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The Path of Practice: A Woman's Book of Ayurvedic Healing
"We are wellness. We are consciousness. That is our natural state. Disease is an imposter."
As one of the world's only female experts on the ancient Indian tradition of Ayurvedic medicine, renowned teacher Bri. Maya Tiwari has devoted her heart and soul to sharing the philosophy and methods that saved her from terminal cancer and redirected her life. Now, in The Path of Practice, she offers a short course in healing and living and reveals how she has gone back to the sources of Ayurvedic wisdom to reclaim time-honored, natural, and spiritual techniques for contemporary life.
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer at twenty-three, Bri. Maya was given two months to live. Her doctors' die painlessly with heavy dosages of morphine. Instead, in the middle of winter, she left her career as a popular fashion designer in New York City and began several months of intensive meditation and holistic nutrition alone in a remote Vermont cabin. By Spring, her health and vitality had been restored. Inspired by dramatic visions and dreams of her family and ancestors, Bri. Maya became a student of one of India's few living masters of the traditional Vedas. Today, healthy in body and spirit, she devotes herself to teaching the wisdom practices of the Vedas to help others heal emotional and spiritual discomfort, dis-ease, and physical illness.
In The Path of Practice, Bri. Maya's gentle, compassionate voice instructs you in living life consciously in the present moment, so that you can recover your natural rhythms and align yourself and your inner cycles with the universe. With particular emphasis on using the primordial feminine healing power of shakti--which everyone possesses--Bri. Maya leads you through the daily practice, or sadhana, of a three-part wellness program that includes nutrition and cooking with whole foods, breath work and meditation, and chanting with healing sounds. Encouraged by the inspirational stories of Bri. Maya's life and those of others who have made these simple but powerful practices an integral part of their lives, you will learn how to take charge of your own health. Through Bri. Maya's unique philosophy and practice of "cosmic memory," you will discover your personal, body wisdom and intuition, your singular mission in the world, and your connection to the divine within you and around you.
Filled with illuminating insights, easy-to-follow recipes, and meditations and exercises that can be adapted to different lifestyles and traditions, The Path of Practice is one of the only holistic programs designed for women by a woman. Imbued with the spiritual strength and centeredness of its remarkable author, here is a practical and profound book you will turn to time and time again for instruction, wisdom, and peace of mind.
As one of the world's only female experts on the ancient Indian tradition of Ayurvedic medicine, renowned teacher Bri. Maya Tiwari has devoted her heart and soul to sharing the philosophy and methods that saved her from terminal cancer and redirected her life. Now, in The Path of Practice, she offers a short course in healing and living and reveals how she has gone back to the sources of Ayurvedic wisdom to reclaim time-honored, natural, and spiritual techniques for contemporary life.
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer at twenty-three, Bri. Maya was given two months to live. Her doctors' die painlessly with heavy dosages of morphine. Instead, in the middle of winter, she left her career as a popular fashion designer in New York City and began several months of intensive meditation and holistic nutrition alone in a remote Vermont cabin. By Spring, her health and vitality had been restored. Inspired by dramatic visions and dreams of her family and ancestors, Bri. Maya became a student of one of India's few living masters of the traditional Vedas. Today, healthy in body and spirit, she devotes herself to teaching the wisdom practices of the Vedas to help others heal emotional and spiritual discomfort, dis-ease, and physical illness.
In The Path of Practice, Bri. Maya's gentle, compassionate voice instructs you in living life consciously in the present moment, so that you can recover your natural rhythms and align yourself and your inner cycles with the universe. With particular emphasis on using the primordial feminine healing power of shakti--which everyone possesses--Bri. Maya leads you through the daily practice, or sadhana, of a three-part wellness program that includes nutrition and cooking with whole foods, breath work and meditation, and chanting with healing sounds. Encouraged by the inspirational stories of Bri. Maya's life and those of others who have made these simple but powerful practices an integral part of their lives, you will learn how to take charge of your own health. Through Bri. Maya's unique philosophy and practice of "cosmic memory," you will discover your personal, body wisdom and intuition, your singular mission in the world, and your connection to the divine within you and around you.
