Lena Strang interviews Ayurveda health practitioner Noeline Oldham.
You have become an advocate of Ayurveda. What exactly is Ayurveda?
It’s a holistic approach to health to help people live long, healthy, balanced lives. The name comes from the Sanskrit words ayus, meaning life or lifespan, and veda, meaning knowledge. Practised in India for at least 10,000 years, it has recently become popular in Western cultures. The basic principle is to prevent and treat illness by maintaining balance in the body, mind, and consciousness through proper drinking, diet, and lifestyle, as well as herbal remedies.
How does it work?
Just as everyone has a unique fingerprint, each person has a distinct pattern of energy, a specific combination of physical, mental, and emotional characteristics. Ayurvedic practitioners also believe there are three basic energy types called doshas, present in every person:
Vata (air and ether) is energy that controls bodily functions associated with motion, including blood circulation, breathing, blinking, and heartbeat. When vata energy is balanced, there is creativity and vitality. Out of balance, it can cause intestinal, bladder and lower back problems.
Pitta (fire and water) is energy that controls the body’s metabolic systems, including digestion, absorption, nutrition, and temperature. In balance, pitta leads to contentment and intelligence. Out of balance, it can create digestive, skin and eye problems.
Kapha (earth and water) is energy that controls growth in the body. It supplies water to all body parts, moisturises the skin, and maintains the immune system. In balance, kapha is expressed as love and forgiveness. Out of balance, it can lead to weight gain, diabetes, lung and sinus congestion.
Everyone has vata, pitta, and kapha, although only one or two are dominant in any one person. Many things can disturb the energy balance, such as stress, an unhealthy diet, the weather, and strained family relationships, often leading to disease. Ayurvedic practitioners prescribe treatments to bring the doshas back into balance.
From a Western medical perspective, stress relief seems to be one of the ways Ayurveda works to help fight illness. Ayurveda can lower blood pressure and cholesterol, slow the ageing process, and speed recovery from illness.
When did you first become interested in Ayurveda?
I became interested in Ayurveda in the 90s when I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Having searched for a year to find a solution to my debilitating condition, all orthodox medicine failing, I began to meditate, and I unknowingly came across Ayurveda. With a changed diet, the use of herbs, yoga and exercise, I got myself in balance within three months and felt more grounded and healthier with more energy than I’ve ever had in my life. I started my own healing journey and began helping others too. I firmly believe that ‘your blisters can become your bliss’!
Have you trained as an Ayurveda practitioner?
Yes, I am a Ayurveda health practitioner. I’ve gained an additional 300 hours in Ayurveda yoga along with an existing 200 hours hatha yoga certification.
You have been teaching yoga for many years. How are yoga and Ayurveda linked?
Ayurveda therapy and yoga are like sisters. You can’t really do one without the other as they complement each other. Ajurveda rejuvenates the body and yoga deals with the purification of the mind and consciousness. Together they encompass healing disciplines.
Do you do Ayurveda session?
Yes, the therapies are in my healing room in Espiche as well as in Lagos. These are to rebalance the doshas so that balance (homeostasis) occurs. It’s all about our digestive fire. People usually come with an imbalance or a particular chronic condition. Therapies can be as short as three sessions lasting a minimum of 90 minutes or longer depending on the condition and the imbalance. Ayurveda therapy continues to support the client until they reach a state of balance.
Can anyone interested do yoga?
Of course! Beginners are welcome as yoga can be adapted to everyone’s needs.
Noeline teaches Ayurveda yoga and restorative hatha yoga classes at Boavista Golf and Spa Resort. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9.30 am.
Contact Noeline on +351 963 614 499
