THE HEALING JOURNEY WITHIN

An insightful passage in “The Healing Journey: A Guide to Self-Discovery” by Vernette V. Ayers

 

— The philosophy of Yoga is about self-discovery and self-realization. The principles of Ayurveda promote a daily practice of self-healing. To put our health and wellness in anyone else’s hands but our own, first and foremost, is an occurrence we rarely see supported today.

The modern-day health and wellness industry is full of claims that there is one drug, therapy, diet, superfood, workout, method, treatment, routine, product, program, service, or overall solution that will heal you and all your ailments. The idea that there could be just one thing that you haven’t tried yet and is the answer to everything that ails you plays into a number of factors—the primary one being a desire for there to be just one thing outside of you in the first place.

Where my philosophy on healing begins is in the very foundation of who we are as human beings. We are not just physical, and yet we are absolutely physical. We are not just emotional, and yet we are absolutely emotional. We are not just mental, and yet there is no doubt we have a psychological component as well. And finally, the element of our humanness that I often find missing in the wellness market is that we are also spiritual beings and that component is equal in importance to each of the above. When so many of us are willing to buy into a single solution that claims to satisfy our health and wellness goals but only addresses one component of who we are as human beings, we can’t really be that surprised at the long-term inefficacy.

In addition, addressing only one aspect of our whole being is essentially limiting our healing potential. The healing journey is vast, and wellness is most thoroughly achieved by exploring multiple approaches to health and wellness. As we learn more about ourselves and grow through this process, effective methods and approaches will change and evolve along with us, just as different teachers, support systems, and benefactors can show up when we need them.

It must be said the idea of incorporating the disciplines of Yoga and Ayurveda is in no way meant to replace what we have learned with modern-day science, technology, psychology, and medicine. In fact, it would be antithetical to believe so, as these ancient disciplines encourage us to constantly learn, grow, and evolve as we move forward in our lives.

For those of you diagnosed with serious illness and/or guided by medical professionals along your journey to health, I encourage you to explore this book and any other method you choose to use, while fully disclosing everything you do with your providers. As already implied, none of this is about choosing one solution over another. It is about enabling our own evolution of body, mind, and spirit so that we can discover and support the healing journey that is already within us, while utilizing all of the gifts and resources at our disposal, be it inspired by Eastern, Western, ancient, or modern-day principles.

What is fascinating about the studies of Yoga and Ayurveda is that contemporary science seems to be catching up more recently. The studies of neuroscience, psychology, metaphysics, behavioral economics, and on and on often result in discoveries that seem to reflect theories already explored in many ancient texts. To further dive into the modern science behind meditation, the practice of gratitude, creating new neural pathways, theories on emotional health, and the power of mind-set, please explore the many scientific and medical journals, books, programs, and podcasts on these topics. This book is intended to help you understand these principles on a practical, intimate, and fundamental level so right away you can begin applying simple tools in your daily life.

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