Understanding Ayurveda

Ayurveda is hot (or pitta, in Ayurvedaspeak) right now. We talk to Tania Bardhan about the 5,000-year-old holistic healing system, and how to work its magic into your daily life

- Coco Marett

At the age of 17, Tania Bardhan was introduced to Ayurvedic astrology by her grandfather. “He was a brilliant mathematician and educator,” she recalls. “He had a deep interest in astrology, and he showed me that it wasn’t just about looking to the stars and foreseeing the future; it was about math and science, and you had to get your calculations right.”

Ayurveda’s growing influence in the world of wellness is hard to miss, as the healing system spreads its ancient roots to spa treatments, yoga studios, skincare products and even stylish teas. Last year, New York City It-man and frequent Wes Anderson collaborator Waris Ahluwalia introduced House of Waris Botanicals, a collection of teas and elixirs that draw heavily on Ayurvedic principles.

“We’re creating blends that give us the chance to be better,” Ahluwalia said from his Lower East Side studio just before the launch. “They address some very human needs: love, sleep, immunity, digestion, detox, clarity and beauty.”