In her early 20s, yoga training sparked a gradual succession of awakening moments during the years that followed for Christina Carlin, owner of the Ayurveda, Massage & Yoga Institute, in Naples. Carlin eventually found her way in a weekend adult education class to Ayurvedic lifestyle wisdom for preventing disease and living with vitality. “I went to a weekend course where a woman biologist delivered a course on Ayurveda, which translates as ‘the knowledge of life.’ I had already learned something about it from my yoga classes, and felt the information resonating with me. The class was so interesting that I knew it was something I really wanted to learn more about and to create a lifestyle around its principles for the remainder of my life,” says the native of Germany.

Carlin lives a holistic Ayurvedic lifestyle that aligns and connects her with nature, which is part of Ayurvedic wisdom. “Nature is part of you, there's no separation. Some people only live one part of it. They take herbs or they just meditate or practice yoga. Some just eat an Ayurvedic diet. My lifestyle encompasses all aspects of Ayurveda, and thus addresses body, mind and spirit, opening me to my own natural wholeness. Ayurvedic principles remind me that we are all self-healing creatures, and that we can maintain or regain good health by choosing healing foods, a balanced lifestyle and inner calm,” advises Carlin.

By practicing Ayurveda, Carlin learned that she should not do things just for herself. “I should do things to raise consciousness. A holistic lifestyle means I consider the environment and nature, and I don’t waste something just because I can. I respect our natural resources, the animal and plant kingdoms. I particularly love being in my gardens or in any natural environment. It’s where I feel such clarity,” she says.

Meditation is part of Carlin’s daily routine to maintain a clear mind. “Maintaining a clear mind, I make the right choices that not only affect me, but benefit others. With a clear mind when someone asks me for advice, I can give them a logical answer for their problem. I’m raising consciousness by talking to people about simple things, such as how I plant a garden that benefits all creatures without using pesticides, avoid wasting water, repurpose items that were produced using energy and valuable resources. I’m planting seeds in an individual’s consciousness. They start to think about the ideas and maybe make different decisions. It’s like role modeling,” she advises.

Carlin has been living a holistic lifestyle for more than 30 years and has integrated that lifestyle with her work as a professional massage therapist who specializes in highly individualized Ayurvedic treatments and yoga therapy. She also offers panchakarma and Ayurvedic skincare treatments, as well as lifestyle and health consultations. “It’s been a little-by-little process,” she says. “Over the years, life and work have come together and beautifully. It’s what I envisioned from the beginning.”

Ayurveda, Massage & Yoga Institute is located at 501 Goodlette Rd. N., Ste. A107, in Naples. Call 239-450-6903.