ĀYURVEDA x BEAUTY
Whatever you have read is only a name --
Chandogya Upanishad
The Sanskrit word saundaryalipsā describes the urge we all have to move towards what appears beautiful, hinting that what is beautiful captures our complete attention. In fact, manohara - one of the many words for beauty in Sanskrit - translates literally to ‘remover of mind’, meaning that in experiencing beauty, we become captivated, our focus moves in one direction. When we drop the thoughts and fluctuations of the mind, we release tensions giving ourselves the ability to relax and to be present to the sensations of the moment, making the experience of beauty simultaneously relaxing, delighting, enthralling, stimulating, and inspiring!
Naturally we don’t want to observe the phenomenon of beauty outside of us, we want to embody beauty ourselves - we want to be beautiful. The Āyurvedic tradition describes three pillars of beauty: rūpaṁ, guṇaṁ, and vayastyag. Rūpaṁ refers to outer beauty of the physical form managed through care of the skin (and hair) on the outside as well as the inside of our bodies (think - the skin of our digestive tracts and deeper tissues!). Guṇaṁ is inner beauty indicated by sincerity of heart, purity of thought, and honesty of action; it is beauty in the state of mind and feeling. When these two are maintained properly, during śarīrayātrā - the journey or pilgrimage of the body in this physical life - vayastyag, or the everlasting, timeless beauty of consciousness, becomes your primary reality.
As we take care of ourselves, our Self emerges, our presence becomes palpable. It is our presence that speaks the splendor and magnificence of absolute beauty louder than anything else.
Classes are 2 hours and begin promptly at 7PM
$40 drop-in or $225 for all six classes
Sign up in link or email info@skytingyoga.com to register
CLASS ONE
Āyurvedic Beauty / Digestion + Ojas
The radiance and charisma of universal beauty is reflected in vitality, creativity, serenity, joyfulness, fresh skin, clear shining eyes, lustrous hair, nails and teeth and an inner glimmer which Āyurveda describes as a phenomenon produced by a substance called ojas. Ojas is the glow of health from which you derive a strong, vibrant immune system. It enables all organs to operate intelligently and efficiently without disease by maintaining the physical body and impulses. Ojas is what gives the fortitude and appetite to sustain wholesome activity in our lives; it is the foundation of inner, outer and secret beauty and Longevity; it is Love. Though its subtly makes it immeasurable, Āyurveda describes Ojas as a biological substance that results as the end product of healthy digestion and metabolism. In this class, we will discuss:
*the concept of beauty (at large)
*Āyurveda’s approach to understanding beauty in the context of *our own body/minds
*the three pillars of rūpaṁ, guṇaṁ, and vayastag
*the process of digestion and its final product - the biological substance ojas