The Truth Behind Real Beauty
Total Beauty -- The Ayurvedic Way
Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder and although a good physical appearance is an immediate attraction, true and total beauty unfolds from an inner source that is rooted in our chakra system. This endless source of beauty, inner peace and strength emanates from five harmonious and integrated layers: spiritual, emotional, mental, sensorial and the physical or external. Their ability to make micro- and macro- transformations generates total harmony within and without the sheaths realigning proper functioning of the entire organism.
Modern technology is quite adept at addressing skin-deep beauty with highly sophisticated and effective topical applications. Ayurveda, however, avers that true beauty care should scratch beyond the surface and all distinct, yet parallel aspects should be addressed with the ultimate objective being the experience of total beauty.
Spiritual Beauty
Spiritual Beauty is the first and the subtlest level in terms of material expression. 
Chakras, which influence the way our minds and bodies function, respond to the positive attention given to us by ourselves or from others by harmonizing and opening up to radiate happiness. These chakras or lotuses are the connections between the energy body and the physical body and are connected to our pranic life force through the spine. This energetic quality of the chakras, prana, is a purely subtle vibration and is the source of our life energy. Each chakra distributes impulses that impact the entire body and has a distinct color, sound and form.
Spiritual beauty resides in the heart chakra, which, when harmonized, creates an aura that is visible through spiritually discerning eyes. When this heart lotus is in full bloom, the light emanating from its center travels through specific pranic channels to access the mind (manas). The mind is then synchronized with or is on the same wavelength as the heart and induces a state called yoga nidra, a deep restful state of intense self-healing. When heart and mind are thus connected through this ‘light’, its glow radiates through the individual’s entire physiology, particularly the face, and is immediately perceptible to the naked eye.
We might think that “spiritual beauty” pertains to proper moral and ethical behavior or psychological qualities of the heart and mind, but in fact, it displays its presence through the awakening and balance of the heart chakra, from whence it displays a concrete presence.
What happens if the petals of the heart lotus close, shutting in the beauty of the gem? When the heart lotus closes in, it casts a gloomy shadow; a gray lack-luster countenance. Heart and mind are then “out of sync,” and antagonistic to each other, tearing at and attempting to lead the individual down its own path creating division that leads to emotional instability and anxiety.
When we are out of sync, we do not feel safe and at ease in our bodies. Television, movies and magazines further erode our self-confidence as our concept of beauty becomes distorted and remolded. As we compare ourselves with others our self-image becomes more disturbed and what we see in the mirror is not good enough; the more uncomfortable we feel, the more shortcomings we discover. We then become shy and insecure about our looks, our height, and our figure and no longer experience our body temple as a source of feeling, pleasure, adventure and security, developing instead feelings of hollowness as our sense of self-worth; self-respect and self-love plummet and we exaggerate the importance of outer beauty to compensate. The mind has assumed mastery.
Meditation, group singing or listening to and chanting devotional songs and prayers, or uplifting music and dancing vibrationally awakens the heart lotus, restoring harmony and a radiant glow to the expression. Chakra Balancing, a meditative technique offered at Body Essentials Spa, allows the mind to delve into the deeper silent layers of Being and is a sure way to enliven the spirit. Mind and heart are realigned through the enunciation of specific sounds, hand gestures (mudras), and the subtle yet powerful energy of aromatherapy and gemstones will transform the entire physiology at its very core.
On a more concrete level, a healthy daily routine must be followed with discipline. A nutritionally balanced diet that is freshly prepared and served in a settled, loving environment and properly consumed will also nourish the heart lotus and strengthen the heart-mind connection. In contrast, a poor diet or routine will interfere with the vibrations through the interruption of its frequencies, and one will exhibit gloom, sadness and depression, and feel emotionally overwhelmed.
