FARIDA IRANI
“Ensure you have a good night’s sleep and try to wind down as the day progresses, moving from the sympathetic mode (fear, flight, fight) to the para sympathetic (rest, relax, repair). Try to avoid looking at your phones and your computer screens at night too. This is something that is massively disrupting our health.”
Farida Irani founded Subtle Energies as a clinic in 1993. She is an Ayurveda practitioner, Clinical Aromatherapist and teacher qualified in Aromatic Medicine, as well as a Senior Bowen Therapy Instructor, Remedial Therapist and Reflexologist. She completed her postgraduate studies (Ayurveda Nishnata) with world-renowned Professor Dr P. H. Kulkarni (ex dean of the Ayurveda Faculty, Pune University). In October 2006, the International Ayurveda Open University awarded Farida her Ayurveda Parangat in recognition of her research in Ayurveda. Farida continues to promote these sciences through her work and remains dedicated to helping and encouraging people to attain a well-balanced lifestyle.
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Website: subtleenergiesaustralia.com
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“In Ayurveda, we say food is medicine.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
Ayurveda is a science of life. Ayurveda considers human life in all perspectives. It gives more emphasis on preserving and maintaining good health, prevention of diseases, and thereby leading a long healthy life.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
My formal studies into Ayurveda began in the early ‘90s with my Ayurveda guru, Professor Dr. P. H. Kulkarni, who was Dean of the Ayurveda Faculty, Pune University. However, my family and I have also grown up with Ayurveda from childhood, as our grandmothers incorporated a lot of it in our daily living and practices by following the objectives of Ayurveda. Our elders just knew and passed on what they received from their ancestors. We do try our best to follow what they taught us as it is engrained into us. The right herbs, diet and oils were also a part of our lifestyle.
Ayurveda talks of the three primordial attributes of the mind, Sattva, Rajas, Tamas. Sattva is the pure creative harmonious nurturing attribute of the mind. It needs to be acted out, however too much action leads to aggression which is Rajas. We also need to be still, however excessive indulgence in stillness leads to inertia, lethargy and stagnation, Tamas. So, we have to ensure that the Trigunas are in balance.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
I was always inclined to study natural therapies, though I was an accountant for many years, as my father was a great believer in natural therapies. When I came to Australia in the ‘80s, I started studying natural therapies, from remedial (therapeutic) massage to remedial therapies, clinical aromatherapy, Aromatic medicine and Bowen Therapy, a unique state of the art Australian soft tissue therapy. When I met my Professor, Dr P. H. Kulkarni, my journey in studying Ayurveda began and has never stopped since.
Has it helped you with anything major?
Very much so in maintaining my balance on all levels, as Ayurveda is about balance. Also, to have a daily routine whereby one is healthy in body, mind, emotion and spirit. I once was diagnosed with a 10-centimetre cyst on my ovaries, the size of a baby’s head, and I was told to immediately have surgery. I had been through major stresses with my mother’s prolonged illness and having to be with her in India, fighting the government for over five years to bring her to Australia. I know that was the main cause of this disorder as stress has an impact on the nervous system and that can manifest into disease. I decided to follow what I practised on clients and myself and have faith in it. With an integrated approach using the principles of Ayurveda and Ayurveda aromatherapy, using the right Ayurvedic herbs, Ayurvedic herbal oil decoctions, Ayurvedic aromatherapy oil blends, Bowen Therapy done by my daughter Khursheed, meditation, yoga, visualisations, affirmations, I managed to get rid of the multi-locular cyst in four months.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
It is part of my daily living and we all walk our talk to the best of our ability and see the positive results.
What are your top Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
Ensure your diet is Sattvic (pure and clean) and alkaline as far as possible. Don’t overindulge in the wrong foods. Yes, if I have a desire I will fulfil it — for example if I want to have a coffee I will have it but not overindulge in it.
Do self-Abhyanga daily. I do mine daily with energising aromatic blends after my shower in the day, thereby uplifting the mind and balancing the adrenals. Then winding down at night with a gentle aromatic dressing with restorative and anti-anxiety oil blends, which would take me into a state of rest, relax, repair.
Do a mini Nasya, which is application of Anu Taila through the nostrils, as it goes via the nasal mucosa through the blood brain barrier and balances the Vatic disturbance in the brain. It clears the mind and specially in these times acts as a protective barrier against harmful microbes entering through the nasal mucosa.
Do oil pulling with black seed sesame by holding a tablespoon in the mouth and swishing it around. This especially benefitted me when I was travelling a lot and would get bleeding from the gums due to maybe the pressurised atmosphere, and the bleeding would just stop. This ancient technique of Kawas and Gandush enhances antibodies and helps get rid of toxins.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
It has never ceased to surprise me with the results, whether I am using it on myself or on my family, or when I have used it to the benefit of my clients over the years.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
Nothing is overnight. It comes with years of practice and what I learn daily whether from my own practices or when working on my clients as each one is different. Also teaching my students has taught me many lessons, as each one has something to contribute always. Sitting in with my Professor Dr. P. H. Kulkarni over the years during consultations taught me what no books can teach.
Do your children/family eat an Ayurvedic diet? And if they do, do they know it’s Ayurveda or do they just think of it as home cooking?
In Ayurveda, we say food is medicine. Therefore, eating the right diet, not having inflammatory foods and not overindulging, eating the right quantity in moderation has been our practice. If we do overindulge as we all tend to at times or are not able to keep the right timing due to a lot of travelling for our work, then we take it easy the next day. My children and husband are very aware of herbs and foods in Ayurveda and the principles behind them as they also are involved in our business and grew up knowing and practising this for themselves as well as training therapists and clients in it.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
A simple kitchari made with three parts of yellow mung dhal to one part of rice, with ghee, turmeric, cumin seeds and lots of coriander leaves, which is very cooling.
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
The tips that I mentioned before are incorporated into my daily routine. In addition, we incorporate the principles of an Ayurvedic Sattvic diet as much as possible.
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
My professor would always say that each country has its own Ayurveda and that you have access to native plants, diet and herbs of the land you live on. So, it is all about awareness and education. We believe in giving homework to our clients so they take responsibility in between treatments and we teach that to all our spa therapists as well. However also educating children about foods they eat more and allowing them to understand and absorb this information as they grow will allow for more awareness, not only now but for future generations too.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
They do by the nature of the work that we do, but we never push it on anyone and those who are interested in knowing about it and follow our advice benefit greatly.
What’s the one thing you would encourage everyone to try or you think would benefit the majority of people’s health for the better?
Reduce your stress levels. Follow a Sattvic Dinacharya. Use the techniques given by the ancients of meditation, Pranayamas, yoga, follow a good diet, have a clean healthy alkaline diet, avoid acidic foods, avoid white sugar, bread, salt and do all in moderation. Practice self-Abhyanga before your shower with good quality black seed sesame in winter or Brahmi in summer and aromatic dressing post shower. Ensure you have a good night’s sleep and try to wind down as the day progresses, moving from the sympathetic mode (fear, flight, fight) to the para sympathetic (rest, relax, repair). Try to avoid looking at your phones and your computer screens at night too. This is something that is massively disrupting our health.
Anything else you’d like to add?
If you follow a good moderate lifestyle, go within, raise your vibration and your consciousness with the right practices. Have a positive attitude with meditation. You will be able to face life’s challenges with success. Live for the now, live for the moment. Do not let fear get to you. When worry hounds you just affirm to yourself that you are infinite spirit, endless bliss.
"There is a Power that will light your way to health, happiness, peace, and success, if you will but turn toward that Light." -Paramahansa Yogananda (author of Autobiography of a Yogi)