What is Ayurveda?

Whenever someone asks me, “So… what exactly is Ayurveda?” I usually smile, because the truth is: Ayurveda is many things at once. It’s a science, it’s a philosophy, it’s a way of living. But for me, it’s also something deeply personal.

I first stumbled into Ayurveda during my yoga teacher training. (Funny story — I actually missed the day my class covered it, so I had to make up the hours by creating a little Ayurveda “zine.” What started as a simple project turned into a doorway into a whole new way of seeing the world.)

At its root, Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine from India, more than 5,000 years old. The word itself means “knowledge of life” — Ayur (life) and Veda (knowledge). Unlike modern medicine, which often focuses on treating symptoms, Ayurveda is about balance. It looks at the whole person — body, mind, and spirit — and asks: What do you need to feel more in harmony with yourself and with nature?

Ayurveda teaches that we’re all made up of the five great elements — earth, water, fire, air, and ether — and from these come the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These doshas are like your body’s blueprint. We each have our own unique mix, and when they’re in balance, we feel healthy, energized, and steady. When they’re out of balance, we might notice digestion issues, trouble sleeping, mood swings, or other symptoms that feel “off.”

What makes Ayurveda so practical (and why I love it so much) is that it always comes back to daily living. The foods we eat, the times we go to bed, the way we breathe, the herbs we take, even how we move our bodies — all of these can either support balance or push us further out of alignment. Ayurveda gives us the tools to make small, supportive choices that have a big impact on our health.

And here’s the part that really speaks to me: Ayurveda isn’t about perfection. It’s not about following rigid rules or cutting out everything you enjoy. It’s about learning what works for your body, at this stage of your life, and then creating a rhythm that feels sustainable and kind.

For new mothers, that might mean warm, easy-to-digest foods that help the body recover from birth and support milk production. For women in menopause, it might mean gentle yoga and herbs that calm hot flashes and support bone health. For someone under constant stress, it might mean breathwork, meditation, and nourishment that calms the nervous system.

So when people ask me, “What is Ayurveda?” I usually say: it’s the art of coming back to yourself. It’s a way of remembering that our bodies are wise, nature is our ally, and balance is possible — no matter what season of life we’re in.