Viji Natarajan, founder of Divine Journey – The Union of Knowledge, Intuition, and Heart, is a dedicated women’s health expert and mentor. Her work integrates the ancient wisdom of Ayurvedic medicine, focusing on holistic wellness by treating the mind, body, and spirit as a unified whole. With a compassionate and understanding approach, Viji aims to help individuals achieve balance within themselves and with the world around them, fostering their happiest, healthiest, and most peaceful selves. Through her extensive experience and diverse expertise, Viji empowers women to navigate their wellness journeys and achieve optimal health. MysticMag had the opportunity to address some key points with Viji.
Viji, how can the Vedic sciences, including Jyotish (Vedic astrology), enhance our understanding of health and wellness, and how can they be integrated into modern Ayurvedic practices?
The Vedic sciences encompass ancient Indian knowledge systems from the Vedas, including Ayurveda (health and medicine), Jyotiṣa (astrology and astronomy), Vastu Shastra (architecture), and Yoga (spiritual and physical practices). These disciplines emphasize holistic well-being, integrating physical, mental, and spiritual health to harmonize the individual with the environment. The synergy of these sciences supports everyday life by creating balance with our surroundings and nature.
Integrating Vedic sciences into modern Ayurvedic practices involves using these ancient insights to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. By combining the detailed physical assessments of Ayurveda with insights from other Vedic sciences, I can create more comprehensive and individualized treatment plans. Jyotiṣa helps align treatments with an individual’s unique profile, Vastu creates a better healing environment, and Yoga and meditation practices aid in balancing the mind and body. This integration fosters a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between the body, mind, and cosmos, leading to more effective and harmonious health outcomes. Together, these Vedic disciplines offer a rich, multifaceted approach to health and wellness, deeply enhancing modern Ayurvedic practices.
How do you integrate Ayurvedic principles with modern science in your practice to address women’s health issues?
I’ve been fortunate to receive training across various traditions and modalities, allowing me to create a unified healing approach through Ayurveda. Ayurvedic principles, though often expressed simply, address the unique variances among individuals and consider the whole person. This includes what modern science refers to as genetics and epigenetics—heredity and external influences.
For instance, while Western medicine may treat hormonal imbalances with medication, Ayurveda explores dietary habits, lifestyle factors, and stress levels contributing to the imbalance. Many individuals suffer from mental health challenges and stressors, adding complexity to their physical health. By helping to unravel these issues and empowering clients with both physical and mental tools, Ayurveda facilitates natural and spontaneous healing on both levels.
Bringing awareness to clients about the interconnectedness of the mental, emotional, and physical planes of our existence and health through the integration of Ayurvedic principles fosters healing. By tailoring treatment plans to each person’s unique constitution (or dosha profile) and life circumstances, Ayurveda provides a more personalized and holistic approach to health, integrating healing on numerous levels.
Can you share a success story where your holistic approach helped a woman overcome a significant health challenge?
My practice focuses on women’s reproductive health, addressing various aspects of an individual’s wellness as they traverse life stages. One memorable case involved a woman in her early 30s who had struggled for 10 years to conceive. After multiple unsuccessful fertility treatments, including IUI and IVF, she was told by her doctor that she would never get pregnant. Desperate, she came to me. I conducted a comprehensive analysis of her overall health—mental, physical, emotional, and interpersonal. Based on this, I provided a personalized plan involving dietary change, specialized herbal supplements including dietary herbs and reproductive tonics like Shatavari, stress reduction techniques like pranayama, yoga and meditation, and ongoing coaching to navigate internal roadblocks for proper body functioning. Within 2.5 months, she was pregnant. This approach has helped numerous clients, including a woman with daily uterine bleeding and another who hadn’t menstruated in three years. In both cases, tailored Ayurvedic treatments and lifestyle modifications led to significant improvements within a few months.
What are the key differences between your Ayurvedic Healing Program and traditional Western medical treatments for conditions like hormonal imbalances or chronic pain?
The Ayurvedic Healing Program is a robust engagement where the root cause of health issues is identified, a plan is developed to address the underlying issue(s) and a client is supported in its implementation and the changes that occur in the body and mind. For example, with hormonal imbalances, we delve into why and how these imbalances occurred. Addressing the root cause prevents the problem from recurring, unlike Western medicine, which often focuses on symptomatic relief only and causes lifetime dependance upon medications. This is often done by addressing penultimate steps in biological transformations that have become faulty. We create biomimetics and other substances foreign to the body to replace it. While functional medicine claims to go to the root, it only differs with its pharmaceutical counterpart by providing a plethora of “natural supplements,” for these faulty biological pathways.
Ayurveda examines the body’s environment, addresses why our body is not functioning properly by addressing the creation and genesis of these pathways. It focuses on building the resilience and strength of the body to heal itself and promote long-term health. While this may take longer, we are addressing the causative nature rather than applying a dependent band aid. For chronic pain, Ayurvedic treatments might include personalized herbal remedies, Panchakarma detoxification therapies, and specific dietary adjustments to reduce inflammation, rather than just prescribing painkillers. This holistic approach not only alleviates symptoms but also empowers individuals to maintain their well-being proactively.
How does the concept of ‘Mathru Devo Bhavah’ influence your philosophy and approach to women’s health and well-being?
‘Mathru Devo Bhavah’ translates to ‘Mother is Divine.’ I believe the nurturing qualities of motherhood exist within all of us, regardless of gender. Whether we are mothers to a physical child or not, we must nurture and support the child within ourselves. By honoring this aspect, we recognize the divine spark within and can give importance and priority to our wellbeing. Supporting our health is essential for functioning optimally in life and for others. In my practice, this is the lens through which I see and serve my clients. I strive to understand each person, help them reach their potential and build a healthy relationship with their body and mind. From this mindset and using personalized Ayurvedic practices like Abhyanga (self-massage with warm oils), clients connect with and care for their bodies, fostering a deeper sense of self-love and respect.
In your experience, how does personalized Ayurvedic treatment impact women’s overall life satisfaction and long-term health?
There is immense satisfaction in feeling well and harnessing our inner energy to achieve life goals. While we share common human experiences, our individual differences are as unique as our fingerprints. Personalized Ayurvedic treatment empowers individuals by providing a deep understanding of themselves, fostering control over their health. For example, understanding one’s innate dosha profile can help tailor dietary and lifestyle choices that enhance vitality and prevent illness. This individualized approach honors their unique journey, making them feel heard and understood. By teaching and empowering clients, they can make informed decisions and troubleshoot health issues both in the short and long term. This not only improves their physical health but also enhances their mental and emotional well-being, leading to greater overall life satisfaction.
If you would like to find out more about Divine Journey, please visit https://www.divinejourney.me/
