As long ago as 1979 in India the Ayurvedic Vaidya Raman Das Mahatyagi conceived the idea of a truly integrated and comprehensive healthcare system based on carefully selected elements from five different sources:
Yoga Ayurveda Tantra Astrology Naturopathy
Hence the name YATAN. Raman Das brought this concept with him to Australia in the year 2000. In April 2012 the centre took over brand new premises in Gordon, NSW, where it is fully equipped to provide a complete range of Ayurvedic treatments and programs.
YOGA is the Vedic science of self-realization. A state of greater spiritual insight and tranquillity are attained through postures, breathing exercises (pranayama) and meditation disciplines. It is a way to rejuvenate, to promote nutrient flow through the body, to restore flexibility, and to coordinate our systems by repairing old and damaged pathways and creating new ones.
AYURVEDA literally means knowledge (Veda) of life (Ayu). At more than 5,000 years of age it can justifiably be regarded as the oldest system of medicine. Ayurveda recognizes that each individual has a unique constitution physically, organically and mentally as a result of his or her unique blend of components of the three ‘doshas’. Illness is seen as an imbalance of these doshas, sometimes caused by lifestyle or dietary factors and sometimes by external influences, such as climate or seasonal changes. Much emphasis is placed on the need for a strong digestive ‘fire’ (Agni) as, if it is weak, there will be a build up of toxic waste (Ama) which ultimately results in illness. There is also attention to daily routines that will help to maintain physical, mental and emotional health.
TANTRA goes beyond medicine. Good health and longevity are achieved by living in harmony with the natural forces that surround us. Tantra teaches us how to work with these energies at a subtle level; it enables us to unleash the power of the mind and access the ‘black box’ that contains the tools to fulfil our desires.
ASTROLOGY involves the realization that good health and illness, fortune good and bad, positive and negative emotions are all influenced by the planets and their positions. Everybody is seen to have a unique biorhythmic pattern. Ways exist to neutralise the detrimental influences – the bad Karma – and utilise the beneficial forces to the best effect.
NATURE provides us with opportunities to heal using the natural resources that surround us, at no cost. For example, we can treat vitamin D deficiency with the sun’s rays, but we need to know the safe way; we can release the electrical charges to which our bodies have been subjected by grounding ourselves on the dewy grass in the early morning. Nature has provided us with many effective tools, often forgotten due to the hectic pace of modern life.