Is Your House An Ayurvedic Home?

Published: Thu, 06/16/22

One of the happiest memories from my childhood is spending Sunday mornings with my parents on our balcony, overlooking the Aegean sea. We would enjoy fresh fruits and cheese while catching up on all the stuff that had taken place the previous week. (I was an only child and both my parents worked full-time so I was pretty much a latchkey kid.)

Sounds exotic doesn't it? A balcony overlooking the Aegean sea? Well, not exactly. :)

We lived in a 2 bedroom condo and my room was smaller than most walk-in closets here in US. However, we enjoyed large windows and glass doors with shutters all around and a huge corner balcony. We did not have AC but in the hot summer months, opening the windows and partially closing the shutters would prevent the scorching sun from coming in and would also create the draft we needed to cool the place down.

Also, a large part of our balcony was covered by a retractable awning that allowed us to enjoy sitting outside almost all year round.

Little did I know that the architecture of my childhood home was following what is now called "biophilic design". Talk about an expensive sounding term!

The term was coined in the 1980s by biologist Edward Wilson. It comes from the Greek word bio (life) and philos (friend). It is supposed to describe architectural designs that are in harmony with the natural environment, something that seems to be forgotten in quite a few parts of the world today.

I don't know about you but to Tim and me biophilic design sounds a lot like Ayurveda for your living space and Feng Shui.

Feng Shui is the traditional Chinese practice of creating harmony between you and your physical space.
Ayurveda for your living space (aka Vastu Shastra) says that every space needs to be treated with respect and used in a way that is in harmony with the natural environment.
In Sanskrit, vastu means space and shastra means scientific method.
Yes, in the Vedic culture, there is a whole science dedicated to this style of harmonious architecture.

Two Fun Facts:

You may be surprised to hear that Microsoft, Google, Lockheed Martin and Boeing are just a few of the companies that follow Vastu Shastra.
While in Law Enforcement Tim, was trained extensively in what is called "Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design" which is a mixture of Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra. The concept is to make every one who's supposed to be in the space feel welcomed while making the uninvited ones feel uncomfortable, so they leave before any incidents.

What does this mean to you?

To start with:

Are you taking your living space, working space and even the interior of your car for granted?
What is the first thing you see when you wake up? Does it make you feel good? Is it in line with your goals and aspirations or is it a distraction?
What is the last thing you see before going to bed? Is it grounding and soothing enough to prepare you for a great sleep or is it making your brain go in million different directions?
Do you take full advantage of what your home has to offer? Sometimes, just the smallest change / addition can make the biggest difference. Yes, adding a plant, a screen, or an awning can do wonders.
Do you have too much clutter? Sometimes, helping a piece of furniture find another home can make the biggest difference.

And if Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra still seem too woo-woo, you may want to listen to Sir Winston Churchill who (while referring to the rebuilding of the House of Commons after World War II) said: "We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us."

Until next time... Much much love from all of us!
Na’maste Kala! (Which in Greek means, may we all be well!)

-Tim and Vie | Ayurveda Outlaws
- Freyja | The Ayurvedic Puppy