I am an Ayurvedic therapist and my new life started 10 years ago when i discovered Ayurveda. It became part of my life and allowed me follow a path to a level of knowledge that I never before imagined.

I am Italian and I studied Ayurveda for two years in my home country at the AumShanti school. My guide was Antonina Ferraioli with the supervision of Nazzareno Guerra and Kapil Bhardwaj. To these people I owe my deep gratitude.

I graduated in May 2014 but had already had an internship in Italy the previous year. Following my graduation I left Italy and decided to make a fresh start in France on the Cote Azur.

In the summer of my move to France I visited India, where my objective was to further my studies, so where better to go than the very place where Ayurveda was born. My choice fell on the area which is at the foot of the Himalaya mountains where there are 17
Ayurvedic hospitals. I stayed in the tiny village of Tattapani. Here I continued my studies with the guidance of Ayurvedic doctors and massage therapists thus deepening my knowledge and putting into practice everything I had studied in Italy, in the very place where Ayurveda initiated. This experience, together with all the other wonderful ones I had in this remarkable country, turned my life around and now Ayurveda is part of my day-to-day existence. I would like to share this “Life Science” with others aside from my close friends and family..

Namaste’
Fabio de Giovanni

Fabio De Giovanni

Coach in Ayurveda in Nice

Ayurveda
Blog

Ayurveda

Life knowledge

The word ‘AYUR literally means Life and ‘VEDA’ is the science of knowledge. This implies that everything concerning Ayurveda IS in relationship with the knowledge of life and the art of well-being.

Made famous by three wise Indians – Susrutha, Charaka et Vagbhata – Ayurveda has a very ecological vision of the world. It advocates the therapy of prevention rather than o cure and encourages people to adopt a healthy and pure lifestyle.

From a global or holistic point of view, Ayurveda studies man as a whole and not as a sum of individual parts. The Ayurvedic vision is omni-comprehensive because man is considered in his/her physical, psychic and spiritual dimension.

Nowadays Ayurveda is a unique and essential part of medicine, a natural system that is founded on the diagnosis of decisive elements present in human beings (the doshas).

The human body is composed of five elements:

Ether (which includes shapeless, invisibile and penetration)

Air (which includes light, dry, mobile, cold, hard, finessse and clarity)

Fire (heat)

Water (which includes damp, fluid, cold, stable, soft, fat and smooth)

Earth (which includes heavy, weight, solid, cold, still, slow, steady and rough)

These elements manifest themselves in the human physiology in the form of the three Doshas (biological humours or biometabolic principles):

Vatha (ether+air)

regards circulation, transit and communication. It represents the nervous system, circulation, energetic flow and movement. Vata is found in the bowel. A vata person is very tall or very short, with protruding bones, cold skin and small eyes.

Pitta (fire+water)

regards transformation or metabolism. It represents enzymes, hormones and digestion. It is found in the digestive system. A Pitta person has a balanced, moderately muscular structure, with warm soft skin and regular eyes.

Kapha (water+earth)

regards all structures and represents the organic tissues (bones, muscular tissue, nervous tissue, adipose tissue, etc). A Kapha person has a strong constitution with clear cold skin, fine black hair and large expressive eyes.

These three doshas, or strengths, ensure the correct functioning of the various systems that constitute the human body. If the Doshas become unbalanced, the person will, in due time, become unwell.

Ayurvedic Massage

“As we embrace our passions and delve into the mystery of life, we unite with the majestic complexity of nature; and if we follow the signs, this can help us understand who we really are.”

Ayurvedic Massage

The technique of touch, which was born in India, is an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine and bears the same importance as Yoga.

Abyangam massage

The word Abyangam literally means « application of oil on all parts of the body » (aby=all angam directions =parts of the body). This massage is particularly effective when the organism needs to reestablish its lost equilibrium. In this circumstance the body needs help to cleanse itself and to get back in motion. In this way, the body receives positive input that contributes to its well-being and comfort.

Regardless of the rhythm and of the techniques that are used, this massage goes to the depth of your being at all levels. It is a good complement to the regular practice of Yoga.

Benefits of the Ayurvedic Massage

The physical benefits: relaxation, disintoxication and regeneration of human tissues, improved articular agility and relief from rheumatic pains.

