Among the many health practices people have turned to since the pandemic began, one is Vedic living. Classified into four main categories, the Vedas are one of the most popular sources of ancient Indian history.

As many seem to be getting in touch with their roots and embracing age-old traditional remedies in the post-pandemic world, several platforms have sprung up to push the Vedic concept forward. Primarily digital, these initiatives promote Vedic practice in almost all spheres of life.

Vedas for spirituality

“To promote the Vedic teachings, we have created Sadhana, a free application. It is based on monk and author Om Swami’s personal experience and extensive knowledge of Vedic scriptures spanning over three decades,” says Priyanka Anand, CEO of the app. The app, launched in March, includes five basic Vedic rituals: chanting, yajna and abhishekam, nitya puja and sadhana. Speaking about the response she received, Anand adds, “The app has brought back the beauty and opulence of Vedic culture using cutting-edge technology to bridge the gap between ancient practices and modern sensibilities. It is an exciting and immersive way to experience the ever-relevant Vedic way of life and experience the transformational benefits of life. The majority of its users are Millennials (Gen Y) and Zoomers (Gen Z), belonging to the age group of 18 to 34 years old. Most of them are from India, followed by countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and Singapore. Om Swami is also the founder of a meditation app, Black Lotus and os.me, a global online community of people from all walks of life.

Vedas for holistic wellness

Satvic Movement, a non-profit health education platform, was established with the aim of bringing people closer to nature and providing holistic health knowledge from the Vedas and scriptures. “Since Covid-19, many people are opting for natural healing methods rather than conventional medicine and allopathic medicines. Many are also ditching meat and processed foods in favor of sustainable plant-based diets,” says Harshvardhan Saraf, co-founder of the Satvik Movement.

Subsequently, the Ayurvedic market has seen tremendous growth in recent quarters. “Global Ayurvedic Market size was valued at USD 6.50 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 21.12 Billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 15.63% from 2021 to 2028. The reason for a massive shift in consumer trends can mainly be attributed to increased awareness and awareness of their well-being,” says Akshi Khandelwal, Founder of Butterfly Ayurveda, a Vedic health and wellness brand. welfare.

“Every human being is unique, and what diet or exercise regimen works for one person does not work for everyone. This uniqueness has been captured in Ayurveda in the form of Prakriti or personality assessments,” explains Namita Piparaiya, yoga and Ayurvedic lifestyle expert and founder of Yoganama, a digital wellness platform.

The Vedic lifestyle also has many takers from the younger generation. “The pandemic has really changed my perspective. While meditation has helped declutter my mind, yoga boosts my immunity. I also started chanting mantras, which gave me a lot more clarity and focus,” says Mansi Sharma, a 27-year-old IT professional.

Vedic diet and cure

FlexifyMe is another platform that provides Vedic nutrition consultations for holistic healing. They promote the local food of the region. “We aim to deliver the benefits of Vedic nutrition and more in the form of live, interactive zoom sessions. Our clients are looking for natural solutions to health issues such as stress management, weight loss and chronic diseases. We don’t tell people how much to eat, but how to listen to their bodies to control portions,” explains Manjeet Singh, co-founder of the platform.

There are even Ayuvedic treatments to cure menstrual problems. Gynoveda, a wellness platform combining Ayurveda and technology. “Ayurveda is a 5000 year old science that contains detailed information on how to lead a healthy life. We started in 2019 with the dream of making Ayurveda the first choice for women’s health in puberty During the pandemic, when women could not go to a gynecologist, we provided them with the Ayurvedic program which includes 100% Ayurvedic medicines, sustainable diet and doctor support to treat the root cause of their problem”, explains Rachana Gupta, co-founder, of Gynoveda.

Benefits of the Vedic Diet

An Ayurvedic diet involves keeping in mind the body type of the individual (vata/air, kapha/earth, pitta/fire), the gunas (qualities) of different foods (satva, rajas, tamas). This complete alignment can help keep your body healthy and your mind alert and focused.

The diet encourages you to consume freshly cooked foods, eat your largest meal when your pitta/fire is at its peak (10am to 2pm), and allow the body to cleanse itself between 10pm and 2am.

Eating foods according to your dosha type will help balance your dominant dosha. It is said to improve digestion, leading to a stronger gut and less inflammation in the body. It is also known to increase energy levels and improve skin health.

Contributions from Sahiba Bhardwaj, nutritionist