How I discovered Ayurveda
I first discovered Ayurveda when working for Aveda as a skin specialist. I was around 22 years of age and enthusiastic to learn how Ayurveda was used to help treat specific skin concerns, whilst treating internal imbalances.
Aveda is influenced by Ayurveda and adopts many of it’s philosophies. They embrace the use of botanical substances while protecting the beauty of the earth. Their skin and spa treatments include Ayurvedic inspired rituals. Consultations would take a holistic approach, treating the person as a whole, helping to work towards balance for your specific dosha - these are energies that reside inside of us.
The terminology Vata, Pitta, Kapha (collectively known as your energies/doshas) and Agni (your digestive fire) were terms that were used regularly (we will come on to what they are in a moment) they literally captivated me right from the start. I continued to learn and put into practice these teachings and still continue to learn today.
I remember it being an abundance of information to digest, however, the more I studied this system and the more I practiced it in my own daily life and within professional treatments, the more I began to understand how it worked.
I still apply what I learnt then to how I feel today, in particular how my body responds to certain things like stress, seasonal changes and internal and external imbalances.
What is it & where does it originate from?
“Life Knowledge“
Combining the Sanskrit words ‘ayur’ meaning life and ‘veda’ meaning science or knowledge, this 5,000 year old ancient healing system originates from India. It is viewed as a naturalistic practice of health and medicine that is still strongly recognised and practiced today.
According to Dr Deepak Chopra, there are two main guiding principles in Ayurveda. 1. “The mind and the body are inextricably connected”
2. “Nothing has more power to heal and transform the body than the mind”
Taking a ‘wholistic’ approach when treating ones imbalances is vital for the body and mind to work in unity and harmony. Becoming conscious of the ways in which we treat ourselves is paramount to how we can strive towards an intuitive state of balance.
Ayurveda Lifestyle Practices
Throughout our lives we can come into contact with a variety of situations that can effect our health and stress levels. Overtime, these imbalances can lead to a disorder and then manifest into dis-ease, internally and externally if balance is not resumed.
Yoga, meditation, abundant restful sleep, eating a diet that includes sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter and astringent qualities, are just a handful of ways you can start to live an Ayurvedic inspired lifestyle.
What are doshas?
Nature plays an integral part to the elemental foundations of Ayurveda, especially when we start to talk about doshas. Doshas are thought of as our mind-body type and possess energy like qualities which we were born with. This is known as Prakruti ~ your own unique combination of the 3 doshas. Your Prakruti can then become imbalanced through internal and external factors, this is then known as Vikruti. When you visit an Ayurvedic Practitioner they will usually go through a consultation with you to determine what your Vikruti is and inform and advise you in ways to promote balance.
Any or all of the three doshas can become imbalanced at any time, this will show as your current Vikruti. The doshas are what intrigued me most and are a key pillar to the Ayurvedic teachings. This is what I will be looking at explaining first.
Below you will find a brief overview of each of the doshas;
The Vata Dosha
Vata in Sanskrit translates to mean wind “that which moves things”
Elements: Space and Air
Qualities/Characteristics: light, dry, rough, cold, movement, energetic
Skin Characteristics: dry, thin/delicate, small pores, lack sebum, fine lines and ageing can prevail quicker
Body Type: slim/slender, with bony limbs. A straight body shape will usually find it hard to gain weight but if they do it resides in the middle of their body. Either tall or short.
Taste: pungent, bitter and astringent. This means they need the opposite to create balance so salty, sour and sweet tastes are required.
Personality Characteristics
In Balance ~ free spirit, energetic, can have a ‘100 hundred miles an hour’ approach to life. Ability to learn things quickly. Positive, enthusiastic, inspirational and creative. Consistent appetite.
Out of balance ~ anxiety and worry become increased, tiredness with fatigue, poor circulation, lack focus. Can suffer from insomnia. Lack of motivation. Can have a poor memory/be forgetful.
The Pitta Dosha Pitta in Sanskrit translates to mean ‘that which cooks’
transformational energy
Elements: Fire and water
Qualities/Characteristics: hot, sharp, fast, irritable, oily, light, liquid
Skin Characteristics: glowing, soft, warm to touch, prone to oil, reactive, skin rashes, hot flushes, delicate. Acne prone tendencies. Can burn easily.
Body Type: medium in height and weight, athletic build
Taste: Salty, sour and pungent. This means the opposites of these are needed; bitter, astringent and sweet to keep balance
Personality Characteristics
In Balance ~ have inner peace and balance. Make great leaders are head strong, decisive and have a strong intellect. They are perfectionists. Passionate. Sleep well and are known to have vivid dreams. They have a strong digestive ability.
Out of balance ~ fiery, confrontational, controlling, irrational, argumentative, controlling, workaholic. Acid reflux, stomach ulcers any kind of inflammatory conditions internally and externally. Headaches and can over heat. Heartburn and high blood pressure.
It is thought that pitta controls emotions and hormonal activity as well as the digestive fire known as Agni.
The Kapha Dosha Kapha in Sanskrit translates to mean ‘that which sticks ’
Elements: Water and Earth
Qualities/Characteristics: cold, moist, heavy, dull, static, smooth, oily
Skin Characteristics: thick, oily, smooth, lack of lines and wrinkles, lustrous, plump and glowing with larger pores. Blemishes and comedones are common.
Body Type: broad shoulders, wide hips, stocky build
Taste: sweet, sour and astringent. This means the opposite of these are needed within the diet; bitter, pungent and salty to maintain balance.
Personality Characteristics
In Balance ~ Deep sleepers and deep thinkers. Caring, loving and supportive towards others. Prefer to feel grounded and stable. Very hard working. Compassionate and reliable. Stamina and durability.
Out of balance ~ They have a slow burning digestion/metabolism. Can feel sluggish and lethargic, depression and food cravings are common. Sinus and respiratory problems can occur.
I hope you have enjoyed this first insight to Ayurveda. Is there a more dominant dosha from the above that you feel more aligned too?
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