Ancient Wisdom, Mediterranean Shores: Ayurveda Day Comes to Cyprus

Image: High Commission of India in Cyprus (@indiacyprus)

For many of us, Ayurveda means Dadi's haldi doodh, a jar of chyawanprash or a massage oil from home. At the High Commission of India in Nicosia, Ayurveda Day 2026 was a chance to look at the bigger idea behind those habits, with Indian and Cypriot guests celebrating together.

Staying well, not just getting well

High Commissioner Mr Manish described Ayurveda as a system built around prevention: keeping body, mind and nature in balance so that illness is less likely in the first place. He placed it alongside Yoga, Unani and India's other traditional systems, grouped under AYUSH, and argued that this mix of approaches has something useful to add as the world thinks harder about preventive health.

His central point was a simple one: good health is something you practise every day, through the choices you make, rather than just the state of not being sick.

A session on calm

The evening also featured Swami Jyotirmayah, the meditation teacher from the Art of Living, who led a yoga and wellbeing session. His focus was practical: how to stay mindful, keep your inner balance and handle the stress that comes with busy modern lives.

What this means for you

You don't need a special occasion to borrow a little of that thinking. A few easy places to start:

• Keep a rhythm: regular meals and a steady sleep time do more than most supplements.
• Move and breathe: ten minutes of yoga or slow breathing before work, or a walk by the sea in the evening.
• Eat with the season: Cyprus markets are full of fresh, local produce that suits a balanced Indian diet.
• Switch off before bed: a screen-free half hour, a warm drink and a few slow breaths help the body settle for sleep.

Want to try yoga with others? Indian missions around the world, including the High Commission in Nicosia, hold free events around the International Day of Yoga on 21 June each year. It's a friendly way to start, whatever your age or fitness.

Herbal remedies can interact with other medicines, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before trying something new.

Read also: Masala Meets Mediterranean: 7 Easy Food Swaps for Indians Living in Cyprus and Running on Two Time Zones: Burnout and Stress When You're an Indian Abroad

Source: High Commission of India in Cyprus (@indiacyprus) on Instagram