Emotional Beauty
Emotional beauty results from the emotional peace that ensues from the proper processing of one’s thoughts and daily emotional life experiences. These memories are collected and stored in meaningful “bytes” in the heart. A balanced daily routine that keeps the pitta dosha (the body’s transformative energy) in check will help maintain the source of emotional peace, sadhak pitta, a sub-dosha of pitta. If an individual tends to be emotionally fragile, again, maintaining a proper diet that is nurturing to the heart chakra is imperative. It is also crucial to maintain proper protein intake and never skip or delay meals, as this tends to aggravate the pitta dosha immediately affecting the sadhak pitta that registers and carries the memory of present and past life experiences within it. The “flame” residing in the heart, sadhak agni, is the function that processes thoughts and emotions. If this flame is too high, then no matter what the registered situation or experience, it will burn up, and the individual will respond in an overly emotional, angry or aggressive manner. If the flame is too low, then one will be unable to process the incoming thoughts and experiences properly, and will display a lack of enthusiasm.
Mental Beauty
Mental beauty is considered to be the third layer or sheath of beauty and depends upon the optimal functioning of the intellect—the acquisition of knowledge, its storage and retention and the ability to recall or recollect. These three functions of the intellect have to be strong and maintain constant communication amongst themselves in order for an individual to have good mental powers. A strong intellect ensures that the mind (manas), the host of the intellect, is stable enough to receive the light of the heart chakra. When this light imbues the mind, the intellect is able to adopt the proper stance in the face of hardships and stressful conditions or events. Otherwise, in its absence the difficulties that assail us will show up on the physiology in the form of wrinkles on the face, dullness of expression, and associated emotional turbulence.
Sensorial Beauty
Beyond “mental beauty” lies a yet more concrete layer, that of the senses. The five human senses establish our connection to our world, and supply our minds and hearts with all types of information – wanted and unwanted! This sensitivity is an essential aspect of human existence.
Each sense is related to a key organ and none can be in balance if any is experiencing hardships. With the sense of touch, the organ is the skin, and it functions as a conduit for information from the outside by transferring signals to the brain through countless nerve endings. This information is then transformed in the emotional center, the heart, to impact feelings. The sense of touch thrives on healthy skin and proper tactile sensitivity depends on healthy nerve endings that carry the messages from the skin surface to the processing centers of the nervous system.
Physical Beauty
Last but not least is “physical/external beauty” which is the sum total of and strengthened by inner beauty care. It is the aspect of beauty we tend to focus on exclusively in western society.
While “spiritual beauty” may be the “source” of beauty, the physical body is its temple and expression. A beautiful appearance can be maintained through the proper care of the physical body–regular exercise, good diet, balanced sleep/rest and work routine. Professional massage therapy, supported by at-home self-massage, helps us to get and stay in touch with our bodies. As a professional therapist works the deeper layers, deep-seated, unresolved emotions are released from the connective tissue, restoring the flow or energy to the benefit of the entire constitution and physiology.
One of the most essential aspects of physical beauty is again the skin, the sensory organ of touch. While stature and overall dimensions are more or less permanent genetic givens, it is possible to enhance the quality of skin and retard the aging process with the proper care and herbal supplements. Ayurveda boasts a long list of highly prized herbs for every skin condition and its care including herbs that help stimulate collagen synthesis and the skin’s overall healing and regenerative powers.
There are herbs that:
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The appropriate balance between the nurturing and the detoxifying aspects of the skin is the key to good ayurvedic skin care. Many skin problems result from disharmony between self and the environment and there are many herbs that support the skin so that it can quickly and efficiently adapt to environmental changes. For example, in the wintertime, the skin needs to be able to adapt to dramatic weather changes frequently and with rapidity--from the external cold air to the dryness of climate controlled interiors; constant changes that damage the skin.
Another important way that herbs assist healthy skin is through their detoxifying action. 
