healingways

Healing the Root Cause of Addiction with Ayurveda

by Linda Sechrist

Ayurveda means the “Science of Life,” a holistic view of keeping our bodies in balance by combining applied principles of yoga,

I

t’s no secret that individuals who adopt unconscious ways to escape from stress and conflict can often become victims of their own self-de- structive habits and behavioral patterns. “Conflict creates stress and addictions, like [to] alcohol, food, work, sex and drugs,” says Yogi Amrit Desai, founder of Kripalu Yoga. “Addictions are anti- dotes that provide a temporary escape from the stress-producing, conflict-cre- ating reactions you have about what you are doing, where you are going and who you are with. Addiction, which is only an effect, occurs when you continue to use inappropriate external resources to reduce stress and restore a sense of balance, while failing to resolve the cause of the stress hidden in the unconscious.”

Desai further explains how the body’s own homeostasis works to natu- rally regulate the internal polarities of tension and relaxation. However, when the amount of tension exceeds what can be balanced by relaxation, people call the unresolved tension stress. “It is important to recognize that most people don’t know the difference between tension and stress,” cautions Desai. He observes that stressors— thoughts and reactions to our lifestyle, relationships, work environment and

38 Collier/Lee Counties swfl .naturalawakeningsmag.com

family life—are introduced through the ego mind. Emotionally charged thoughts and feelings of blame, shame or guilt then get metabolized into our biological body system. Stored in the form of toxins and neuro-glandular imbalances, these feelings create energy blocks that prevent the free flow of energy, or prana, the body’s self-heal- ing wisdom. Energy blocks may take the form of muscular tensions and weakness in liver, kidney and digestive functions. Gradual decline results in a progressive deterioration of biological processes and consequently can mani- fest in external symptoms of fatigue, fear, anxiety and insecurity. “But, when our thoughts are free from stressful emotional feelings, they naturally pass like clouds without leav- ing footprints in our biology,” counsels Desai, whose approach to Ayurveda is designed to solve addictions by resolv- ing internal causes of stress. “Shift your focus inward to your inner source, instead of reaching for external distractions; go within to re- solve any excess tension and all surface symptoms will begin to erode,” advises Desai, who points out that addictions prevent us from connecting to the in- nermost core of our being. With the release of unconscious, stress-produc- Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64