CE INSTITUTE LLC BLOG

The practice of Ayurvedic massage can be classified with a client into one of three main doshas, or constitutions, also known as: vata, pitta and kapha. Each dosha determines a client’s Ayurvedic treatment, which could include abhyanga, shirodhara, marma massage and more.

To learn more, please register for training at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/ayurvedic

Some of our students would like to see what ayurvedic massage (also known as abhyanga massage) would look like prior to registering for class.  In this brief instructor demonstration, Desi Collazo will show what one of the abhyanga techniques looks like with hands-on practice:

#vata #pitta #kapha #dosha #Ayurvedic #Ayurvedictreatment #Ayurveda #Ayurvedatreatment #Ayurvedicmassage #Ayurvedicbodywork #abhyanga #massagetherapy #lmt #mt #massage #massagetherapist #bodywork #bodyworker

When most massage therapists think of Shirodhara, they simply think of lots of oil.  However, Shirodhara does not always use oil. In fact, medicated milks which you make yourself plus teas are commonly indicated and used in Shirodhara treatments.

To learn more about our Shirodhara training, please visit:  https://ceinstitute.com/collections/ayurvedic

You can also read our latest article about the economical practice of Shirodhara from Massage Magazine:

#shirodhara #ayurveda #ayurvedic #massage #massagetherapy #massagetherapist #lmt #bodywork #bodyworker #oil #milk #tea #economics #budget #business

Poultice bodywork does not have to be expensive.  You can make your own poultice for much less than store bought products, and homemade poultice can create customized customer experiences as well.

To learn more, please register for training at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/ayurvedic

Here's our latest "how-to" make your own poultice youtube video and Massage Magazine article published earlier this year: https://youtu.be/2Bym63p7CMs

#poultice #herbalthai #ayurveda #ayurvedic #massage #massagetherapy #massagetherapist #lmt #bodywork #bodyworker #thermaltherapy

Ayurvedic body, facial and spa services encompass an arsenal of ancient treatments and rituals that include facial, hand and foot services, Shirodhara, medicated oils, massage, full-body exfoliation, partial body treatments, and more. All of these ancient practices can be used in today’s modern treatment room with minimal modifications to achieve beauty and wellness.

Ayurvedic Facial Service

An example of an Ayurvedic treatment available today is the Ayurvedic facial. This facial service can be provided in a variety of different protocols.  An 8-step, 60-minute Ayurvedic facial protocol could be executed as cleansing, facial massage, herbal steaming or compress, exfoliation, facial mask, nurturing facial pack, toning, and moisturizing.

Skin care products for an Ayurvedic facial should primarily use items that are natural and/or can be orally consumed, such as grocery or kitchen stock which include:  almond oil, almond powder, aloe vera, ashwagandha powder, avocado, banana, chickpea powder, cinnamon, cloves, coconut oil, coffee, corn/barley powder, cucumber, egg, eucalyptus, ginger, grapes, honey, lemon, lemon juice, milk, mint, multani mitti (fullers earth), neem powder, orange, papaya, rice powder, rose powder, rose water, sandalwood, sarsaparilla powder, sesame oil, tomato, tulsi powder, vetiver, watermelon, turmeric, and many other herbs and spices.

Ayurvedic Skin Considerations with Product Choices

The skin is the largest organ of the body, acting as a the first defense line from the outside world. It functions as a physical indicator of the subtlest mechanisms of our mind and body. It is a mirror of the internal state of an individual, revealing the condition of the physical body and the emotional state.

The nervous system influences the complexion and appearance of skin. The many emotions, such as fear, rage, anger, grief, joy, excitement, etc., will show a red, flushed, pale, dull, or pasty color skin reaction.

Executing a professional Ayurvedic facial would include selecting the correct products to balance these skin reactions. Aloe vera might soothe a reddened skin, while papaya or rice powder might brighten a dull, depressed, or sullen complexion. Product selection, protocols, and use are covered more extensively in an appropriate Ayurvedic continuing education class.

This would include learning the theory of Tridosha. This determines a person’s constitution and how to personalize Ayurvedic services based upon a client’s individual Dosha. A client’s Dosha would include factors such as skin condition and overall health.

Mind-Body Medicine

Ayurveda is partly known as a mind-body complementary medicine system.  Mind-body medicine, both ancient and modern, suggests that the fundamental cause of imbalance is stress, which produces hormonal imbalances. Stress can be anything that overburdens your natural balance of energies. Stress factors may be physical, psychological, or spiritual.  All three of these stress factors can affect the skin, body, and/or emotional well-being, which could result in a less than desirable appearance.

This information and more is shared in our Les Nouvelles Esthetiques & Spa magazine article. To view the article in full, please click HERE!

