Namaste! Thank you for your keen interest to know about me! I am Vaidya Shefali, an Ayurvedic Physician practicing since 8 years, first under the guidance of my teacher and then by myself.
Vd. Shefali, Ayurvedic Physician & Founder of Kaivalyawellnesshub.com
My journey into Ayurveda, Yoga, and Spirituality started as a teenager, when various weeds/herbs growing around me were understood as medicines. This was also the time when I was introduced to the philosophy of co-existentialism, allowing me to look at everything around me as being in harmony.
That’s when my family imbibed these universal but ‘new ideas’ in our life. And so, as these ideas began to sprout, I decided to formally do B.A.M.S. after my 12th grade, in Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune.
After my college course, I spent 1.5yrs with my Guru, Vaidyaraj A. Nagraj ji in Amarkantak, M.P., India. This beautiful opportunity to learn Naadi Pariksha (the science of pulse reading), Aushadhi Nirmaan (medicine formation) and to live with his whole family was a turning point in my life. Vaidyaraj A. Nagraj ji is from an 800yr old tradition of Ayurveda, and he has propounded the philosophy of Co-existentialism or Madhyasth Darshan.
My stay was an eye-opening, and a spiritually, emotionally and mentally uplifting process.
Process of Learning Naadi Pariksha
First 6 months, my teacher explained to me the significance of Naadi, and built the confidence in me that I could learn the pulse reading too.
Thereafter, I started observing several Naadis at different times of the day, of many people and documenting it. Along with this, I observed a ‘healthy normal naadi’ of one person, as told by my teacher for one month. After having understood a healthy normal Naadi, the unhealthy Naadis’ started to make sense. Thus, with my teacher, I observed the naadis of patients having diabetes, kidney disorders and failure, cancer of various kinds, muscular dystrophy and many more illnesses.
This is how I learned the skill of Naadi Pariksha, and I continue to learn and develop my skills in Naadi, by seeing patient’s symptoms and recording the new rhythms I observe.
After several enlightening discussions and many Naadis that I saw in 1.5yrs, I started my practice in Kashi.
My Ayurveda practice in Kashi
In 2015 I started my clinic and made several of my medicines, in a low socio-economic area of Kashi, where I had the opportunity to see cases of addiction, kidney stones, small children, and anemia in women. Gradually I became the family physician of many such families and started a small educational session with a library for the children of the community, in the evenings. With this small step, more parents connected with me, and so I was able to talk with many mothers of these children, on how they can introduce healthy simple foods in their family. Along with this, I used Panchkarma for treating people from nearby villages.
This 2 year experience gave me confidence in Naadi Pariksha, implementing cost effective Ayurveda, Panchkarma, counselling, and bringing awareness in the community.
My experiences and learnings, across India
I traveled across India to understand and observe the different healthcare systems prevalent in the country. I visited tribal areas, villages and metropolitan cities in this process, and interacted with many wonderful Vaidyas.
- Vd. Suresh Jhakotia ji near Vijayawada: Here, I got the confidence that cultivation of herbs can be done effectively and a vaidya can be self-reliant in his/her medicines.
- Vd. Savithri ji, Bangalore: From her experiences I understood that every young vaidya can be nurtured to be well grounded in the fundamentals of Ayurveda and also be of strong character.
- Darshan Shankar ji, FRLHT Bangalore: Through him, I saw a larger vision for healthcare of India and the possibility of Integration of all medical sciences.
- Ruchi & Sanjil ji, IWC Hyderabad- Through this couple, dedicated to the practice and teaching of Pranic Healing and Yoga, I saw how several families were not just becoming disease-free, but being nurtured to be ‘Healers & Yoga teachers’ also. Hence, they are helping in transforming families and the community around them to be fearless, aware and responsible.
- Dr. Vijayakrishnan, Natural Birthing Center, The Sanctum, Hyderabad: I met and saw her deal with my sister’s pregnancies with friendliness and firmness, such that the birthing experience is a ‘sacred empowering experience’.
- Vd. Ravishankar Parvje, Sushruta Hospital, Puttur- This is a 40 bedded hospital, dealing with acute and chronic cases of Paralysis, Tamak shwas, tumors, Kshaar sootra using the principles of Ayurveda. Parvje Sir’s understanding of the human body is such that he is able to balance the perspectives of Modern science along with Ayurveda. He is also able to make his own medicines. My greatest learning here was in understanding Ayurveda better and seeing its multiple possibilities.
- Working in JSS Hospital, near Bilaspur- I volunteered here for 3 months where I learnt honest scientific temperament in the implementation of modern science and learnt systematic well-documented team work.
Ayurveda for My Family
With my parent’s support, I was able to implement Ayurveda generously at home in our daily routine, from providing support or treating my family members’ small children, my parents, and grandparents, to my sisters’ pregnancies. As a result of these experiences, I believe that Ayurveda has huge potential in empowering the health of families, and communities too.
Ayurveda Education for Children
Aside from treatment, I have also been engaged in developing a health curriculum for children and have conducted several workshops on empowering children through activities.
My Journey as a Counselor
When I was undergoing my schooling in Hyderabad, in a school based on J. Krishnamurti’s philosophy, I was able to imbibe the methods of observing, listening, and analysing without being judgemental.
During my college days too, as I practised being a listener, I became many people’s emotional caretaker, and was seen as someone who was ‘ready to help’ in any situation.
I was also able to use a woundless process of dialogue to come out of tough moments in my life, which let me develop the confidence that such a process can happen for others too, and each person can be empowered.
With my continuous pursuit to evolve myself in every dimension, I also became a meditator and a certified Pranic Healer that I found not only enriched my life, but also facilitated in the psychotherapy of my patients.
With these life practices and understandings, I also conduct online Ayurveda Awareness courses to nurture the understanding of Ayurveda in our society.
With the grace of wonderful Gurus upholding the universal principles and my supporting family and friends, I am in the process of sharing and caring.
Ready for a healthy life?
