b'M ark Halpern already had a spiritual practice before the novel coronavirus pandemic started more than two years ago. As part of his practice, he spent time each week at home in a room outfitted especially for Dr. Mark Halpern meditation.Now, the ayurvedic doctor and founder of the California College of Ayurveda, in Nevada City, spends even more time in his meditation room. His spiritual practice has helped him navigate the complex mental and emotional challenges Photo submitted by California College of Ayurveda of COVID-19. He encourages others to develop What is Ayurveda? a spiritual practice, whatever that may mean or entail, as a key component of mental health as we heal the pandemics lingering trauma and face B alance of body, mind and consciousness is the concern of ayurveda,new challenges sure to come.a traditional healthcare system practiced in India and much of Asia.SpiritualityTexts describing ayurvedic treatment go back 3,000 years, while an oral tradition goes back another two millennia. The word ayurveda, from the ancient language Sanskrit, means knowledge of life, according to theis a key component ofNational Ayurvedic Medical Association. mental health in ayurvedaAyurveda is a journey of healing emotionally and physically, says Mark Halpern, an ayurvedic doctor and founder of the California College ofWhile the ancient medical framework of Ayurveda, in Nevada City. Its a path to understanding what is right forayurveda considers body and mind together, it you. also considers a third element, translated into Ayurveda proposes that each of us is born with a unique naturalEnglish as consciousness.constitution, determined at the moment of our conception and definedConsciousness is the awareness behind the by the balancs e of three life forces, called doshas. These forces governmind, that part of me that observes that Im motion in body and mind; metabolism; and structure, down to theanxious, that observes my thoughts, my feelings, level of neurons in the brain, Halpern says. When these life forces are inHalpern says. Consciousness can sometimes be their original proportion, we have balance and are healthy. In addition,understood as the soul, or spirit that part of the flowing from each persons unique constitution are tendencies that expressDivine that exists within each person.themselves throughout our lives. When we are living in full alignment with the Events in our lives unhealthy food and activities, daily challenges,Divine that is within us, the mind becomes clear things that happen to us, pandemics can disrupt this balance. Our ownand calm. When were not living in alignment tendencies can help us through or can make our problems worse. Thewith the Divine, the mind becomes disturbed, and result is distress and disease. The goal of ayurvedic treatment is to healall our natural tendencies become exacerbated, disease by restoring balance and order.Halpern says.Within the body there is a constant interaction between order and disorder, Halpern says. When one understands the nature and structureIt doesnt matter how you define divinity, of disorder, one can re-establish order. spirituality, God or something greater than In the United States, ayurvedic treatment is practiced by three levels ofyourself. What matters is that you connect with trained professional: ayurvedic counselors, practitioners and doctors. Atit and cultivate that connection, he adds. Those the local College of Ayurveda, clients start with a two-hour evaluationof us who struggle with that aspect of ourselves to understand everything the client does in the course of day. The goalhave probably had a harder time amid the stress of is to understand the imbalances and disease a person is experiencing sothe pandemic. But, like our bodies and mind, our treatment can be recommended.consciousness can be strengthened and healed.Were trying to unwind all the disturbances that have happened. TheresIn ayurveda, we have ways to support people to been a lot for all of us, Halpern says. experience that connection and relationship with Kylene Yumul contributed to this report the Divine, Halpern says.2022-2023 Western Nevada County Edition SENIOR DIRECTORY 7'