Ayurveda - The Beginners Guide

Everything in this world, living or non-living, is made up of five natural elements:

• Earth (Prithvi)
• Water (Apa)
• Fire (tejas)
• Air (Vayu)
• Space (Akash)

The 5 natural elements (panch mahabhutas) represent different organs and tissues in our body. For example Earth represents the solid part of our body, water represents the fluids, fire represents the enzymes and biological chemicals, air represents energy produced by cells which is responsible for different movements and space represents emptiness like in our lungs, colon or inner ear.

Each of these elements exist in each and every one of us, however in different combinations and proportions. A combination of these elements above, constitutes three major Doshas -Vata, Pitta, Kapha. We all have all three doshas in us, but in different combination. Based on the predominant "Dosha", a person may be categorised in one three types:

Vata person - Comprises of elements of Air and Space. These are responsible for all movement related functions ie Respiration, Circulation etc. At the emotional level Vata represents flow of creativity and flexibility. Its negative aspects are fear and anxiety. Physically a Vata person is normally rather thin, with small bones and a wiry appearance.

Pitta person - Comprises predominantly of fire. This is responsible for metabolism, thirst and digestion of food. Emotionally, this represents courage and ambition. Its negative aspects are anger and pride. A pitta person is medium built and generally muscular.

Kapha person - Comprises the Earth and Water element. Its is responsible for cohesion and provides structure to the body. It governs emotions such as love and devotion. Its negative aspects are greed and jealousy. A kapha person is large with heavy bones and may be overweight.

Everyone is born with a unique combination of these doshas, which is termed as "prakriti" or constitution. While we have all three of these doshas, generally one of these will dominate in most of us. This remains fixed throughout life. This combination of dosha is what makes all of us unique and inherently different. Ayurveda describes seven types of physical constitution based on these three doshas.

• Vata
• Pitta
• Kapha
• Vata-pitta
• Vata-Kapha
• Pitta-Kapha
• Vata-Pitta-Kapha

 

We all have different strengths, different weaknesses and different way we respond to the same thing or situation. Our environment, different activities and different foods have different effects on us and increase or decrease our doshas. 

The "Doshas" are aggravated or increased by foods that have attributes similar to the dosha itself. For example Excessive exposure to sun. eating extra spicy food can increase "Pitta" (Fire). Similary, heavy or cold food, Winter months increase Kapha. Dry or light foods, overwork and autumn winds increase Vata.

When the "Doshas" are in balance we are in good health. When they are out of balance, we experience various disorders. It may take months or years of these imbalances to actually manifest as disease. Many times if we are truly aware of our dosha, we dont feel like ourselves long before we actually experience the physical illness. This is the connection of body and mind. This will also impact our appearance. 

"Good health and beauty follow when our "Doshas" are truly in balance and we are in harmony"