ayurveda for beginners
Ayurveda is Sanskirt for “life-knowledge” and is a holistic method of alternative medicine based in prevention and treatment. The healing science originated in India over 3000 years ago.
There are eight main divisions of Ayurvedic medicine which are:
General medicine
Pediatrics
Surgical techniques
Treatment of ailments affecting ears, eyes, nose, mouth, etc.
The pacification of possessing spirits
Toxicology
Increasing lifespan, intellect, and strength through rejuvenation and tonics
Aphrodisiacs and treatments for increasing libido.
The main goal of Ayurveda, similar to other Eastern philosophies such as Buddhism, is to create balance between mind, body, and spirit. Central to the healing premises of Ayurveda is the belief that each person is made up of a combination of 5 elements: fire, water, earth, space, and air. Inherent in each of these elements are 10 qualities in pairs of opposites. These are: cold/hot, heavy/light, dull/sharp, oily/dry, stable/mobile, hard/soft, slimy/non-slimy, smooth/coarse, minute/gross, and viscous/liquid. These elements and qualities form in our body as doshas, which when balanced create disease and ailments.
DOSHAS
Dosha = life force energy (the combination of elements in your body)
Everyone is born with a unique mix of the doshas, but usually one is the strongest
The Three Doshas
Vata = Space + Air
Pitta = Fire + Water
Kapha = Water + Earth
Each dosha controls different body functions and are linked to certain health issues and behavioral patterns. By balancing our doshas we can prevent and maintain mental, spiritual, and physical well-being.
Doshas are our life force energy that combines in our body and determines our personal characteristics and temperament. Ayurveda rests in the belief that by understanding our personal combination of doshas we can balance through treatments such as diet, meditation, yoga, and toxicology. There are three doshas that combine in the human body and create a unique composition. The three doshas are vata, pitta, and kapha. Vata is the combination of the elements of Space and Air, pitta is the combination of fire and water, and kapha is the combination of water and earth.
Vata Dosha
Vata = Space & Air
Vata types: generally thin, prominent joints, extremes (ie. either very tall or small), light sleepers, weak muscles, dry hair and skin
Mental constitution: creative, enthusiastic, generous
Things that aggravate (increase the intensity) of vata in the human body: fear, cold weather, staying up too late, fear, grief.
Health problems associated with aggravated vata: anxiety, asthma, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, skin problems, constipation.
Vata, the dosha of space and air, manifests in the body as qualities that you would associate with these elements. For example, vata types are generally thin, light sleepers, have weak muscles, and dry hair and skin. Vata types are creative, enthusiastic, and generous people. If your primary dosha is Vata, you are more prone to health problesm such as anxiety, asthma, arthritis, and skin problems. Things that can create too much Vata in the body and lead to an imbalance include windy weather, fear, cold, staying up to late, and emotional states of fear and grief.
Kapha Dosha
Kapha = Earth & Water
Body characteristics: solid frame, strong and sturdy, slow metabolism, heavy sleepers
Mental constitution: patient, loyal, affectionate
Body systems: muscle, body strength and stability, weight, and immune system
Things that aggravate kapha: sweet and salty foods, heavy dairy foods, sleeping too much and/or during the day
Health problems: asthma, cancer, diabetes, nausea, obesity
Kapha people are characterized by the qualities you would associate with earth and water. Kapha people generally have solid and sturdy frames and a slow metabolism and are heavy sleepers. As the element earth would suggest, Kapha people are stable and sturdy in most ways. Their mental constitution is patient, loyal, and affectionate. Health problems associated with excess Kapha are asthma, cancer, obesity, and nausea. Things that can aggravate Kapha in the body include eating sweet and salt foods and heavy dairy foods as well as sleeping too much or during the day.
Pitta Dosha
Pitta = Fire & Water
Middle ground between Vata and Kapha
Characterized by heat, strong appetite and digestion, steady weight
Mental constitution: ambitious, focused, confident
Body systems: Digestion, metabolism, hormones linked to appetite
Things that aggravate pitta: eating sour or spicy foods, too much heat or sun
Health tendencies: Crohn’s disease, heart disease, infections, high blood pressure
Pitta, the dosha of fire and water, represents a middle ground between Kapha and Vata and is characterized by heat. Pitta types generally are average in weight and height and have a strong appetite and digestion. Their mental constitution is ambitious, focused, and confident. People with excess pitta generally manifest health issues such as Crohn’s disease, heart disease, infections, and high blood pressure. Things that aggravate Pitta include anything heating including sour and spicy foods and too much heat or sun.
How to Determine Your Dosha
-Which dosha applies most to you?
-Online quizzes: http://ayurvedadosha.org/doshas/ayurveda-dosha-test#/axzz4hm4sPhlq
Understanding Your Dosha
Understanding my dosha was the key to getting started with implementing Ayurveda in my life. There are several online quizzes which ask you about different aspects of your temperate and characteristics that can help determine the unique combination of doshas in your body. For example, through taking several tests and reading I learned my constitution is Vata/Pitta. There are several things I learned to do with this knowledge to create balance in my body. In winter months, I eat a diet that stabalizes vata, as cold winter months increase vata. By doing things such as including more spices and cayenne pepper in my diet I balance out excess vata. In summer months, if I ate too many spicy foods I would be prone to creating an imbalance in my body by aggravating the pitta dosha. Once you figure out what dosha you are you can find several charts online that list foods to eat and to avoid.
Healing with Ayurveda Includes
Diet
Cleansing and detoxification
Herbal Medicine & Teas
Yoga
Meditation
Massage and body treatments
Though diet is the first aspect of Ayurveda I practiced in my own life, there are many other ways to use Ayurvedic principles to bring balance and wellness into our lives.
Cleansing and detoxification, such as through herbal teas and medicines as well as simply eliminating an unhealthy aspect of your life (such as high sugar consumption) can help you cleanse and reset. Yoga and meditation are incredible ways to bring mindfulness and balance into your life at any stage. Ayurveda also emphasizes massage and body treatments.
I hope you find this helpful and continue to read along for more healthy tips based on your dosha and constitution!
