Ayurvedic consultant Jacqui Gibbons

About me
"Having worked as a journalist for many years before I trained in ayurveda, I understand professional and office life first-hand, with its potential for stress and unhealthy habits to develop. This means I have practical, tried-and-tested solutions to help people in professional jobs treat their health complaints and live a healthier lifestyle. Living more healthily doesn’t mean you have to go and live on a hill! Through ayurveda and yoga you can find balance, have a busy urban life that you enjoy and be engaged with the modern world yet live more simply, happily and stress-free.

"I love ayurveda because it combines logical thinking and practical treatments with the spiritual aspect. Looking after the physical body alone will not give you complete health. You have to deal with how your mind is working and connect with your emotional and spiritual side if you are to find true health, contentment and peace within yourself."

Training
I have been practising ayurveda in London since 2008, and am registered with the Ayurvedic Practitioners Association (www.apa.uk.com). I trained and qualified in 2007-08 with Atreya Smith of the European Institute of Vedic Studies. Studies included ayurvedic anatomy, physiology, disease process, diagnosis, treatment and philosophy. Dr David Frawley's academic theory was combined with Atreya's 20 years of experience and his very practical training in diagnosis and treatment of patients.

In 2009 I did a year of further nutrition training with the school, and that December I left my full-time job (as an editor on the NHS Choices website) to study with Dr Sunil Joshi, one of the world's leading panchakarma experts, at his clinic, the Vinayak Ayurveda and Panchakarma Research Foundation in Nagpur, India. It was an intensive and inspirational three weeks, studying the clinical management of dosha. This expanded my knowledge of the disease process and treatment, particularly treatment of Vata dosha, and I learnt a number of physical therapies including Shirodhara. Dr Joshi's teachings from the ancient ayurvedic texts, and his own wealth of experience, gave me a more classical perspective on ayurveda, and a valuable insight into the workings of a busy Indian clinic. (Here I am  pictured on graduation day in Dr Joshi's clinic.) 

Yoga 
Yoga and ayurveda go hand-in hand. I believe that living ayurvedically, in tune with nature and yourself (and Self), also means practising yoga and striving to live by its principles. I have been practising and studying yoga for 10 years and it was through yoga that I discovered ayurveda. I have been teaching individuals and private groups since 2008. I continue my ongoing personal tuition with teachers in London and India and I'm hoping (if the universe and my resources provide!) to commence a further 200 hours teacher training in autumn 2012, leading to a formal qualification.
(That's me in my turquoise Goa pants, at Satsanga Retreat in Goa, 2010. Next to me in the orange is Kali Ray, an inspirational teacher)

Qualifications
♦ Ayurvedic Nutrition and Lifestyle Therapist, Levels 1 and 2 (each 450 hours): European Institute of Vedic Studies
♦ The Clinical Management of Dosha (200 hours): Vinayak Ayurveda and Panchakarma Research Foundation
♦ Ayurvedic Massage Therapist, Level 1: European Institute of Vedic Studies
♦ Anatomy & Physiology Diploma, level 3: VTCT 

Email jacqui@ayurvedatoday.co.uk
Twitter @JacquiAyurveda
Clinic Maitri Natural Health Centre, 252 Streatham High Road, London SW16
Conditions treated