Ayurveda Consultation Make an Appointment

What is Ayurveda?
How can I benefit?
How does Ayurveda work?
What can I expect from a consultation, examination and treatment?
What about Ayurvedic Herbal Preparations?
How soon can I expect to see results?
About the Practitioners

What is Ayurveda? Top
Ayurveda (pronounced eye-your-vay-duh) is the world’s most comprehensive system of health care. It was developed by the sages in India over ten thousand years ago and includes everything from rejuvenation of body and mind to internal medicine and surgery. Ayurveda actually means “the knowledge of life”.

How can I benefit from receiving Ayurvedic Therapy? Top
The purpose of Ayurveda is to enable a person to derive deep satisfaction and contentment from their life. Ayurvedic Therapy accomplishes this by appropriately treating the individual’s emotional, mental, and physical imbalances.

In Ayurveda health is defined as a state of being wherein not only is your body functioning to its maximum potential, i.e. pain-free, symptom-free, powerful immune system, no allergies, etc., but also your mind is clear, unstressed, and able to deal with change.

A total enjoyment of life unencumbered by illness and pain, a return to youthful appearance and vigor, a calm mind and positive self-image are just some of the benefits of Ayurvedic Therapy.

How does Ayurveda work? Top
Every human being born on this planet is totally unique. There has never been another one of you before; nor will there ever be another one of you again. Due to our uniqueness we each require specific treatment that is suitable to our individual constitution, age, sex, and life circumstances. This is the reason that Ayurvedic Therapy treatments will usually be different for two people dealing with the same health problem. Ayurveda treats people not diseases.

What can I expect from a consultation, examination and treatment? Top
Your first consultation will take between 1 ½ and 2 hours. During that time, your practioner will listen to your health concerns with great care, take a detailed case history, and examine your tongue, eyes, face, and general body health. They will also take your pulse readings to reveal information about your health that cannot be ascertained by ordinary examination methods. Once your analysis is complete a treatment plan will be devised and clearly explained to you either on that same visit or on your next visit.

Your treatment may consist of life-style and eating guidelines specific to your constitution, Ayurvedic herbs from India, some simple yoga postures, and possibly a breathing and short meditation technique.

A distinguishing feature of Ayurveda is that it puts you in control of your health by giving you an active part in your therapy.

Ayurvedic Herbal Preparations Top
Your practioner will use herbal formulas prepared by hand and some classic herbal formulas in tablet form. Whenever possible, formulas will be mixed by hand to meet your unique needs.The herbal medicines are obtained from smaller, quality assured companies that use primarily organically grown herbs.

How soon can I expect to see results? Top
Results from the treatment depend largely on how severe your condition is and how much effort you give to your treatment program. Because of Ayurveda’s careful consideration of one’s unique physical and mental constitution and specific treatment thereof, many people have experienced wonderful results from Ayurveda.

Your Ayurvedic Practitioners Top
Atibala Sarasvati started his studies of health cultivation with Western herbalism, and grassroots American nutrition. This inevitably led to a deep interest in Ayurveda, and its incorporated philosophy. He apprenticed with his Sat Guru, Dharmanidhi Sarasvati, in Berkeley for two years. Last winter he traveled to India to train intensively with a Doctor of Ayurveda, with whom he studied classical texts in the traditional fashion. With over a decade of experience in jewelry making and metallurgy, he now incorporates his understanding of alchemical changes into his treatments of health and illness.

Hrimati Sarasvati began practicing yoga 12 years ago and began teaching 5 years ago after returning from 1 1/2 years living in India where she studied hatha yoga, massage therapy and Ayurveda. Upon returning from that first trip to India she dove into a deeper study of Ayurveda with her teacher Dharmanidhi Sarasvati (with whom she has been studying since 2001). In 2005, issues with her own health led her back to India for treatment in Kerala, where she met and began studying with three of the few remaining practitioners of classical Ayurveda, learning to read and write Sanskrit and memorizing slokas from one of the main classical texts of Ayurvedic medicine, Ashtanga Hridayam. Last winter she returned to India and spent 5 months apprenticing in an in-patient Ayurvedic clinic.

Hrimati's emphasis when working with her clients is upon helping each person to experience their life through the lens of the 5 elements so that they are better able to make decisions that stimulate and support the body's natural healing mechanisms. Her focus is upon diet and lifestyle, however, she often uses western, Chinese and Indian herbs to support the process of bringing the body towards balance. She brings her experience as a body-worker, her knowledge of yogic anatomy and her own experiences with illness and healing into her practice. She views herself as an educator, partner and cheerleader in the healing process. She is available for Ayurvedic consultations, private yoga sessions and massage.

How do I make an appointment? Top
Receive a personal consultation with an Ayurvedic practitioner. You may schedule an appointment online or over the phone by calling the Yoga Mandala front desk at 510.486.1989.

Initial appointments can last up to 1.5 to 2 hours long and are $175 (this includes the first follow-up appointment). Additional appointments are around 30 min. to 1 hour and cost $50. Price includes powdered herbs but does not include herbs in pill form.