What is Ayurveda

Ayurveda, meaning the science of life, is the traditional healing system of India. It is considered the mother of all medicines, including allopathic, holistic, and surgical. It is the healing side of Yoga, and likewise, Yoga is the spiritual side of Ayurveda. Ayurveda and Yoga help people connect to their true nature as spirit and offer a complete approach to the body, mind, and spirit.

Ayurveda views health and disease as the result of how we interact with our environment. Harmonious interactions lead to health, while disharmonious interactions lead to disharmony and disease. Ayurveda is the science of developing greater harmony with our environment through our senses and practices.

According to Ayurveda, we create and recreate our state of health each day based on how we interact with the world. Our beliefs, perceptions, thoughts, and feelings ultimately determine our actions.

Harmonious actions create health in harmony with our true nature, while disharmonious actions create disease.

Your constitution is a unique balance of three elemental energies called Doshas: Vata, Pitta & Kapha. These Doshas are a combination of the five elements found in the universe (Ether, Air, Fire, Water & Earth). Each person's balance is different, making each individual have their own unique set of challenges and gifts. For this reason, no two programs are alike, and each person's path toward health is exceptional.

The Vata dosha is a combination of the Air and Ether elements. Vata is like the wind; it is light, cool, dry, and mobile. People with a Vata nature tend to be light; their bones are thin, and their skin and hair are dry. They often move and speak quickly. When out of balance, they may lose weight, become constipated, and have weakness in their immune and nervous systems. Their personalities are talkative, enthusiastic, creative, flexible, and energetic. When out of balance, they may become easily overwhelmed, have difficulty focusing or making decisions, and have trouble sleeping. Coller emotions like worry, fear, anxiety, and overwhelm characterize them.

The Pitta dosha is composed of the fire and water elements. Fire is predominant, and those with this nature have many fire qualities within them. Pitta tends to be hot, sharp, penetrative, and sometimes volatile and oily. They tend to feel warm, have oily skin, have penetrating eyes, and have sharp features. They have moderate weight and good musculature. They can experience diarrhea, infections, skin rashes, and liver and blood weakness when out of balance. Their personalities tend to be highly focused, competitive, courageous, and energetic, and they are good communicators. They are problem solvers, and when under stress, they can dig in their heels and become intense with a sharp tongue. Emotionally, they have heated emotions of anger, resentment, and jealousy.

The Kapha dosha is a combination of the water and earth elements. Like these elements, they tend to be cool, moist, stable, and heavy. Their physical bodies are dense, with heavy bones, lustrous hair, supple skin, low metabolism, and large, stocky frames. When out of balance, they are prone to weight gain and have lung and sinus weaknesses due to mucous accumulation. Because of their nature, their personalities are stable and grounded, not prone to quick decisions. They handle stress well and are generally conservative, preferring to keep things as they are. They are comfort seekers, leading to a lack of motivation and a feeling of becoming stuck. When out of balance, they have heavy emotions of depression and lethargy.

The first step in restoring balance is understanding one's constitution (Prakriti) and determining the current state of health (Vikruti). Ayurveda brings balance by employing opposites, using different therapies associated with the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch). They can include food, diet, spices, herbal medicines, exercise, yoga and meditation practices, body, aroma, and color therapies. For instance, if you are a Vata-dominant person or experiencing Vata imbalances (cold, dry, light, and mobility), your program would be designed to incorporate warm, wet, heavy, and stable foods, lifestyle practices, herbals, and programs.