CANTON – The Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton serving the North Country community is hosting Living an Ayurvedic Lifestyle, an introduction to the major tenets or beliefs of Ayurveda, Tuesday, March 11, 6 – 8 p.m. The workshop will be led by Kelly Newman Burnham, Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher since 2016, 500-hour YACEP instructor in the Ashtanga Yoga tradition, and solo entrepreneur and proprietor of Flying Lotus Yoga & Ayurveda.
The Living an Ayurvedic Lifestyle workshop will explore daily practices for self-care as well as yoga for the various “doshas” and seasons of the year or seasons of life. The doshas and their “gunas” are the energies and qualities that shape a person’s mind, body, and personality. The three doshas are “vata” (wind), “pitta” (fire), and “kapha” (water). While each person has all three doshas, some are more prominent than others. The balance of doshas determines a person’s constitution or “prakriti.”
When asked about Ayurveda practices, Kelly Burnham said, “It does not have to be religious per se, but it is inherently spiritual.”
The workshop will introduce the foundations of the traditional medical system of Ayurveda with practice of yoga asana, chanting mantra, meditation, and massage. Participants will sample Ayurvedic treats and teas. All participants will receive takeaway materials to aid the learning of the doshas and yoga sequences. No prior experience is necessary.
Ayurveda is based on ancient Hindu philosophical teachings, including Vaisheshika, Nyaya, and Samkhya and the earliest concepts of Ayurveda are found in the Atharvaveda, a part of the Vedas, which are the sacred books of India. Ayurveda is a way of living. It’s the ‘study of life’ with rituals, practices, and herbal remedies.
Living an Ayurvedic Lifestyle is part of the year-long World Spiritual Practices Project (WiSPP) grant from the Unitarian Universalist Association funding program, which is supporting experiences from a diversity of religious and spiritual perspectives that will be conveyed through workshops, worship, speakers, arts and cultural performances.
The program is free, registration is recommended: forms.gle/QKSXCfJR92s6Z2hV8.
