Beauty From the Inside Out - The SVA Way

Sep 2

“I can't believe to see my face this morning!
I can see the difference! Can't help but smile.”
Ruth

This was a message I received from one of the participants the day after our Radiance From Within retreat this past weekend. It made me smile too.

Over the weekend, a small group of us gathered on the shores of Lake Simcoe, in Orillia Canada to explore holistic beauty through the Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda (SVA) lens, certainly not leaving out how to cultivate inner beauty for lasting results with a good diet, sleep and steady routine.

The plan was to do practices I learned directly from Vaidya Mishra- Transdermal Marma System™, and Samadhi Marma. After taking these courses, I would immediately incorporate them into my massage therapy practice, services I still offer to this day.

What I wanted to ensure during our retreat, was enough practice time. We prepared body and mind prior to, with gentle movement and restorative pranayama to help create the conditions to receive the knowledge and practices of SVA. They were immediately taken with the knowledge of SVA- particularly the youngest of the group, a 12 year old girl who came with her mother. How lucky she is, I thought, at a tender age of 12, discovering SVA! She was taking notes, asking many questions such as “Can you spell those words again- the parts of prana?”

This weekend brought me back to where my Ayurvedic journey began.

Twenty-two years ago I met Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra, an Ayurvedic doctor who came from a very long line of Ayurvedic healers who treated the royalty in India, known for their specialty in dermatology. A friend emailed Vaidya Mishra would be going to Sarnia, Ontario- saying he was the "real deal", and that he was teaching Ayurvedic pulse assessment for the first time in Canada. I went to the course and brought my then 6 year old daughter, Evergreen. The setting of Vaidya Mishra’s first Pulse course in Canada could not have been more perfect!

Vaidya would return to Canada, and I would take any opportunity I could to study with him when he returned- next level marma, home panchakarma, hair course. I would have the good fortune to organize and help out at courses and events he was a presenting at. On top of that he would see patients, lined up for him by eager practitioners, such as myself. Vaidya was tireless! And he was very generous with his knowledge too. He had a way of shaping complex teachings so that we could understand them without losing their depth- a depth I found no textbook could emulate. Some of the Ayurvedic books I would read were amazing, but just felt lifeless to me. His teachings opened my eyes to a much deeper understanding of health and the healing process, and to the profound relationship between the nervous system, digestion, liver, gut, mind, skin, circulation, vitality, ojas, prana. Every time I was learning from Vaidya, I could connect a few more dots each time. I still do, btw, though he is no longer with us in body.🙏

The heart and mind need healing and Vaidya knew our world so desperately needed this, which is why he created practices and formulations to care for heart and mind. We practiced them this past weekend- one of the formulations was called Blissful Awakening Facial mist. I still feel the bliss effect today, a day after- spraying it the suggested 3x a day, which many of the participants had done also, and remarked on its beautiful fragrance.

Good vibes stay with you.

With our lakeside weekend, good vibes certainly flowed, non-stop for 2 days. We practiced Samadhi Marma on Sunday applying Prana Flow, Brahmi, Arjuna and Tulsi roll-ons on specific marma points. Saturday was Transdermal Marma System, with face and eye marma points, and discovering Ayurvedic face massage. I had shared with them how ALA cream can be used as a preventative measure, which I do personally daily, around the eyes and the back of the neck (as I had learned from Marianne Teitelbaum) to keep my eyes healthy, prevent cataracts. Even my eye doctor is surprised how my eyes are doing well for someone my age. Some were surprised that face cream could be formulated as water-based with Lalita’s Age Defying Cream, and lipid-base with Lalita’s FaceLift. They were all unanimous on how much they loved the Facial Oil.

It has been a gift to carry these teachings with me, and now share some of them in group settings. Vaidya’s teachings has left a profound imprint in me and continues to shape the way I live, care for my family and clients.

As parting words to all the participants I gave a reminder to never forget each of their eternal light (the “gem” as Vaidya Mishra called it), and the power of their mind- learning (dhi), memory (dhritti) and recall (smriti) and how chanting the prana mantra with each marma point connects them with their light, keeping their heart open, bright and radiant.

This is another message a participant emailed just today:

“Thank-you for a lovely Radiant Ayurvedic experience ✨ 💖 It was a much needed self-care getaway, I was truly inspired and enjoyed learning new beauty techniques and understanding the Ayurveda concept and the connection between mind, body, spirit!🙏 most of all, being surrounded by positive energy and like-minded souls, made me feel I was in a safe place!🫶 I had always been interested in Ayurveda and considered pursuing for my health journey so am glad I had the opportunity to join your retreat and i look forward to future events and learning more!”
Julie

Ahhh..what a bliss-filled message!

To experience these and other formulations attend one of my retreats or book an Ayurvedic treatment.

To learn more about SVA and their Ayurvedic beauty formulations, along with many other high-quality products, visit my Chandika link. If you choose to purchase through my link, I receive a 10% commission at no additional cost to you. You can also become a Chandika affiliate, receive your own affiliate link, and earn the same 10% commission when others purchase through your link.