Ayurvedic Medicine Affiliated Services
Ayurvedic Medicine services are provided by an independent practice, Shanti Integrative HealthCare, affiliated with GWCIM.
Origin and Philosophy
Ayurveda is a traditional system of humoral medicine originating from India, designed to address the root causes of imbalance and promote well-being through personalized care. In Ayurveda, health is seen as a harmonious balance of physiological, psychological, and spiritual elements unique to each individual, emphasizing prevention over cure whenever possible. Ayurveda defines health in a multi-faceted way, focusing on the root causes of imbalance and emphasizing prevention over cure whenever possible.
Core Concepts: The Five Elements and Doshas
At the foundation of Ayurveda are the five elements—air, space, fire, water, and earth—which combine to form the three doshas:
- Vata (air and space)
- Pitta (fire and water)
- Kapha (water and earth)
These doshas are bioenergetic systems that influence the body-mind connection, shaping each person’s constitution and susceptibility to imbalance.
Personalized Care Through Traditional Diagnostics
A trained Ayurvedic practitioner uses eight traditional diagnostic methods to assess an individual’s constitution and imbalance profile. Based on these insights, they work with the client to create a customized plan that may include dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes, and daily routines tailored to promote vitality, strengthen immunity, and build resilience.
Goals of Ayurveda
- Maximize efficacy of therapies, based on patients constitution/ imbalance profile, which represents a state of physiological, psychological and spiritual balance for each individual
- Cultivate long-lasting balance, vitality, and overall well-being
- Pacify and soothe the nervous system
- Detoxify the body’s tissues and senses
Ayurvedic Treatments include
- yoga therapy
- herbs
- food as medicine
- empowerment-based self-care
- relational therapies
- nature therapies
- manual therapies
- restorative breathwork
- use of light, sound and color to heal
Our Ayurvedic Medicine Affiliated Provider
Dr. Rioux, Jennifer Rioux, PhD, AD, C-IAYT, RH (AHG), CCA-III holds a PhD in medical, cultural and applied Anthropology and a Doctorate of Ayurvedic Medicine. In addition, she holds certifications:
- yoga therapist (IAYT)
- a registered herbalist (AHG)
- a trauma-wise mindfulness instructor (CMBM)
- a climate café facilitator (CPA-NA)
- Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) and inter-professional spiritual care (ISPEC).
Ayurvedic Weight Loss and Maintanance Program
Dr. Jennifer Rioux developed an effective program for weight loss and maintenance based on Ayurvedic medicine principles. This program is evidence-based and can support any individual who is looking to gain control of body composition and health in a natural way. Learn more about this program on Ayurvedic Weight Loss program page on our website.