To learn more about Ayurvedic services, please register for quality, affordable, professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/ayurvedic

#ayurveda #ayurvediccare #bodywork #bodyworker #facial #esthetics #esthetician #cosmetology #health #ancientritual #ancienttreatment #spiritualstress #mindbody #mindbodymedicine #skin #skincare #ayurvedicbodywork #ayurvedictreatment #massagetherapist #massage #massagetherapy

Understanding Ayurvedic treatments for the face

The skin is the largest organ in the body, acting as first line of defense from the outside world. It functions as a physical indicator of the subtlest mechanisms of our body and mind. It is a mirror of the internal state of an individual, revealing the condition of the physical body, as well as the emotional state. The complexion and appearance of the skin is influenced by the nervous system, and of the many emotions such as fear, rage, anger, grief, joy, excitement, etc., will show a red, flushed, pale, and pasty color on the skin.

How does the body become imbalanced? What disrupts its normal functioning, and how does this effect show up on the skin? Mind-body medicine, both ancient and modern, mention that the fundamental cause of imbalance is stress and the hormonal alterations it produces. In Ayurveda, stress may be anything that overburdens your natural balance of energies with too many “like” energies. In other words, it is anything that disturbs nature’s rhythms. Stress factors may be physical, psychological, or spiritual.

Physical stress may include any overload of the senses, poor habits, wrong diet and exercise, physical strain, excess work, lack of rest, excessive travel, incorrect breathing, excessive use of stimulants including alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and chemical overloads from environmental pollutants, food additives and preservatives, synthetic cosmetics and lotions.

Psychological stress includes emotional traumas, personal conflicts, unsatisfying relationships, and negative behaviors. Psychological stress is nothing more than our perception and like any other negative thought which is created in the mind. Events occur in our lives, and the brain decides which ones are stressful based upon our subjective interpretation. No event is inherently stressful, but it becomes so because of our previous registered experiences.

Spiritual stressors include lack of purpose, uncertainty, desolation, disbelief, confusion, as well as lack of direct understanding of consciousness, that is, lack of inner harmony and peace of mind.

Everyone wants to be beautiful and the desire for physical beauty and the ability to recognize it, seems deeply rooted in the human psyche. A common indicator of beauty is harmony or proportion. Developmental scientists believe that our natural ability to perceive symmetry of the human face is a mechanism for survival. A distorted face provides an intrinsic signal of potential danger.

Beauty is said to have three aspects: an outer, inner, and secret aspect. When the inner and outer aspects are in balance, one has accomplished the secret aspect of beauty. In Ayurveda, the ancient Science of Longevity and Rejuvenation, it is said that the more we nurture ourselves, the more radiant we become physically and expressively regardless of our outer aspect. It focuses on the idea that health is a balance of the three energies found in nature as well as within us called Tridosha (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). Each person contains a certain ratio of these three energies, and the treatments are designed to be tailored to the specific characteristics of that individual.

Outer beauty is that which we most commonly associate within the field of esthetics. It is that which is beautiful and attractive, pertaining to an individual sense of perception. This includes the obvious qualities such as texture and complexion of the skin, contours of the body, the quality of hair, nails, etc. In Ayurveda, it also includes the subtle qualities of vitality, brightness, joyfulness, and charming brilliance of the individual. Ayurveda has always understood beauty to be a result of positive habits and daily routines that literally will bring out the best in us. It teaches how to identify one’s individual Dosha and how to maintain balance by proper diet and a daily lifestyle routine. Thus, external beauty is an actual reflection of the overall health of the body.

Inner beauty relates to the qualities of the self, including our emotional states and mental capacities. Like physical qualities, they are largely determined at birth and are considered to be the result of our actions from previous lives. According to Ayurveda, the physical body can be shaped by diet and lifestyle, as well as being able to train our minds to develop positive states of being. Just as the body can be cleansed and purified to make it outwardly more attractive, so the mind is said to be strengthened by daily exercise. The first step would be to take some time from our busy lives to nurture and cultivate healthy practices. In training the mind, the ability to focus on the present moment, in full awareness of our bodies and of the feelings associated with each particular action. This is accomplished with the daily practice of conscious behavior to begin developing emotional stability and peace of mind.

The combination of outer and inner beauty is that which provides rejuvenation and longevity and thus leads to what is considered to be the secret aspect of beauty. The secret to beauty refers to the energy, awareness, and inspiration it takes to balance both inner and outer aspects of ourselves. In Ayurveda, skin health is considered to be the expression of health of the whole body and that is why its approach contemplates balance and harmony at the physical, mental, and spiritual level. A balanced diet according to Tridosha is important for maintaining healthy skin. However, mental and spiritual care is developed from the practice of awareness. The awareness to calm the mind and invigorate the body, enables the proper functioning of the body systems and elimination of toxins, and by consequence, healthy skin. Awareness that comes from living in the present moment and allowing ourselves to connect with our environment. That which forms the basis of Ayurvedic philosophy, teaching us how to live in balance and harmony with our environment.

