Ayurveda crossed my path several times during my earlier years. Living in the Far East at the time with an interest in alternative medicine it sparked my interest, but the concept was too abstract for my Western mind. In 2013, perhaps by divine intervention, it crossed my path again. It had been a turbulent three years leading up to that.
On Boxing Day 2010, I lost my Mum, six weeks after she was diagnosed with cancer. It was a shock, and the grief was unbearable. Twelve months later, still grieving my Mum, my husband George was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I spent the following two years supporting him through intensive chemotherapy, a relapse, more chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant, all topped off nicely with the devastating prognosis of 10% survival - if lucky.
George being George, as strong (and as stubborn as) an ox and never one to lose a fight, came through the other side and is still here today, thanks to modern medicine and he is healthier than ever thanks to Ayurvedic medicine.
After experiencing tragedy, loss, and extreme and constant stress in such a short space of time, I was left feeling traumatised, emotionally and physically drained. Suffering from PTSD, health anxieties, depression, eczema, aching muscles and hair loss, I was, to put it bluntly, a mess.
Ayurveda views us as holistic beings whose physical, mental, and spiritual health are inextricably linked. Knowing I had to fix all aspects of myself, I turned to Ayurveda.
Over the following years, I embarked on an extensive journey of self-education, devouring various books and absorbing as much information as possible on Ayurvedic principles that deeply resonated with me. Being of half-Asian descent, I have always felt a pull towards Eastern philosophies and healing systems. As a result of this self-exploration and the support of an Ayurvedic practitioner, I slowly started piecing myself back together.
Before losing my Mum, I had worked in the fashion industry for 15 years. I loved my job whole heartedly, but felt an increasing sense that it wasn't my path. Something was pulling me away from fashion and towards Ayurveda.
Following my heart, I took the plunge and retrained in Ayurvedic medicine without knowing at the time what I would do at the end of it. It just felt right. I was curious and hungry to learn more about this awe-inspiring science if only to learn how to care for myself and my family.
After completing three years of studies, which I can only describe as a transformative, life-changing journey with the Ayurveda Institute UK, I concluded that acquiring this wisdom and not sharing it to help others would be unjust. So here I am, offering consultations and sharing (with deepest gratitude) the profound knowledge of my teachers Dr Deepika Rodrigo (B.A.M.S, MSc HPE) and Dr Wathsala Wijesinghe (B.A.M.S, MSc, M.D.).
Having been through such challenging events has been a blessing because it has led me to this path of learning and continuing to learn about this fascinating science. Having suffered myself on many levels, mentally and physically, I can work with patients from a place of compassion and understanding.
The great sage-physician Charaka, one of the founders of Ayurvedic medicine, said, "A physician, though well versed in the knowledge and treatment of disease, who does not enter into the heart of the patient with the virtue of light and love, will not be able to heal the patient." My teacher echoes these words and demonstrates this wholly through her practice, and to the best of my ability, I will follow this guidance to help others.
Creativity and a love of fashion still run through my veins. I believe they will be integrated into my work somewhere along the line, depending on which way the vata wind blows!