The physiological benefits: correct functioning of bodily organs and of the digestive, circulatory, respiratory and escretory systems.

The psycological benefits: joy, calmness, clarity, better resistance to stress, less tiredness, reduced negative effects of old age and less insomnia. Furthermore it gives you the energy to attain a higher level of conscience. Only then will it be possible to overcome any emotional traumas and to improve the ability to communicate .

The Duration Of A Session

The traditional massage lasts 1h30. But there are now massages that last 1h00.

Frequency

For a lasting effect it is advisable to have regular sessions, especially in the beginning. Every quarter, every month, every 2 weeks, every week…..it is up to you to decide. You choose the frequency that best suits you.
For example, to get back into shape, 1 to 5 sessions are recommended, according to the person and the place he or she lives. The time lapse between sessions should be 1 week or at most 2 weeks.

ABHYANGAM

Ayurvedic massage

This massage involves anointing your body with lukewarm oil. It is a deeply purifying and rejuvinating treatment, it improves blood circulation, strengthens body tissues, helps in cases of constipation, improves sleep, eliminates both physical and mental tiredness and helps combat stress.

Duration 70min

Duration 30min for localized treatments (back or legs)

NEERABHYANGAM

Indian lymphatic draining

This technique helps shed your unwanted centimetres by restoring the correct balance of fluids in your body. Ayurveda uses a wonderful technique involving a relaxing massage which is based on the circulation of liquids and which helps your body to drain excess fluids correctly. This message can best be described as a light dance on your body.

Duration 75 min

UDVARTANA

Indian peeling

This treatment aims to remove the impurities in your skin and to give new life and elasticity to your body tissues. A mixture of herbs is applied body and then gently rubbed to eliminate dead cells. It is a very delicate and effective treatment.

Duration 60 min

UDGHARSHANA

This treatment is dry and uses powders to drain fluids and to slim. It improves circulation, it invigorates and it removes toxins.

Duration 60 min.

UBTANA

This treatment is for your face and the base of your neck. It uses a mixture of herbs and essential oils making your skin radiant, supple and purifying it all at the same time.

SHIRODARA

This treatment restores your equilibrium thanks to drops of oil gently falling on your forehead. It is generally applied following an ayurvedic massage. It is ideally suited for disturbances to your nervous system, situations of stress, anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks, psioriasis, etc.

Duration 90-120 min.

LOCALIZED VASTI

A mixture of flour and a specially prepared oil aimed at treating your specific area of imbalance.

Kati Vasti: Back. Suitable for contractures, rigidity, hernia of the disk, sciatica, muscular pains, articular pains and neuralgias

Chakra Vasti: Abdomen

Greeva Vasti: Neck

Janu Vasti: Knee

Duration 45 min.

PINDASWEDA

Your body will be dabbed with warm pouches of herbs, spice or powders. The heat and the herbs have an catabolic effect reducing swelling and loosening toxins in the tissues of your skin and in your articulations. Suitable for: all blockages (stiff neck, stiffness in the lumbar area, etc.), swelling and water retention, cellulite, alleviating muscular pains, improves circulation and makes your skin healthier.

Duration 90-120 min.

KERALIANO

The purpose of this type of massage is to move and rebalance the energy (prana) of your body, restoring vitality and energy. In the Ayurvedic tradition it is generally coupled with technique of Pindasweda and shirodara.

Duration 70min

GARBABHYANGAM

The Ayurvedic tradition has a particular focus on pregnant women, the idea being that the woman’s comfort inevitably reflects on the baby’s comfort and well-being. This massage uses a fundamental oil which caresses the future mother and her child, benefitting both on an emotional level, by reducing stress and anxiety, and on a physical level by relieving tensions in the lumbar and dorsal regions. It helps tackle insomnia, provides relief to your articulations and reduces water retention.

Duration 60 min

The course can be taught to the couple allowing the future father to learn how to do the massage thus creating a moment of intimacy and relaxation for both.

Duration 1 day

BALABHYANGAM

This massage is for your baby. Your baby will feel calm and safe thanks to this massage and will sleep better if the massage is done before being put to bed. The massage can be done by a professional ayurvedic masseur or you can learn in order to communicate with your child through the gentle touch of a massage thus transmitting all the benefits this approach has.

Duration 30min for the massage

Duration 1 day for the course