Beginner’s Guide : Ayurveda And The 3 Doshas

Beginner’s Guide : Ayurveda And The 3 Doshas

Ayurveda is truly so much more than medicine. This 5,000-year-old practice of ayurveda began in India and has since spread across the world, shaping and improving many lives.

The core of ayurveda is focused on prevention. It’s based on the concept that general health and wellness rely on a delicate balance between mind, body, and spirit. It is a holistic and complete package for your overall health since ayurveda is an integration of body,mind and soul.

The earliest recorded texts on the practice of ayurveda, known as “The Vedas,” describe the transfer of knowledge and wisdom from sages to the doctors.

Ayurvedic medicine focuses on holistic health and wellness, and it’s basically the opposite of a “one-size-fits-all” approach. It employs a wide variety of practices—each with its own benefits. Here are just a few of the physical conditions it may be able to help with:

1. Promotes heart health.

A 2015 study suggested that ayurvedic medicine can have positive effects on people with coronary heart disease. Ayurvedic practices like yoga and meditation help in improving your heart condition. So, It’s Time to Include meditation and yoga in your lifestyle

2. Helps in reducing inflammation.

You’ve probably heard that inflammation plays a role in many diseases. It can be caused by a lack of sleep, digestive issues, and unhealthy diets. Ayurveda’s focus on nutrition, sleep, and mindfulness has the potential to reduce inflammation by addressing its underlying causes. Studies even shows that ayurvedic herbs like turmeric can help treat inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, anxiety, and simple conditions like common cold and cough.

3. Improves sleep.

Processed snacks, caffeine and alcohol, and ever-present electronics and technology are just some of the modern day lifestyle habits which can disturb a good night’s sleep. Ayurveda’s more balanced, time-tested approach to healthy eating and mindfulness has the potential to get you a good night’s sleep. Simple practices such as rubbing an oil like coconut or sesame on the base of your feet has a calming effect that could lull you to sleep.

The 3 doshas: Vata, Pitta & Kapha.

In ayurvedic medicine, balance is everything—and it’s achieved by harmonizing the three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha. The goal of ayurveda is to get all of your doshas back to the levels at which they naturally exist in your body.Here’s a brief introduction to the three doshas and the diet and lifestyle tweaks that can help balance them out.

Vata dosha characteristics.

The Vata dosha is all about the energy of movement, and it’s often associated with air. It’s an energetic dosha linked with flexibility, creativity, and free-flowing spirit. It is responsible for bodily movements like breathing, muscle contraction, and heart function.A person who is vata dominant might be thin, feel cold often, have dry skin, or experience racing thoughts and feelings. An imbalance in the vata dosha can result in anxiety, fear, and digestive issues like constipation.

Exercises to balance the vata dosha.

Start being more rigid about your morning and night time routines, practicing meditation daily, or setting limits on your use of technology.

Food and drinks to balance the vata dosha.

People with a vata imbalance might benefit from “more protein and fat, along with warming foods”. Root vegetables, warm drinks like herbal teas and hot water are beneficial for vata. Staying well-hydrated is also important because people with vata dosha may have dry skin.

Pitta dosha characteristics.

The pitta dosha is linked to fire and is thought to control the endocrine, metabolic, and digestive systems. People who are predominantly pitta can have a medium build, feel cold often, and have acne-prone skin. They tend to be busy, high-achieving, and always on the move. An imbalance in pitta can lead to anger, overexertion and burnout, and skin irritation and rashes and hairfall.

Exercises to balance the pitta dosha.

People with a pitta imbalance will benefit from activities which will have a cooling effect on your system. Taking cold water showers and walking next to a body of water when its hot will be helpful. The opposite of vata in many ways, pitta-prone people should consider loosening their tight schedules and saving room for spontaneous decisions.

Food and drinks to balance the pitta dosha.

Avoid anything hot, spicy, or fermented, and gravitate toward more cooling foods—especially in the summer months. A few pitta-pacifying foods and beverages include sweet fruits, coconut water, and plenty of grains. Avoid drinking refrigerated/cold water.

Kapha dosha characteristics.

The Kapha dosha is linked to earth and water. It is a stabilizing energy thought to supply water to the body and maintain the immune system. Kapha means ‘that which sticks‘. Someone who is kapha dominant is calm, grounded, and forgiving. But an imbalance in kapha can lead to jealousy, sluggishness, and weight gain.

Exercises to balance the kapha dosha.

Mental stimulation, plenty of exercise, and mindful activities like meditation and breathwork like pranayama are essential for those with a kapha imbalance.

Food and drinks to balance the kapha dosha.

Those who are kapha dominant should avoid oily foods and heavy, dense carbs like pasta and rice. Instead, you can go for bitter, astringent ingredients and plenty of fresh fruits and veggies.

Using ayurvedic wisdom in our modern lifestyle.

In Sanskrit, the word ayurveda translates to “the science of life.” Ultimately, ayurvedic medicine is focused on the maintaining the health of the healthy.

Ayurveda’s main focus is on maintaining the balance of energy through diet, exercise, and mindfulness. As a result of practicing these methods , a person will be able to maintain overall health and keep stress levels at bay.

So, when stress levels are low and your body and its energy are aligned, the immune system can more effectively ward off disease.

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To Your Amazing Health,

Sachin Hebbar