By Desiree Collazo, Ayurvedic Therapies Program Director at CE Institute LLC, Miami FL

Ayurveda is a 5,000+ year old natural medicinal system born in India. In the ayurvedic system, each individual should attain four primary objectives of human life, which are called Purusartha.  The four principles of life in Vedic Science are:

1. Dharma: code of conduct, doing the right things, which are good for the well-being of the individual as well as for society. Respecting each stage of life.
2. Artha: to acquire wealth for the means of livelihood.
3. Kama: satisfaction of worldly desires, passion, enjoyment of life, the experience of the sensory organs, etc.
4. Moksha: attainment of enlightenment, liberation or Self Realization.

Health is the foundation (Mulam) to achieve the four principles of life (Ayus). We teach more about achieve these four principles plus overall ayurvedic health and lifestyle in our Ayurvedic Bodywork Classes.  Please click HERE to learn more about about the available Ayurvedic Classes taught by Desi at CE Institute LLC, Miami FL.

By Desiree Collazo, Ayurvedic Therapies Program Director at CE Institute LLC, Miami FL

Abhyanga is influenced by ayurvedic principles that include health and lifestyle evaluations (and hopeful improvements).  In Abhyanga, we apply oil to the skin followed by massage in specific directions.  This specialized application in specific direction improves blood circulation, facilitates removal of the toxins from the tissues, relieves physical and mental fatigue, betters the functioning of the musculo-skeletal system, clears stiffness and heaviness in the body and leads to a feeling of lightness. Abhyanga assists development of a healthy body plus it helps in improvement of body figure and recuperates the body tissues. 

An herbal oil is selected for each dosha in Abhyanga.  We teach how to select each oil, contraindications, how to perform Abhyanga and more in our Ayurvedic Massage Classes.  Please click HERE to learn more about about the available Ayurvedic Classes taught by Desi at CE Institute LLC, Miami FL.

By Desiree Collazo, Ayurvedic Therapies Program Director at CE Institute LLC, Miami FL

Ayurveda recognizes 3 distinct doshas amongst all individuals.  That means that the entire population of the world is divided into 1 of 3 doshas.  We are able to maintain health when our dosha constitution is balanced.  However, when we experience an imbalance, the body can become a state of disease.

The nature of an individual is a consequence of relative proportion of the 3 doshas, which are not only genetically determined, but also influenced by the environment, maternal diet, lifestyle, and age of parents at time of conception. Your dosha is similar to a genetic code…you are born as a kapha, pitta or vatta; and that dosha classification remains unchangeable throughout the entire span of your life. 

The 3 doshas in Ayurveda are as follows:

Vata Dosha – Space/Air (Movement) dry, light, cold, rough, subtle (fine) and mobile or unsteady

Pitta Dosha – Fire/Water (Transformation) slightly unctuous, sharp, hot, light, free flowing, liquid, and foul smelling

Kapha Dosha – Water/Earth (Structure) unctuous, cold, heavy, slow and stable

We go into great depth of the 3 doshas and much more in our Ayurvedic Bodywork Classes.  Click HERE to learn more about about the available Ayurvedic Classes taught by Desi at CE Institute LLC, Miami FL.

By Desiree Collazo, Ayurvedic Therapies Program Director at CE Institute LLC, Miami FL

Panchamahabhuta is a Sanskrit term that refers to the concept of the five structural elements or five great elements.  Pancha = five and Mahabhuta = great structural elements of the universe.  The five elements in ayurveda are as follows:

1. Akasha = Space/Ether: Spaces in body (mouth, nostrils, thorax, abdomen, cells)
2. Vayu = Air: Element of movement including muscular movement (contraction of lungs, intestines, movement in cells)
3. Agni = Fire: Enzyme functioning, controls digestive system & regulates metabolism
4. Jala = Water: Found in plasma, blood saliva (digestive juices, mucous membranes, cytoplasm)
5. Prthvi = Earth: Solid structures such as bones, muscles, skin, hair, nails, tendons, cartilage, teeth

These five elements form the structural entity of the body. The Indriyas are: the mind, the five sensory organs (eyes, ears, nose, skin and tongue) and the five motor organs (vocal cords, hands, feet, genital organs and anus).

We go into greater depth of the 5 elements and much more in our Ayurvedic Bodywork Classes.  Click HERE to learn more about about the available Ayurvedic Classes taught by Desi at CE Institute LLC, Miami FL.