Beauty : Palmolive Ayurituel & Ayurveda

The Indian practice of Ayurveda takes a holistic approach by directing us to a healthier and more balanced lifestyle through the combination of mind, body, senses and the soul.

Last week I attended a fascinating evening focusing on Ayurveda & introducing the new range of Palmolive Ayurvedic shower gels.

I had heard of Ayurveda but wasn't really sure of what it meant....

I was more than happy to spend the evening in the company of Ayurvedic (and TV) chef & author Anjum Anand finding out more.

Ayurveda encourages us to take responsibility for our own health according to the different stages of our lives, the seasons, and the environment we live, work and play in. According to Ayurveda, the five elements of nature - space, air, fire, water and earth - combine in the body as three components, or doshas, known as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. 

These three mind-body types express particular patterns of energy and unique blends of physical, emotional, and mental characteristics. 

Each of us will have a dominant dosha or mind-body type which each has a specific set of lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to help us achieve and maintain a good state of health.

We completed questionnaires which indicated which dosha we were - I was overwhelmingly one particular dosha. Anjum explained what this meant - basically that you can be prone to particular illnesses or weaknesses, you have a certain body type and that, when feeling a particular way ie, tired etc, you can help yourself by eating foods to complement or balance yourself. It was quite fascinating....of course, all this information has been around for centuries. 

In India, apparently 80% of people will visit an Ayurvedic doctor simply as a matter of course.

Anjum cooked some absolutely delicious & healthy Ayurvedic dishes for us and we were then treated to a fabulous Ayurvedic massage...bliss.

I came away from the evening feeling that it was definitely something I wanted to explore more.  

The new Palmolive Ayurituel shower gels....

* Energy - stimulating Indian Sandalwood and Ginger extracts for an uplifting experience
* Joyous - blissful Lotus Flower and Indian Mulberry extracts for an aromatic and heavenly shower

* Tranquility - soothing Indian Neem and Patchouli extracts to calm the senses