New shop lights the holistic path to stress-free living

By DAVE SCHWAB

Vajra Living is doing more than carrying holistic products. It's advocating a lifestyle, a philosophy, a more natural way of coping with stress in today's fast-paced world.

The new boutique at 7556-G Fay Ave. retails holistic products such as Ayurvedic herbs, bath and body oils, meditation tools, ethnic clothes including Pashmina shawls, gems, chai and teas, incenses, jewelry and crystals needed for the well being of the mind, body and spirit.

Ayurveda in Asian Indian philosophy is a 5,000-year-old wisdom of life and healing. It is a holistic science, the goal of which is to completely balance body, mind and spirit, including the emotions and psychology. The discipline is practiced through use of herbs, diet, exercise, yoga, massage and meditation.

"It's an ancient Indian way of life, preventative health," said Shazia Jabeen, who co-owns the boutique along with husband Bharat Gogia. "It is the only store in San Diego that sells Ayurvedic products."

The boutique's name, Vajra, is a Sanskrit term meaning the indestructible and brilliance like the diamond or mighty one. Its symbol, the eternal knot, stands for the impenetrable, immovable, immutable, indivisible and indestructible aspect of the spirit.

Gogia, who's been studying eastern methods of healing for 15 years, came to San Diego because it's one of the few places where one can practice holistic health as a profession.

"I and my wife started working with holistic health," he said, "and we thought about adding a store for the products."

Jabeen said two different kinds of people walk into their boutique.

"People who know exactly what they want and know a lot about Ayurvedic," she said, "and people who don't know what it is and I have to explain. I'm very patient to share the knowledge about how herbs work, about its being a way of life. I encourage people to ask me questions."

One satisfied patron of Vajra Living is Penny Handscomb. She's been impressed by the couple's grasp of their business and commitment to spreading the philosophy of Ayurveda.

"It is Bharat's passion," she noted. "It comes through in his knowledge. It's a lifestyle change for people, more stress-free."

Another Vajra Living patron, Cathy Aborn of University Town Center, said the boutique's owners are good natured and helpful.

"I have a book on Ayurvedic home remedies," she said, "and they have a variety of herbal remedies you can take for everything from acne to back pain to stomach ailments. They have a listing of herbs that I've never heard of before. Vajra Living was able to order some of the herbs for me, and it was very convenient. It's nice to have a store nearby where you can find hard-to-get herbal remedies."

Handscomb believes those who grew up with the western tradition of medicine can benefit from the alternative philsophies.

"I'm not suggesting we leave the western side," she said, "but we can have better balance using some of the techniques the East brings to the table, like yoga, herbs and meditation. There's something there to offer people that can be used in combination with everything we have."

Lining the walls of Vajra Living are products that captivate the mind, cure the body and uplift the spirit. Immediately to the left of the door is a rack of Pashmina shawls. Next to it is a collection of small Buddha statues becoming increasingly popular in interior home design. One shelf features esoteric Ayurvedic books that can't be found over the Internet. Following is a collection of chai and teas. Then come bottles containing capsulized herbal remedies used in treating common maladies. Continuing on are lines of Ayurvedic bath, skin and hair products.

Many of the products sold at Vajra Living are made by Gogia at home using organic ingredients.

Jabeen said she and Gogia were drawn to eastern philosophies after being overexposed to the corporate world.

"I left corporate America because I didn't like that pace of life," she said. "We're selling a lifestyle and a philsophy, doing everything possible so people can nourish themselves. Our goal in doing all this is that we can lead less stressful lives and find time for ourselves. We wouldn't be open if we were just selling the products. I could do clothing or jewelry. But, our whole focus is helping people."

Gogia is still a part of the corporate world, working for Proflowers.com. He wants to gradually transition into a more eastern lifestyle.

"The way we are going as a society," he said, "is using more and more technology moving with more and more speed. The whole idea is we have to have a balance with the speed and the technology. Real stress is hurting your health. We're trying to find how to run society with high proficiency, yet learn ways of dealing with the stress. The principles of eastern philosophy are that we work as a system, and you cannot solve the problems by just breaking down the system. You have to look at the whole system. When you balance the system, I think you reach a point where you become more human."

Vajra Living's grand opening is Aug. 7-8 from noon to 6 p.m. There will be a 10-percent discount on all merchandise.

Business hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m Wednesday, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday.

For more information, call (858) 454-2281.