The more we learn and lean into the science of Ayurveda and its sister science Yoga, the more we gradually become grounded and established in living life as ‘the observer’. To truly practice and live Ayurveda, we must observe and harmonise with Nature – which naturally takes a refinement of awareness; of letting go of our own agenda; and seeking to understand and thoughtfully respond to life (as opposed to forcing our desired outcome). 
 
On paper, that’s a beautiful thing. However, it’s also incredibly challenging and requires an element of personal growth and development. One of the biggest confrontations that comes with Ayurveda and Yoga is the need to surrender our desire for the sake of seeking the truth of ‘what is’. To live a truly balanced life (balanced in the sense of keeping our mind and body in balance according to the Dosha’s and Maha Gunas), we have to accept and work with the unique makeup of our constitution and the natural order and pace of nature if we want to cultivate health and reverse the symptoms of disease. 
 
What seems to be the hardest component of adopting Ayurveda & Yoga as a way of life is that it asks us to live in a way that is opposed to our lifelong, Western conditioning.  
 
Westernised living enthusiastically pushes us to be more, do more, have more, expand beyond our perceived limits. 
 
In contrast, Ayurveda and Yoga ask us to slow down, still the mind, and listen for cues from Nature’s intelligence and guidance from within. To live modestly and moderately so that we don’t exhaust ourselves or lose sight of what’s most important – living in alignment with our true Nature, and seeking our Higher Purpose. 
 
The science and guidelines laid out by Ayurveda and Yoga can feel like an overwhelming list of ‘do’s and dont's’, however what they really offer is a benchmark for living in a way that supports our health, happiness, and our higher purpose. They offer a mirror that reflects our current state while highlighting areas that could use some improvement.

This alone can trigger what feels like an assault on our false-ego (our false sense of self).  
 
“But I’m trying so hard.” 
“Isn’t what I’m doing enough?” 
“But it’s so hard to change.” 
“I like living this way.” 
“I’m just a big failure.” 
 
While our mind may react in this way, it doesn’t mean that these thoughts are true. These responses/reactions can actually be seen as clues as to what might be holding us back. These mental responses themselves show us where we’re hitting out limits for willingness to change. It’s not that the therapeutic protocols of Ayurveda and Yoga don’t work – it’s usually that we don’t want to do what it takes to correct our imbalances (because the medicine is usually exactly the opposite of what we’ve been enjoying doing that caused the imbalance!) 
 
The beauty of Ayurveda & Yoga is that it not only specifies a health protocol, but the carrying out of the protocol itself requires personal growth. It requires patience: with ourselves, as we change our beliefs, thought processes, behaviours, and way of living. It requires patience and persistence in following the process, having faith that the positive outcomes will follow in due course of time (karma willing). It offers a nice false-ego check to practice taking responsibility/controlling what we can, and patiently and respectfully surrendering the desire to ‘govern’ all that we survey, including the things we can’t control (serenity prayer 101!). 
 
Patience: “The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” 
 
There is so much magic to this.  
 
The benefits of cultivating patience alone (not to mention all the other wonderful qualities that come with following the Vedic way of life) include: 

• Allows us to think beyond our current circumstances and make decisions based on the ‘bigger picture’. 

• Helps us to foster healthy relationships, founded in patience and tolerance. 

• Slows down the thinking process supporting rational decision making 

• Minimises stress 

• Can help to cultivate contentment and a more peaceful way of being 

• It helps us achieve our goals 

• Supports wellbeing as we are more readily able to invest in long-term behaviours  

Applying the holistic process of Ayurveda and Yoga has the natural ‘side effect’ of developing patience, as well as tolerance, understanding, compassion, empathy, and overall it helps to improve the health of the body (the seven tissues, energetics, mental health, and spiritual wellbeing when yoga practices are applied). It aligns with living by moral standards, which helps to build more peaceful, harmonious communities.  
 
Social Change/Impact was always on my life goals list when I was a kid. And it still is to this day. Having grown up with my grandfather working for the United Nations, I always thought I had to be donating money, or serving in a third world country to make a difference. However, when I discovered Ayurveda and Yoga, I realised that actually, personal transformation is just as important and valuable for social change. As my spiritual master Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda paramahamsa says,  
 
“For the world to be peaceful, we need to be peaceful within ourselves.” 
 
If we can live by, and offer to others, a roadmap that leads to a more peaceful and harmonious way of being (despite the state of their physical health) – imagine the impact? The ripple effect that would have on the way our we relate to others, the choices we make, the direction of our lives, and our relationship to nature.  

Helping people transform their lives with Ayurveda and yoga is a form of Social Change as it helps to provoke the betterment of society. And, it’s for everyone, and accessible to everyone.
 
Application: 
 
Supporting your clients in cultivating patience requires us to conduct conversations around the process of change and healing. Break down the reality of how long things take – hormonal shifts are slow, weight-loss (as a general guide, 0.5-1kg per week is usually a healthy rate to lose excess weight), to build strength (1-3 months depending on exercise and health history), and habits (can generally take around 21 days of consistent application to be fostered). 
 
In some ways, we don’t ask much of our clients – we only ask that they get back to the way Nature intended. When you think of it like that – we’re simply guiding them to a way of life that we know will bring them greater ease and health. However in comparison to the Western approach – it’s a lot. It’s more than a pill, or a ‘challenge’, or a quick operation and ‘rest to recover’.  
 
We are fundamentally asking them to transform in a holistic, mind-body-spirit, attitude an all kind of way. So it does take time, and patience. Which is why I’m always recommending 3-6 months contracts for working with people – it generally takes that long to foster healthy change.
 
How Does this Apply to the Live to Serve Model 

• Supports Lifestyle Regulation 

• Supports Healthy Thought Processes 

• Supports Spiritual Pursuit 

• Connection: helps to establish a harmonious connection with one’s self, others, and environment. 

• Vitality: build’s vitality by aligning with the Laws of Nature to restore energy and strength. 

• Habit Mastery: guides a person in mastering their unique process for attaining growth in all areas of their life. 

• Service: Practice selfless service and become a force for good.

If you’re curious about supporting real, sustainable change in yourself or others, you’re warmly invited to learn more. Our next live Ayurvedic Wellness Coaching training begins February 5.