Filled with illuminating insights, easy-to-follow recipes, and meditations and exercises that can be adapted to different lifestyles and traditions, The Path of Practice is one of the only holistic programs designed for women by a woman. Imbued with the spiritual strength and centeredness of its remarkable author, here is a practical and profound book you will turn to time and time again for instruction, wisdom, and peace of mind.
432 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2000
83 people are currently reading
1085 people want to read
About the author
Maya Tiwari
31 books26 followersBri Maya Tiwari is a spiritual speaker, and author. Also called "Mother Maya," she is a teacher of Ayurveda and the founder of the Wise Earth School of Ayurveda and Mother Om Mission.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 11, 2011
I enjoyed the very specific Ayurvedic advice Tiwari offers, along with examples of her suggestions actually helping her personal clients. However, most of us are not living in a cabin in the woods with no electricity, with every day free to shop for organic produce, grind spices, and make every meal we eat from scratch (to be eaten, of course, squating on our natural wood floors). If you're looking to learn traditional Ayurvedic ways, this book will suit you well. I took away some valuable pieces of advice to apply in my daily life, as well as recipes for vegetarian/natural cooking, but I would have liked a more dualist perspective - how to apply Ayurvedic principles realistically, in this life.
December 10, 2008
Just made Ghee for the first time 2 days ago! This book is a celebration of a slow, sensuous life and a fantastic guide to include as much of healing breath, food or sounds traditions that work for you.
August 13, 2017
I'm really interested in holistic health, and eastern medicine. I was browsing books specifically on the topic of ayurvedic health and came across this one by Bri. Maya Tiwari and had to read it after reading the description of the book on the back cover.
I have type 1 diabetes and hashimoto's hypothyroidism, so I am always on the look out for ways to be the healthy I possibly can.
Bri. Maya was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in her early twenties, she went through all the treatments that were hard on her body only to find out that the cancer was not responding to the invasive treatments, and her doctors told her she had only 2 months to live. and suggested she take morphine to die as comfortably as she could. Instead of doing as the doctors suggested she quit her very successful job as a top fashion designer in New York City to go live in an isolated cabin and get back to her traditional Indian roots.
Bri shares how she beat her cancer and healed herself through hardcore meditation and nutrition as well as her spiritual healing.
She explains in detail how sound is healing, using singing bowls and chanting, how to eat for your dosha type, including a chart to find what dosha you are, recipe's, chakras, journaling and all aspects of ayurvedic and traditional Indian medicine.
I found this to be a very informative and inspiring book. It's a great read for novices as well as those with extensive knowledge in Eastern medicine.
I have type 1 diabetes and hashimoto's hypothyroidism, so I am always on the look out for ways to be the healthy I possibly can.
Bri. Maya was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in her early twenties, she went through all the treatments that were hard on her body only to find out that the cancer was not responding to the invasive treatments, and her doctors told her she had only 2 months to live. and suggested she take morphine to die as comfortably as she could. Instead of doing as the doctors suggested she quit her very successful job as a top fashion designer in New York City to go live in an isolated cabin and get back to her traditional Indian roots.
Bri shares how she beat her cancer and healed herself through hardcore meditation and nutrition as well as her spiritual healing.
She explains in detail how sound is healing, using singing bowls and chanting, how to eat for your dosha type, including a chart to find what dosha you are, recipe's, chakras, journaling and all aspects of ayurvedic and traditional Indian medicine.
I found this to be a very informative and inspiring book. It's a great read for novices as well as those with extensive knowledge in Eastern medicine.
December 30, 2017
The best book about health and Ayurveda (spiritual side). I’m reading non-fiction books all the time (especially about health) and I have to say it was a mind-changer.
To live in Sadhana is possible and to use Maya Tiwari’s practices is easy as well. Pick one or two...don’t rush, use during 8 weeks - and believe me you’ll FEEL results, in your body and soul.
I know many people gonna tell: “Oh poor me I have no time for dis or for dat”...OK. Why you suddenly have allll time in the world when you are sick?
TAKE your time NOW!