Often times, instead of releasing and evacuating toxic waste, the skin will retain them. When this toxicity is not immediately discharged it becomes virulent. This could be from a heavy undigested meal or a poor diet that creates toxic acidity. Environmentally toxins emanating from synthetic and/or chemical fumes and cleaning products, lead paint, etc. can accumulate in the skin slowly wreaking their deleterious effects and taking years to generate symptoms. These accelerate the aging process by interfering with proper oxygenation and alkalinity levels and creating internal inflammatory responses.
Using unadulterated, natural, and organic skin-care products is very beneficial for the health and beauty of the skin. While synthetic additives help prolong a products shelf life through their anti-microbial effect, they also nullify the beneficial action of the herbs. In addition, these chemicals tend to get absorbed just as readily as the herbal extracts and destroy the “friendly bacteria” within the skin. Absorption through the sense of smell is just as dangerous as the fumes intrude upon the pranic channels between the mind and the heart, adversely affecting the subtle sheaths: the spiritual, emotional, and mental layers. Synthetic aromas found in low cost scented products act as harsh chemical preservatives and are best avoided. Our Organic and Ayurvedic skin care products are carefully selected with your long-term health, beauty and wellness in mind.
An added factor in today's toxic environment is the electromagnetic radiation that plagues our society. Electromagnetic radiation emanates from electrical devices such as televisions, cellular phones, computers, etc., and damages the tactile nerve endings in the skin, distorting the messages sent to the brain and triggering inappropriate responses.
Total Beauty
While all five levels of beauty must be addressed individually in order to have total beauty, it is important to give particular attention to the source--spiritual beauty--the impulse-generator of life itself and the physical body, the expression and foundation upon which all else rests. There can be no beauty without the physical body, and total beauty emanates when we are spiritually disciplined; and physically, emotionally and mentally balanced. 
Activities that can maintain and enhance physical beauty include: proper nutrition and detoxification of the skin and body; environmental care, proper breathing, yoga, meditation and professional therapies.
To accomplish this, keep your life in balance. Imbalance occurs from poor eating habits, insufficient sleep, mental and emotional stress, and a daily routine that is not in sync with the natural biological rhythms of our bodies. Since vata, the air element and principle of all movement, is at the root of most imbalances it is important to be primarily monitored and addressed. This is achieved by establishing a regular routine, warmth and quietude, eating mainly warm, cooked, vata -reducing wholesome foods, drinking plenty of warm fluids, performing daily self-massage (abhyanga) to calm your nerves and soothe dry skin and regular professional therapies that are nurturing, warming, moisturizing, calming, and grounding. Pitta is balanced by moderation. Resting the nervous system through decreased stimulation (such as by avoiding TV, computer and telephone after 9:00 p.m.), never skipping or delaying meals, coolness, and maintaining balance between rest and activity. Kapha is balanced by arising early each morning, stimulation, weight control, warmth, dryness, reduced sweetness and exercise, exercise, exercise.
These recommendations help eliminate and prevent blockages in our systems which result from toxic waste, called ama, that builds up in our tissues from poor diet and weak digestion. Poorly digested food travels through the bloodstream and eventually lodges in narrow passageways, blocking the transfer of nutrients and hormones to our cells. According to Ayurveda, the disease process ensues from this poor digestive capability (low agni)) and is the single most important factor in the build up of ama. Balancing agni includes eating meals on schedule, proper food combining, the use of digestive herbs and spices and the elimination of cold foods and drinks. Healthy agni will also contribute to healthy ojas, the most refined and subtle essence of the physical body. When fully activated, ojas, the "bliss factor" goes beyond good health to keep our bodies fully immune against disease and is key to perfect health and beauty, as well as to balanced emotions and spiritual development. Pancha karma, the Ayurvedic deep internal cleansing procedure, can also be utilized to eliminate ama and restore balance to the body.
Total beauty thus, naturally requires time and devotion to spirit and self. As the new year approaches and we continue in its quest, let us not only resolve to, but actually create islands of time to once again delight in this very important pursuit.