Experience and Learning
Bev began her Ayurveda studies with Vaidya P Vijayan ("Vijay") in 2001 in Trivandrum, South Kerala. In India, Vaidya is the title for a traditional Ayurvedic Physician where the knowledge is passed down through the family. Vijay represents the 68th generation of his family and he learnt from his grandfather Tamil Pandit Vaidya Valayunthan Pillai.
In 2000, when Bev first met Vijay during an Ashtanga Yoga holiday in India, she was a professional Chemical Engineer and since a child had been fascinated in the practical application of science. It was Bev's curiosity in the 'science' that Vijay chanted to her whilst working on her scoliosis of the spine that prompted Bev to ask him whether he would share with her his ancient family knowledge. Much to her surprise, Vijay agreed, so for the first time this knowledge was passed outside the 'family' and Bev became his first Western student.
During 2001-2004 Bev spent many months studying with and working alongside Vijay. The science was transmitted to her orally in the form of old Tamil poems and then translated into English. As with any ancient form of knowledge the science required a lot of additional explanation and practical application in order to be understood. Already having a good foundation in Yoga Philosophy and the Sanskrit language, proved invaluable during this intense time of study with Vijay.
One of Vijay's family's specialisations is the science of Marma and Nadi Systems (a system of energy points and pathways). This particular knowledge allows the practitioner to work in response to an individual's condition with a degree of precision that is unusual among Ayurvedic practitioners. To date Bev has been taught 23 of these 'sciences', some 2750 lines of Tamil poetry !
Bev started practising Traditional Ayurvedic Foot Massage and Treatments in Bath in 2003 and has 8 years of invaluable practical experience. She still visits Vijay annually and discusses findings from working with her own clients and is thus able to receive even more in-depth teachings. Bev's study's with Vijay is very much based on the traditional 'Gurukula', or teacher-disciple apprentice system.
The Traditional Ayurvedic sciences Bev uses in her work in Bath include:
- the 10 main Nadis, these nadi's are listed in many Yoga and Ayurveda texts. In the 10 sciences that Bev has been taught, the precise nadi routes within the body, the marma points associated with each nadi and how the nadi intersects and affects the internal organs and chakras are all described in incedible detail. Each science also explains how and when these marma points can became blocked or damaged and the effect this can have on how the body functions or not as the case may be. This knowledge forms the basis of the 'manipulations' that Bev uses in her Massage Treatments - from visable or 'felt' symptoms, 'blocked' energy pathways can be treated.
- 4 Sciences All About Marma Points, these particular sciences not only decribe the main Treatment Marmas and how to work with marma points to treat people but also describes how the 5 elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) are manifested and seen in certain internal organs of the body and external sense organs, respectively.
- Body Treatment Science 100 - Knowledge from the Vaidya's Heart, this long (100 stanza) Tantric science describes the 96 tattwas of the body, defines the different Doshas that people can be (eg Vata, Piita, Kapha, Vata-Pitta, Kapha-Pitta etc) and how this manifests in a person's body shape, personaility, positive and negative characterisitics. This science goes on to describe how imbalances can occur, for example what happens when say a person of Vata dosha is subjected to 'cooling' or say if Pitta comes to a predominantly Kapha dosha person. This knowledge is used to find the source of a persons problem and to re-balance the Doshas. The best times to administer treatments (time of day and season) are also described. An overview of this science is given in The Gems of Siddha System by T.G. Ramamurti Iyer.
- 2 Sciences on Pulse Analysis, these sciences complement the Body Treatment Science 100 as well as teaching about Traditional Ayurvedic Pulse Analysis (which is briefly described in Siddha System of Thathwa Shastra by S. Chidambarathanu Pillai). These sciences also give more detailed descriptions of how Doshas are affected by the time of day, season etc, where the Doshas reside in the body and if the Doshas become unbalanced how and when symptoms will be experienced. But most importantly these sciences also describe how to 'treat' a person according to their constitution.
- 3 Sciences for Sacrospinalis, Leg and Arm Bending Nerves, Bev uses these 3 sciences almost daily as they are concerned with how and why our spine and limbs do not have a full range of movement and flexibility. At first, the treatments seemed too simple to be true but after years of practising them, what they say is definately true !
- Inside Opening Like a Lotus Flower, this beautiful science was the one that Vijay initially used on Bev in 2000 to help her on her own journey to self-healing. Today, Bev regularly uses this knowledge and still marvels at it's profoundity on how to unlock Prana and Kundalini. One of the many reasons why people can feel so energized and 'different' after a Treatment.
Bev has also broadened her knowledge on Ayurveda by brief periods of study with other Vaidyas and Ayurvedic Doctors. These include,
- Dr Vasanthy Surendran, Cochin, North Kerela in April 2004, and
- Dr Kannon, Trivandrum, January to March 2004. With Dr Vasanthy, Bev learnt the 'North Kerala' style of combined Foot and Hand Massage called Vadakkan Murai. However, Bev no longer practises this form of massage due to the excessive strain it placed on her own body.
With Dr Kannon, Bev studied Vagbhata's 'Astanga Hrdayam' - the Classic Indian Ayurvedic College Text. This period of study enabled Bev to gain an understanding of how much of what is written in the 'West' regarding Ayurveda relates to the more ancient and profound science that she studies with Vijay.
Studying with P Vijayan, Trivandrum, Kerala
If you are interested in studying and learning Traditional Ayurvedic Foot Massage, Bev's teacher P Vijayan runs structured courses in February/March most years. Full details can be found at www.treatmenthouse.com
