Florentina Lam-Clark Yoga & Ayurveda
Clinical Ayurveda
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In tune with your nature
When we think of the main pillars that uphold our lives, optimum health is at the top. Without good health, quality of life is impacted, and we are more likely to experience stress, worry and depression and chronic illness. Ayurveda is about aligning with your true nature.
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What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is based upon the 5,000 year old system of natural healing medicine and science derived from India. Ayurveda translates, as the "science of life", it is known as the "sister science" to yoga as both originate from the Vedas, the ancient Sanskrit texts that date back to around 1200 BCE. By aiming to understand the natural laws and cycles of life and living in alignment with this knowledge, we can experience optimum health. Where there are any imbalances, Ayurveda looks to understand the cause and address this by taking a multi-disciplinary approach to supporting and improving health and wellbeing.
These are some of the tools of Ayurveda:
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incorporating culinary herbs into cooking
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herbal medicine
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Dietary Cleansing
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Balanced Nutrition
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Ayurvedic recipes for inspiration
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Yoga
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Meditation
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Pranayama breathing practices
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Self-care practices (Abhyanga - self- massage, oil pulling, tongue scraping)
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Ayurvedic Indian Head Massage
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Prevention is key, and is based upon healthy lifestyle choices that are in harmony with the natural cycles of nature and implementing actions that are in line with increasing good health and longevity. Ayurveda can help restore your current health to one of homeostasis, using simple and effective Ayurvedic tools.
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The Doshas
At the heart of it's science and philosophy, the three Doshas are derived from nature's 5 elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air & Ether. We, and the entire universe are made of these elements that make up all of nature (Prakriti) and we experience them in action through the changing seasons. You may well have heard of The Doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha and how each person shows characteristics in one or two doshas, or more rarely, has a balance of all three.
Imbalance in the Doshas
We can also experience them in the state of our health and wellbeing. When we are full of cold and mucous or have sinusitis, these are Kapha qualities, exacerbated by Earth and Water elements and which also expresses itself in the season of Spring. This is why we will see the prevalence of ailments such allergies and colds, especially at the turn of the season. A spreading hot, prickly rash across the skin, represents an imbalance in Pitta, characterised by Fire and Water elements. High anxiety, worry, insomnia, and an inability to concentrate, shows up as a Vata imbalance, which is characterised by the elements of Air & Ether.
By understanding how these doshas come out of balance and create disharmony or disease, Ayurveda aims to restore homeostasis by addressing the cause and applying natural tools such as herbal remedies, healthy nutrition, meditation and yoga. Each person is looked at as an individual and time is taken to understand all the factors, eating habits, sleep habits, work and life-style, before applying any treatments.
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Clinical Ayurveda
There is much ancient wisdom to be tapped into, that is tried and tested and which current science is backing up, such as the science of Chronobiology and the discovery of "clock genes". These discoveries align with our own circadian rhythms - and when we work with these natural cycles we are in harmony with ourselves and all of nature. Clinical research trials into the therapeutic application of Ayurvedic treatments, has increased in the last few decades.
The evidence-based research frameworks that are used to support the efficacy of Ayurveda have been found to address health issues such as:-
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Digestive issues (IBS, Constipation, DiaahrohHeartburn, Acid Reflux, Gastritis)
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Women's hormonal imbalances (PMS, Peri-menopause, Menopause, Endometriosis)
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Improving Gut Health (increasing digestive function)
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Improving Diet (increasing natural wholefoods, reducing refined foods)
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Weight Loss
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Mental & Emotional stress, Anxiety
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Auto-immune and inflammatory conditions
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Insomnia
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Disease prevention (burn out)
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Respiratory conditions (Sinusitis, coughs, colds, tonsillitis, sore throats)
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Immune Support (repeated viral infections, Chronic Fatigue)
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Muscular-skeletal conditions (Fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis)
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Skin Conditions (Psoriasis, Rosacea, eczema, acne)
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Urinary Tract Infections
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Cardio-vascular disease (Hypertension, HBP, angina, Cholesterol)
Who is Ayurveda For?
Ayurveda is a self-empowering approach to health and wellbeing, for anyone wishing to find balance and peace in life by taking a natural approach to health and well-being, that deals with the root cause of any imbalances.
Whether you have a chronic illness, are experiencing high stress levels or want to fine-tune your digestive capacity, Ayurveda has been found to be effective in a variety of ways.
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What to expect from an Ayurveda Consultation?
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Receiving an Ayurvedic consultation, is a direct way of learning about Ayurveda and applying it specifically to your needs. We begin by making an holistic assessment of your current state of health and wellbeing. By gathering relevant information and making connections to cause and effect, Ayurveda looks to address the cause of any dysfunction or imbalances.
