Ayurveda 101: The Doshas
Ayurveda, or the “science or knowledge of life,” is based on three doshas. Doshas are energies that exist within everyone, and that contribute to unique physiological functions within the body. They say that we all have different types of doshas, and knowing yours is essential to understanding how to maintain inner balance.
So, here goes the first one: KAPHA.
Kapha derives from the elements of Earth and Water, and translates as “that which sticks.” It is the energy of building and lubrication that provides the body with physical form, structure, and the smooth functioning of all its parts. Just like cement or glue.
Kapha dosha is the energy that controls all growth in the body. The qualities of Kapha are moist, cold, heavy, dull, soft, sticky, and static. A Kapha individual will display physical and mental characteristics that reflect these qualities in both a balanced and imbalanced
When kapha is balanced it enhances feelings of love and acceptance. When kapha is imbalanced it may lead to feelings of jealousy and insecurity.
If your dosha is Kapha, doing the following can help you stay balanced:
🌱Eat a Kapha-balancing diet (there's a ton online).
🌊Eat in a cool environment.
🌱Avoid a luxurious, leisurely lifestyle. Control 👏🏼yourself👏🏼.
🌊Focus on non-attachment in daily life. Aka, let that 💩go.
🌱Do emotional housekeeping regularly.
🌊Make time for introspective activities, like 🧘🏽♀️ and 📝.
🌱Set healthy boundaries.
🌊And go to bed early and rise early, with no daytime naps.
Our second dosha is called: PITTA.
Pitta controls digestion, metabolism, and energy production. Its primary function is transformation. They say that those with a predominance of the Pitta principle have a fiery nature that manifests in both body and mind.
The qualities of Pitta are: Hot, Light, Intense, Penetrating, Pungent, Sharp and Acidic.
When in balance, Pittas have a glowing complexion, perfect digestion, abundant energy, and a strong appetite. When out of balance, Pittas may suffer from skin rashes, burning sensations, peptic ulcers, excessive body heat, heartburn, and indigestion.
Pittas have a powerful intellect and a strong ability to concentrate. When they’re in balance, they are good decision makers, teachers, and speakers. They are precise, sharp-witted, direct, and often outspoken. Out-of-balance pittas can be short-tempered and argumentative.
To maintain balance, Pittas must:
Balance rest and activity, allowing some free time everyday.
Avoid skipping meals and do not wait until you are famished to eat.
Favor foods that are sweet, bitter and astringent, like cucumbers, sweet fruits, and melons.
Spend time in nature.
Perform a massages using cooler oils such as coconut or olive.
Laugh a lot, every day.
Favor colors and aromas that are cool and sweet.
And last but not least, we have our final dosha: VATA.
Vata derives from the elements of Space (Ether) and Air, and translates as “wind” or “that which moves things.” It is the energy of movement and the force governing all biological activity; that which controls all motion in the body.
The qualities of Vata are dry, rough, light, cold, subtle, and mobile.
Vata is often called the “King of the Doshas,” since it governs the body’s greater life force and gives motion to Pitta and Kapha. When it's balanced, it stimulates creativity and vitality. When imbalanced, it causes anxiety and fear. (Me, me!).
Just as the wind in balance provides movement and expression to the natural world, the balanced Vata peep is active, creative, and gifted with a natural ability to express and communicate. When the wind in a Vata type rages like a hurricane, negative qualities quickly overshadow these positive attributes. Common signs of Vata imbalance include anxiety and bodily disorders related to dryness, such as dry skin and constipation.
To keep yourself balanced, you can:
💨Eat a Vata-balancing diet.
🌌Eat in a peaceful environment.
💨Engage in wholesome and contemplative activities (like spending time in nature).
🌌Follow a regular daily routine.
💨Go to bed early. (Uh oh)
🌌Meditate daily.
💨And do gentle physical exercise like yoga, swimming, tai chi, or walking.
There are online quizzes you can take to discover your dosha type. When I discovered mine, everything started making sense.
I know there are so so many things that can allegedly help us understand ourselves better... numerology, astrology, therapy, Chinese zodiac, personality tests, etc, etc, etc. It can get overwhelming, I know. But these are just tools available to help us live easier lives, because that's exactly the point here. If we live happier and easier lives, we can create positive environments that make the world a better place.
And hey, I'm all for that.
