Marin Mommies is pleased to present a guest article by Vijaya Jhothi, owner of Safronya Retreat spa in San Rafael, which specializes in the ancient healing art of Ayurveda, and Kara Lukowski, CAS (certified Ayurvedic Practitioner). In honor of Mother's Day, they explore the relationship between mothers, the earth, Ayurveda. Check out their Mother's Day specials, too. We'll be listing more Mother's Day specials from spas around Marin and the North Bay.
As mother’s day is approaching, it is timely to reflect on how Ayurveda honors mothers, and how it relates to the elements of nature, particularly the earth element. Intrinsically, all mothers inherit a quality similar to earth, in that they are rooted in stability, a grounded solidity, and from her core mom gives birth to new branches of life which she feeds from her breast, protects with her love, and nourishes with her soul. Just like the earth we see around us, supporting and holding us, mother is the sustainer—the glue that keeps it all together. Sometimes, with our hurried and scattered lives we need reminders to feel our feet on the ground and connect to this rich earth, either by calling home to talk to mom or just going barefoot in the grass. And that is where Ayurveda is a tremendously generous science that us helps balance these elements (also water, fire, air, and ether) when our bodies and minds need them.
Today, we are forced to think about this relationship in a deeper and more serious way. Even before the words “green,” ”sustainable,” “eco-friendly,” and “organic” came into the forefront, there was one word that resonated back several thousands of years ago amongst the sages who brought us Ayurveda. It was more than a word; it was sound and a vibration from which was born all creations of man, earth, and nature. This sound was “Om” the universal breath of life, which has organic healing vibrations that reach all levels of consciousness in every element of life, for man, and nature.
Ayurveda, called “mother of all sciences and healing,” dates back to the beginning of this primordial sound that first gave rise to the element of ether, the most subtle of the natural elements that exist in our world (air, fire, water, and earth being the others).
Why is Ayurveda called the “Mother” and why is it especially significant in today’s world with all the media attention towards sustaining our planet?
It is because Ayurveda was the first science to teach sustainability. The entire system is about longevity, about preservation, about keeping your body, mind, consciousness, and the world around us in perfect harmony so that together we can progress along whatever spiritual path we feel called to. It is about finding our unique balance amidst the changing weather and seasons and keeping in tune with the cycles of nature. Sustainability was at the core of this science! And that is why it is so important to look back into this ancient wisdom and begin to apply its principles to protect our mother earth and ourselves, and mother’s day is a perfect time to remember that which feeds and protects us.
Look with gratitude at all the ways these elements work within us and sustain us. Be grateful for the milk with your breakfast that nourishes your bones, and the cows that feed on the green grass to produce it. Think about the sunlight when you walk to work that gives you warmth and energy. Thank the clear beautiful water that quenches your thirst all day long. And think about how you can also give back and nurture them.
Sustainability lies beyond mere “green consumerism,” such as buying hybrid cars or organic products. We must also examine our minds and ourselves and constantly balance this connection to the earth, our mother. If we begin to tune into this concept and become mindful of this inextricable web that we are a part of, it becomes clear that in order to live harmoniously with our environment, we must look at our body and our relationship to our mind and spirit, as we are nature, and depleting our resources is depleting ourselves. We must not only feed ourselves clean fresh food, but allow our earth to be free from digesting harmful pesticides and chemicals as well. We must take extra care to use earth friendly cleaning products so we stop polluting our waters and sea creatures. And we must use chemical-free body care so that our own “earth” of physical tissue is not abused. What we ingest, digest and eliminate affects us in multiple ways; not just our physical bodies and the physical earth, but also the mind and spirit in each one of us that allows us to transcend to higher levels of awareness to create greatness in this world for each other if we allow can allow this inner light to be clear and free from pollution. In this way, Ayurveda teaches us the art of masterful living, and has all along, for thousands of years.
Ayurvedic therapies are holistic, using natural earth-based ingredients that reflect that one’s physical body is a portal to a blissful spirit state if given appropriate attention and nurturing. So this Mother’s Day, enjoy the traditional culturally inspired treatments from India, that nourish your soul, renew your body, and along the way, give you a dose of the earth element to honor the inner stability that is always present.
Give the gift to yourself, since you are the creator and mother of your life. Or gift the person you feel is Mother to you, whether by birth or by love. All along the way she has shown her love and
protected you and your family and has remained steady throughout the times. At Safronya Retreat, a traditional Ayurvedic center in San Rafael, Mother’s day is about making this a delightful experience for all. All of our specials include a unique mud and clay mask for your feet so we may bless the feet that touched this Earth and made it possible for other creations to follow. In line with the principles of Ayurveda, we use only pure, natural ingredients that are customized according to your unique constitution. For an extra balancing effect, luxuriate in our classical two person lymphatic massage, designed to balance both hemispheres at the same time while applying warm, unctuous herbalized oil that are kneaded into your body. We highly recommend a breast massage with our oils for this further lymphatic detoxifying luxury, the breast signifying the sustaining quality of the mother with her breast milk.
So give yourself the beauty and benefits of these holistic therapies, fit for you, your loved ones and the planet.
For more information about our specials: please visit www.safronya.com
