still feel that my experiment was a success. I learned a lot and learned that taking care of myself should be number one priority. The little things in life really do add up.
In moving forward from this, I plan on maintaining the warm milk and oleation routines and trying to build upon the meditation. I truly struggle with meditation and introspection and maybe the advice I received during this experiment will guide me in the right direction to having a solid practice.
As part of their introduction to Ayurveda, Axis YTT students have the opportunity to design an experiment around their dosha. This student must make significant diet changes in an effort to be a better balanced Vata. And finds other Vata recommendations to be a pleasant addition to the daily routine.
I have chosen to incorporate several self-care practices and to change my diet for this experiment. I am very Vata and everything I eat is not recommended for a person with a Vata constitution.
Self care
Meditation 30 minutes
Tongue scraping and Gargle sesame oil
Oil massage
Dietary changes
Cook all veggies
Discontinue dry foods, granola, crackers, dried fruit,
This doesn’t look like so much, but this is nearly all that I eat. For breakfast I normally eat granola and yogurt with strawberries so I could keep the strawberries, but the rest is out. Lunch was a salad all-raw and crackers dry. Dinner was a little better because I eat meat, or fish and vegetables sometimes cooked and sometimes raw. It has been a challenge and fun to find different foods to eat. I have even cooked a few times. It has been the house chuckle that I do know how a stove works. By the 3rd day of my experiment I could tell a noticeable difference in my digestive track, in the past I had never noticed pain but I did have bloating and discomfort. As a result of the dietary changes it has felt softer or easier and less agitated hard to explain. That 3rd day was Halloween day and I work with an 11year old autistic child so we went trick or treating. The people were so generous, they gave me candy too, and of course I ate it. The next day I had an upset stomach and loose bowels and while this got better, I continued to feel pretty queasy for the next 2 days. . I am not sure if this was related to the junk food or an intestinal virus. During those 2 days I ate vata foods but mostly soft foods soup, applesauce and scrambled eggs. I have been feeling well the last 4 days and since have been eating the Vata diet there is a definite improvement in my digestion. I was hoping there would be no difference and I could return to my old eating style. I will have to look at this and see how I can incorporate these foods into my diet. I still don’t like my veggies cooked and I love granola for breakfast. I hope over time my taste will change and I will grow to enjoy this style of eating.
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The Denver Yoga Underground began in 2003 at the request of dedicated students who wanted to study yoga as a holistic system. Over the years, a diversity of people, seeking education outside of a studio, found a welcome refuge in DYU.
Today we specialize in grassroots Pay What You Can workshops, accessible retreats and our signature yoga teacher training, for the outlier yogi.
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Derik Eselius ~ 720.934.6934
Training Location:
Sixth Ave. UCC 3250 E. 6th Ave