Ayurveda and Healing
Ayurveda Maintains That All Life Must Be Supported By Energy In Balance
Ayurveda is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science. Ayurveda means “The Science of Life.” Ayurvedic knowledge originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is often called the “Mother of All Healing.”
Knowledge of Ayurveda enables us to understand how to create a balance of body, mind and consciousness according to one’s own individual constitution and how to make lifestyle changes to bring about and maintain this balance.
VATA Elements: Air and Ether (Space)
PITTA Elements: Fire and Water
KAPHA Elements: Water and Earth
Instead of Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, the year breaks into
Vata Season - late Fall into early Winter,
Kapha Season - from the coldest part of Winter into Spring
Pitta Season - the hottest, longest days of the year—from late Spring into early Fall.
The doshas express unique blends of physical, emotional, and mental characteristics.
Knowing your dosha can help you live a healthier, more balanced life.
Getting to know and appreciate your dosha is key to knowing yourself!
They provide clues for what you should eat and what things you should address when your energy gets out of whack. The more you know about what may cause certain reactions or tendencies, the easier it will be to balance them.
I use the Ayurveda method in my healing practice by first determining your Dosha Type (with a short quiz), and applying the ancient wisdom to find your balance.
Below are the 3 Dosha types, their characteristics and signs they are in balance.
First, take the quiz to determine your dosha then learn what small changes you can do to create balance once again.
Signs of Imbalance
VATA
You have trouble falling asleep.
You wake up early in the morning and can’t get back to sleep.
When disturbed you become anxious and fearful.
Your memory is not good.
You have pains without any known functional disorder.
You physically tire easily.
You are overweight for your height.
Your digestive strength varies a lot.
You often have indigestion with gas and bloating.
You experience tension headaches.
You experience constipation often.
You are more sensitive to stress than others.
You have trouble concentrating.
You experience irregular heartbeat or palpitations.
You often feel shaky and unsteady.
You have dry skin.
You have low sexual drive.
PITTA
You get hot easily.
You have premature graying of hair or loss of hair.
You often have skin rashes and skin disorders.
When agitated you become angry easily.
Your sweat has a strong odor.
You have heartburn and ulcers.
You have blood disorders.
You easily get bloodshot eyes and have vision problems.
Your digestion is irregular.
You become emotional very easily.
You are quick to become irritated.
They become very uncomfortable if you have to skip or postpone a meal.
KAPHA
You are overweight for your height.
When disturbed you easily become depressed.
You often experience lethargic and dullness.
You have slow digestion.
You often experience sinus congestion and blockage.
You are slow to learn and memorize.
You have oily skin.
You feel heaviness in your abdomen or other parts of the body.
Balancing Each Dosha Type
Vata
The Creative: Air + Space
Vata Qualities: Cold, light, dry, irregular, rough, quick, changeable
Emotional Characteristics: Spontaneous, enthusiastic, creative, flexible, energetic
Physical Characteristics: Thin and light frame, excellent agility, dry skin and hair, cold hands and feet, sensitive digestion
When in Balance vs When Out of Balance
Balance - Energetic, creative, adaptable, shows initiative, strong communicator
Out of Balance - Overactive mind, anxiety, overwhelmed, insomnia, for digestion, constipation
7 Ways to Achieve Balance
Taste: Warm cooked moist foods
Smell: Sweet and warm smells
Touch: Dress warm
Sound: Listen to mellow music
Sight: Green and yellow
Meditation Type: Mantra meditation
Yoga: Restorative yoga
Balancing Vata Affirmation:
I am happy and at peace with myself.
Pitta
The Leader: Fire + Water
Pitta Qualities: Hot, light, intense, penetrating, pungent, sharp, acidic
Emotional Characteristics: Intellectual, focused, precise, direct, passionate
Physical Characteristics: Medium size and weight, strong digestion, strong sex drive, warm body temperature, thin balding or red hair
When in Balance vs When Out of Balance
Balance - Bright, warm, good decision makers, leader, friendly, healthy digestion
Went Out of Balance - Angry, irritable, judgmental, skin rashes, burning sensations, indigestion
7 Ways to Achieve Balance
Taste: Cooler, raw foods and fresh greens
Smell: Flavor around us that are cool and sweet
Touch: Wearable breathable natural fibers with a cooling affect, like cotton and linen
Sound: Listen to rhythmic, soft
Sight: Blue and green
Meditation Type: Visualization
Yoga: Outdoor
Balancing Pitta Affirmation:
I have time for all that I need to accomplish.
Kapha
The Nurturer: Water + Earth
Kapha Qualities: Heavy, slow, steady, solid, cold, soft, oily
Emotional Characteristics: Calm, thoughtful, loving, enjoys life, comfortable with routine
Physical Characteristics: Strong build and excellent stamina, large eyes, soft radiant skin, thick hair, regular digestion
When in Balance vs When Out of Balance
Balance - Steady, loyal, consistent, strong, supportive, patient
When Out of Balance - Dull, inert, needy, attached, congested, overweight, overprotective, complacent, resistant to change
7 Ways to Achieve Balance
Taste: Lighter, fresher foods
Smell: Light, warm and invigorating
Touch: To avoid feeling way down, wear light weight lose natural fabrics
Sound: Listen to energizing, bass-heavy music
Sight: Red and orange
Meditation Type: Walking
Yoga: Hot or Vinyasa
Balancing Kapha Affirmation:
I am independent, free and infinite.