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The consultations can be held in person or on zoom, depending on distance and convenience. Before the consultation, a health questionnaire is sent to you to get you ready for the first of 2 consultations.
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1st Consultation (60-75 mins)
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The 1st Consultation is for assessing your constitution (Prakruti) and to see which dosha(s) is throwing any particular systems out of balance.
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An Agni assessment reveals how your digestion is functioning and highlights any imbalances.
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Information about your lifestyle is gathered to better understand what levels of stress may be present and contributing to disharmony.
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2nd Consultation (60-75 mins)
After all the information has been collated, time is taken to research a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. (This can take 1 -2 weeks).
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An appointment is made to discuss the treatment plan and from your feedback is customised to suit your timings and your needs.
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Once you are happy with the suggested protocol, you can implement to suit when you are ready.
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It is suggested that the treatment plan be implemented and given time to take effect over a 6 week period. This gives ample time to see what is working, what suits and if any tweaks or adjustments need to be made. This is because each person is individual in their responses. During this process you will supported along the way with 3 follow up calls at 2 week intervals, so if you have any questions that arise, they can be addressed during the scheduled call.
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3 Follow-up Calls
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At 2 week intervals
Investment: £280.00
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What does a treatment plan look like?
The treatment plan is there to address and focus on your main concern. It is important to understand that an Ayurvedic natural healing approach is not a quick fix, but can put you on the path to self-healing with greater awareness and knowledge. Before embarking on a treatment plan, there needs to be a few things in place that help to make it accessible and doable.
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You are willing and have motivation to make changes
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That it can fit in with your present circumstances and time frame
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Small steps and small changes are encouraged, as over time this is what will reap greater rewards.
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Nutritional therapy is at the heart of Ayurveda so an understanding of constitutional tendencies, will help to point to dietary habits that support the systems of the body to work optimally.
Typically, an Ayurvedic approach can start with either
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Langhana (detoxification) to help the body cleanse and detoxify first, so that digestion can function in a way that nutritional input is maximised.
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Or with Brimhana - using therapeutic approaches that strengthen and nourish, support growth, help to repair and rejuvenate.
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Attending to Agni (the digestive fire)
Choosing which approach to start with comes from the understanding of how Agni (the digestive fire) functions in the body. Agni in Ayurveda is vital to digestion as it is the amount of digestive fire that heats up, burns, digest and processes the food materials coming in. If Agni is impaired, it may mean that there is not enough fire to process the food, or there is too much fire that the food passes through too quickly to utilise the nutritional value from what is consumed.
Attending to Ama (Toxins)
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Endogenous toxins are toxins that come from the inside of the body through not digesting food properly, or metabolising hormones.
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Exogenous toxins come from the air we breathe, the water we drink, toxins in our food (synthesised chemicals, preservatives).​
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The accumulation of toxins in the body can take 2 forms, water soluble and fat soluble. Water soluble toxins are easier to excrete if we are drinking enough water, sweating and urinating. The fat soluble toxins are more stubborn to remove because they become lodged in the fat cells.
This is why what we eat, how we move plays an important part in how we can help shift these toxins.
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In taking an Ayurvedic approach, you will learn about extractive and chelating foods and herbs that help toxins to release, particularly when there is a build up and the body becomes overwhelmed.
Ayurveda
Health Consultations
The principles of Ayurveda
The 5 Elements
Earth, Water Fire, Air & Space are the foundational elements that we and nature are made up of.
The doshas show up as the element of earth in our bodies, the bones and the element of water the fluids in the body, the element of fire that heats up digestion and keeps our inner temperature balanced, the element of air that drives our respiration, air that moves nerve impulses and thoughts through the mind is all governed by air. The last element is space and we know that we are made up of 99.9% of space.
The five elemnts combine to make up the 3 Doshas
“Out of the three Doshas, Vata, in its normal state, protects the body, bestowing enthusiasm, eagerness, desire, inhalation and exhalation, all activities of the body, mind and speech, the maintenance of the dhatus (bodily tissues) and the proper functioning of the sense organs, and as such is essential to life as whole” –
Ashtanga Hrdayam.
VATA DOSHA
Air & Ether
The qualities of Vata dosha are:-mobile, quick, cold, dry, light & small
PITTA DOSHA
Fire and Water
The qualities of Pitta dosha are:-spreading, hot, oily, sharp & medium
KAPHA DOSHA
Water and Earth
The qualities of Kapha dosha are:-Slow, cool, liquid, static & large