Make the time!
More about the book you’ll find here, on my blog - https://raynotbradbury.com/2017/12/12...
A huge fan of Maya! And want to say THANK you, for writing such beautiful practical advices ❤️
To live in Sadhana is possible and to use Maya Tiwari’s practices is easy as well. Pick one or two...don’t rush, use during 8 weeks - and believe me you’ll FEEL results, in your body and soul.
I know many people gonna tell: “Oh poor me I have no time for dis or for dat”...OK. Why you suddenly have allll time in the world when you are sick?
TAKE your time NOW!
Make the time!
More about the book you’ll find here, on my blog - https://raynotbradbury.com/2017/12/12...
A huge fan of Maya! And want to say THANK you, for writing such beautiful practical advices ❤️
January 18, 2016
This book contained so much information! I know I'll be using it as a reference for the rest of my life. I'm not sure when I will begin to incorporate some of these sadhanas into my life, but I know I could benefit from many of them.
January 13, 2017
Such a great book! It is a simple introduction into Ayurveda and Ayurvedic reading. A must read for anyone who is interested in ayurveda, yoga, healthy living, eating, and spirituality. Seriously-- this is a book I will return to again and again.
February 23, 2008
A must read if you are interested in how we as women can heal ourselves!
October 18, 2008
AWESOME book. A must read for ALL women.
February 21, 2012
This book is amazing for all women, but is especially helpful if you struggle with any irregularities with your menstrual cycle. The practices presented are very powerful, they work.
July 26, 2012
Excellent book for understanding a woman's body and Ayurvedic Practice. The stories of women who healed very compelling.
January 6, 2014
This book changed the way I want to live my life.
November 1, 2015
A great primer on sound and breath healing as well as food sadhanas. I'm excited to try some of the recipes for the seasons and doshas.
July 16, 2024
Detailed Review here https://www.anuradhagoyal.com/path-of...
May 12, 2016
Great reference.
August 14, 2017
Brahmacharini Maya Tiwari is a complete inspiration. <3
November 14, 2017
A truly wonderful book about so many health journeys, what it takes, the role ayurveda can play. Great anecdotes, interesting, well-written.
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January 22, 2021Maya's book is an excellent look into Ayurvedic practice for the modern age. She taps into her own personal experience, family history, learned practice, and the arts of the ancients to convey a wealth of information that one can use to cultivate everyday practice and holistic healing. While she includes a range of technical terms, the book is accessible for even the humblest beginner. I wholly recommend her book to anybody who is looking for ways to enhance their life experience. This work has bestowed a number of lessons onto my own life. 5/5. Namaste, Maya!
July 15, 2020
I wanted to read this as a way to prioritize my wellness and uncover new ways to support my health. Towards the end it became a struggle, as it felt that the practices weren't for me, weren't applicable right now. But I'm glad I followed through, for learning to prioritize taking care of myself is indeed still part of my current work, and for me, reading this was an act of telling myself that this matters.
April 17, 2022
The concepts of a life built on practice and rhythms are beautifully expressed, but the sadhanas themselves are so culturally specific that, as a non-Indian, I grappled to find them accessible or relevant. They are presented in great detail, and quite prescriptive, which I found somewhat alienating.
The book did open up the idea of incorporating my own healing ancestral practices, which has sparked curiosity and some excitement.
The book did open up the idea of incorporating my own healing ancestral practices, which has sparked curiosity and some excitement.
November 30, 2021
A wonderful introduction to Ayurvedic medicine and perspective. While some of the success stories seem farfetched, I wanted to believe in them and the truth of mindfulness, compassion and nourishment.
August 18, 2019
A little too woo-woo, but sometimes you need that. Some good healthy recipes in the book.
March 24, 2020
A comprehensive healing and rejuvenating guide though primarily for women, holds relevance to men too.
January 25, 2021
A bit religious but still worth reading if you're looking to live a holistically healthy life.
May 24, 2010
I had high hopes for this book and it was a little too out-there for me. Bummer.
August 15, 2016
Was a little more in-depth than I am looking for right now. May revisit it later.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews