Ayurveda is the science of life, and the Hamsa Ayurveda Center has given new life to this ancient science in Chicago.
Anne and I attended the Hamsa Ayurveda open house in May, and it gave us both a base of knowledge we will use to explore Ayurveda more deeply in the future.
I was semi-informed on Ayurveda - I knew about Doshas and some Ayurvedic nutrition - but Anne was being introduced to this system of medicine for the first time.
If you’re like either of us, you probably have a lot of questions about this healing art.
See below for a brief introduction to what is Ayurveda, our experiences at the open house, and the services the Hamsa Ayurveda Center offers to visitors.
What is Ayurveda?
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), “the term Ayurveda combines the Sanskrit words Ayur (life) and Veda (science or knowledge)...Ayurvedic medicine, as practiced in India, is one of the oldest systems of medicine in the world.”
The Chopra Center states “thousands of years before modern medicine provided scientific evidence for the mind-body connection, the sages of India developed Ayurveda, which continues to be one of the world’s most sophisticated and powerful mind-body health systems. More than a mere system of treating illness, Ayurveda . . . offers a body of wisdom designed to help people stay vibrant and healthy while realizing their full human potential.”
We recommend reading both introductions for an excellent overview of Ayurveda and its uses. However, the best way to understand Ayurveda is to experience it for yourself.
That’s what we began to do at the Hamsa Ayurveda open house.
Our Experiences at the Hamsa Ayurveda & Yoga Open House
The moment we entered Hamsa Ayurveda Center, we were greeted by friendly staff and smiles from other visitors. We felt it was a warm, welcoming place as we did our initial facility tour. The open house included quite a few things, such as:
An overview discussion of Ayurveda by the founder of Hamsa Ayurveda, Monica Yearwood.
Yoga practice including learning the mythology behind various poses
Meditation and chanting practice
Ayurvedic nutrition lecture by Cristina Gutierrez
Lovely Ayurvedic head massages by Robin Fischer
Homemade khichdi and other snacks provided by staff members, along with drinks and snacks from Oromo Cafe
By the end, Anne was so inspired by this way of living - she decided to make her own pot of khichdi the next week (recipe coming soon!).
Hamsa Ayurveda not only gave us good tips on beneficial life practices, but they also offered a whole range of positive experiences during their informative open house.
What We Loved Most About Hamsa Ayurveda Center
The below list is what we believe will make one's experience with Hamsa Ayurveda Center an absolute pleasure:
Friendly and knowledgeable staff
Offerings based on traditional Ayurveda that include traditional massage/ritual table and oils/herbs used in their services
Inviting and clean atmosphere complete with meditation/relaxation room, comfortable service rooms, excellent bathrooms with complimentary products and showers to use
A focus on education in their services
Free services for the community such as free yoga classes
Healthy, natural, and handmade products offered in their store that they will ship to your door (spring line of products found here)
Easy to use online booking system for appointments
The Hamsa Ayurvedic Center Also Offers:
Educational events, including nutrition and cooking classes, intensive training courses, informative emails for their subscribers, and live talks (see events calendar here and training courses here)
Ayurvedic cleanse programs (personally customized for you by the owner, “Ayurvedic Practitioner & Cleanse Expert,” Monica Yearwood)
Spa services including Ayurvedic facials, massages, and rituals (I have done the “Let Go” ritual and received an Ayurvedic massage and loved both!) as well as the appealing “Spa Night” events (which we want to try soon!)
Yoga - an integral part of Ayurveda and the preferred Ayurvedic exercise (new offering and schedule found here for reference)
Hamsa Ayurveda Center in Chicago Is a Must Experience
We are thrilled Chicago has a full service Ayurvedic center, and will definitely be back to Hamsa for yoga, spa services and classes (we have our eye on the Ayurvedic nutrition and cooking event next).
We highly recommend checking out Hamsa Ayurveda Center & Yoga in North Center as part of your wellness journey.
Hamsa Ayurveda Lifestyle Center is located at 3807 N. Lincoln Ave in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood. Hamsa is a boutique wellness center that runs by appointment only outside of their yoga classes and events, so be sure to go to an open house or book an appointment using their online booking system here. Hamsa's next open house is this Saturday, June 17th; click here to sign up to attend.
Have you experienced this Ayurveda center or know of another one we should visit? Or, have you experienced any benefits from Ayurveda in your own journey to good? Let us know please!
