Pictured. Sundara Health Retreat
Ayurveda has carved a growing niche within the Australian beauty, health and wellness spheres in recent years. Growing up in an Indian family in Australia, some of my eating habits and DIY skincare rituals were anchored by this ancient practice, even if I didn’t consciously realise it.Â
We simply placed innate trust in Mother Nature and our mothers’ words when they mixed turmeric and chickpea flour with rosewater to help fight pimples. It worked like a charm, taking its time to show effect.
Modern time and record keeping trace Ayurveda’s creation to roughly 5,000 years ago in India. The science was communicated orally from ascetic gurus to their disciples before beginning to be documented and preserved for future generations.
What is Ayurveda?
Translated from Sanskrit to ‘the study of life,’ Ayurveda is a natural and holistic form of medicine that considers all aspects of an individual’s health and wellbeing. According to Ayurveda, our health depends on the perfect balance between the mind, body, environment and spirit.
It’s inevitable to get caught up in the ongoing rollercoaster of everyday life, to fulfil external expectations, wear many hats and tick every box. Eventually, this vortex can spin out of control and our bodies force us to halt.
It is common knowledge that our bodies are made from water. Ayurveda equally considers the other four elements to be a part of our unique bodily mix: space, air, fire and earth. These five elements collectively form life forces, known as doshas, which anchor the medical practice:
- Vata: space and air
- Pitta: fire and water
- Kapha: water and earth
Let’s think of this approach as a domino effect. If one of these doshas is slightly imbalanced, the others are in upheaval too. An Ayurvedic professional analyses your condition or issue by ascertaining which of your doshas is off-balance, and works to bring them in tandem once again.
Ayurveda In Australia
Ayurveda is one of India’s many gifts to Australia. With increasing awareness and knowledge of the usages of turmeric, saffron and ashwagandha, to name a few ‘trendy’ key ingredients, history has been brought to the forefront of modern medicinal practices.
As a relatively new country brimming with multiculturalism, Australians are receptive to this ancient wisdom, perceived as new and promising knowledge. Australian consumers have gradually inclined themselves towards natural beauty, which subsequently flows into health and wellness practices.
There are a number of wellness treatments, consultation opportunities and therapies available all around the country, with the Australian government recognising Ayurvedic programs for local students. Among the jargon-ridden wellness landscape comprising words such as green, organic, vegan or plant-based, Ayurveda stands as it always has been: unfiltered and pure.
Australia is also home to an open mindset of discussing mental and emotional health, which is often brushed under the carpet in some Eastern cultures. As Ayurveda also assesses bodily conditions through the lens of the emotions, treatments include recommended changes in behaviour, attitude and thoughts.
With companies constantly vying for the number one position in the health and wellness space, Ayurveda has become a silent yet steady achiever. Valued at over $175.09 million in 2024, the Australian Ayurvedic herbs market is expected to grow by 11% between 2025 and 2034. Cultivated with minimal environmental degradation, sustainable agriculture is another pillar of Ayurvedic medicines.
Long-term benefits of Ayurveda
Ayurvedic treatments address the root of health conditions, rather than offering band-aid solutions. Its compatibility with the human body is unmatched; many remedies are derived from natural ingredients found within the earth and our own bodies. Another feather to its cap is its medicinal independence, which won’t interfere with ongoing medications, treatments or therapies.
Ayurvedic consultation centres in Australia
While you could hop on a flight to India and immerse yourself in the roots of this ancient practice, if international travel isn’t on your 2025 agenda, you can also find holistic wellness on your doorstep with these Ayurvedic retreats and centres around Australia.
Keeping Ayurveda at the core of your experience, enjoy traditional treatments with modern additions; reiki healing, yoga classes and meditation.
- Venture away from urban life in Ayurveda Village, a health retreat nestled in Adelaide Hills
- Spruce up your sun-soaked adventures a little bit more at Sundara – an retreat and healing centre along the Sunshine Coast (pictured above)
- Who said Daylesford is Victoria’s only spa centre? Make a stop within Macedon Ranges at Maiveda – a wellness and spa retreat in Kyneton
- Travel north of the infamous town of Byron Bay to the more tranquil Ocean Shores and visit Vital Veda, an Ayurvedic clinic
- Let’s not forget the perpetually sun-kissed Perth, where you can let your hair down at Ayurveda Awareness Centre – a wellness retreat and learning centre
