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Facilitating an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Self-help Group

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Some ten years ago I read an article about Ayurveda – Diet and Lifestyle by Judith Morrison in ‘Yoga and Health’ magazine. It was fascinating and seemed to make such good sense, so I wanted to find out more. At the time I was teaching a regular evening Yoga class, with very eager and interested students, so I decided that it would be a good idea to arrange an ‘Introductory Ayurveda’ day for them so that I could learn more too.

The day was a great success and we all started to implement various beneficial changes in our diet and daily routines. But, as the weeks passed by, the initial enthusiasm gradually began to wane, and it seemed that the ‘fire’ that had been lit was in danger of going out. I felt that with regular informal meetings we could encourage each other not only to keep the momentum going but to develop other aspects of good living. (In fact writing this article has been a spur to reassess and rekindle that ‘fire’.)

So, it was suggested that those who were interested could meet in my own home on the first Friday evening of the month. That evening was delightful, with all 13 of those who attended the workshop turning up! Some brought flowers from their garden, others brought home-made cake and I served everybody Tridoshic Tea (equal parts cumin, coriander and fennel). There were lots of questions, and lots of laughter, and talk about what we had intended to do but hadn’t quite found the time to do! The two hours floated by, and we arranged to meet again in two month’s time – same time, same place.

The next time round three people came along, but each of us remained a happy regular for the next five years. We all shared a desire to learn how to help ourselves live a better quality of life, and to help our families too. Interestingly we all lived in the same village, but did not meet except at yoga class or at the bi-monthly Lifestyle group. The evenings were always held in my own home – the others in the group always had various reasons as to why we could not rotate the meetings in their homes! So, rather than let the whole thing fade away again, it seemed suitable to let things carry on as they had started.

Mostly we talked about food (!) - but also about health concerns, sometimes personal issues and at other times general lifestyle suggestions. Sometimes one of the group would bring along a newspaper or magazine article suitable for discussion. We were also able to lend each other books (mostly on nutrition), yoga magazines, and cassettes or CD’s with interesting information on them.

We helped each other with dietary issues, many of which had hugely beneficial effects on health issues that occasionally even specialists were unable to improve. One lady had suffered with a stomach ulcer for some time, and could not find proper relief until she started eating ‘Manuka’ honey on its own every day. Gradually the discomfort began to ease and the difficulties she had experienced went away. Since then she discovered she had hypoglycaemia which she is able to manage through careful attention to what she eats, and when, and a lifestyle appropriate for her during each season of the year. It was good to share these matters because each of us could contribute various facts or guidelines that appeared appropriate, and after our discussion the best approach could be decided upon. Then it was up to the individual concerned to follow that through and report back the effect/outcome at the next meeting. This way we were all able and encouraged to learn a lot more than we could on our own.

The self-help group was enormously empowering for all of us. Because of it we had personally experienced the validity of its routines and dietary suggestions. It gave each of us the confidence to present that knowledge to our families through the meals we cooked for them, and to make helpful suggestions to our friends and workmates. Eventually, though, the group energy went full circle and came to a natural end. One of the group emigrated with her family to France, another of the group moved away from the area, and another had to spend more time caring for her husband who left work due to illness. (Three years on he is helping himself back to a life of quality through attention to his diet, and through careful management of his energy levels during the day.)

I would suggest the following guidelines for creating and maintaining a group, which I hope you can use and adapt to your own circumstances:

- Focus on informality and small numbers.

- Make sure that the meetings are regular but not too frequent e.g. every other month.

- Meet at the same place, same time, same day of the week to allow the group’s energy to form and settle.

- Make sure there is someone who will take responsibility for co-ordinating the group (usually you!)

- Food is always the favourite topic for discussion, but other topics can include self-help methods and discussing personal experiences in using them, listening to cassettes, going through constitutional charts together, observing the weather/local environment and relating these to making seasonal adjustments to diet and exercise, sharing books (keep a record of who has borrowed what!)

- Remember that learning is a dynamic and transforming process. So do take part in experiencing lifestyle changes and dietary suggestion. It is great fun, and there is no ‘right or wrong’ way.

I hope that this article will serve as some inspiration for you to get together with your like-minded friends, or other yoga class-mates to form a little group. If you do not have a yoga teacher to organise an informal group, then share your interest with one or two friends over a cup of tea, or arrange a meal where everyone brings food to share. Just have a cup of herbal tea sitting around the kitchen table, and see where it goes from there! Ayurveda is such a useful, relevant and practical thing, and the increased awareness it brings can enhance your quality of life no end.

As Dr. Svoboda wrote: ‘There is no limit to the harmony possible within you or that can be created around you.’

Suggested books for reading and sharing:

Ayurveda, The Science of Self-Healing by Dr. Vasant Lad (Lotus Press 1984)

Ayurveda: Life, Health and Longevity by Dr. R. Svoboda (The Ayurvedic Press 2004)

The Book of Ayurveda: A guide to personal wellbeing by Judith H Morrison (Gaia 1995)

Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners by Amadea Morningstar (Lotus Press 1990)

Your Body's Many Cries for Water by Dr F Barmanghelidj (Tagman 2000)

Nature as Teacher by Viktor Schauberger (Gateway 1998)

Power vs. Force by David R. Hawkins (Hay House 2002)

Jo Finlay started practising yoga 20 years ago. In 1989 she qualified as a teacher with the British Wheel of Yoga, and has been teaching regularly since then. For the last 10 years she has been reading about and studying Ayurveda – Dr. Svoboda being the main source of inspiration.

 In 2001 she successfully completed Philip Xerri’s Pranayama Course which offered huge insights into the science of breathing. In 2005 Jo studied for two weeks with international yoga teacher Donna Farhi. Donna’s profound understanding of the true essence of yoga, her uniquely integrated approach to asana practice, and the use of restorative yoga postures have all enhanced Jo’s own personal practice and teaching.

 For the last few years Jo has been teaching yoga and pranayama on retreats in England, Sri Lanka, Spain and Turkey. She currently leads day and weekend workshops in Devon, and soon plans to offer residential retreats in that area.

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