Explaining the Doshas:
The concept of the five elements is at the heart of Ayurveda. Understanding the elements provides a foundation for understanding yourself and the world around you. Energy manifests into five basic principles (elements); ether, air, fire, water, and earth. These five elements are the building blocks from which the entire universe manifests and functions.
Ether: the field of expression from which all is manifested and all returns
Air: the gaseous state of matter, movement!
Fire: the transformative state of matter!
Water: the liquid state of matter, representing fluidity and cohesion.
Earth: the solid state of matter, the stability and structure.
In our body, the five elements produce tissues (dhatus), wastes (malas) and doshas. The doshas govern all psychological, physiological and biological processes of our organism! The unique energies that make up each individual are related to our mind, physiology, metabolism, digestion, personality, and so much more. We are a combination of all three Doshas but in varying amounts. In other words, some of us are naturally more airy, while others are naturally more fiery and others more earthy. Living in synchronicity with our dosha can helps to maintain a healthy mind, body and spirit.
The three doshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Each dosha is comprised of two elements. Pitta governs functions of metabolism. Kapha governs the physiology of structure.
Vata = Ether + Air → the governing principle of all movement in the body.
Pitta = Fire + water → Pitta governs functions of metabolism and transformation
Kapha = Water + Earth → Kapha manifests as structure, stability and nourishment
These are unique energies that make up each individual are related to our mind, physiology, metabolism, digestion, personality, and so much more. We are a combination of all three Doshas but in varying amounts. Some of us are naturally more airy, while others are naturally more fiery and others more earthy. Living in synchronicity with our dosha can help us maintain a healthy mind, body and spirit.
V A T A = Ether + Air
Vata is cold, dry, ever changing. These types are creative, free-spirits, in constant motion. Sometimes these individuals have a hard time focusing, and have constant chatter in the mind.
Physically, vata individuals are cold, dry and tend to have long features. They tend to have dry skin, dry and coarse hair. Their skin is cold to the touch, they tend to love warmer weather. Appetites vary, digestion is varied, and sometimes internally they experience bloating, gas, and constipation.
Vata individuals are vivid dreamers, and have a tendency towards fear and anxiety. They are prone to insomnia, eating disorders, ADD.
Season: Autumn Time of day: 2-6am & 2-6pm
P I T T A = Fire + water
Pitta is hot, firey and oily. These individuals are courageous, strong-minded, and very knowledgeable. Pitta individuals are fantastic leaders and will do whatever it takes to accomplish the task at hand. They like to work very hard and thrive in competitive situations. When out of balanced this competitive nature can turn into judgement, irritability and frustration.
Physically, pitta individuals have fair skin, often have freckles and a reddish tint to the skin. The perspire more than the other Doshas, and enjoy intense exercise to release the heat that accumulates within the body. Pitta individuals are prone to acne, eczema, oily skin and hair loss. Internally they have strong digestive fires that can cause heartburn, acid reflux and hyperacidity.
Season: late spring and Summer Time of Day: 10pm-2am & 10am-2pm
K A P H A = Water + Earth
Kapha is cool, moist, nourishing. Mentally, kapha individuals are sweet, kind, loving compassionate and very good listeners. When out of balance, kapha can become attached, possessive and depressed. These tendencies often lead to overeating, lack of energy and love of sweets and sleep. It can be difficult to become motivated for these individuals at times, but once they get going they are productive.
Physically, Kapha individuals are a sturdy build. They have smooth, soft skin and thick hair with full lips. Kapha types tend to overeat and are prone towards water retention, sluggish metabolism, and weight gain. Internally these individuals have a slower digestion and can often feel heavy after meals.
Season: Winter & Spring Time of Day: 6am-10am & 6pm-10pm
*Dosha Combinations. Many people are more than one dosha. Maybe you’re a Vata- Pitta, Vata-Kapha, or Pitta-Kapha. Understanding your Dosha can help establish a lifestyle, routine and eating habits that make you feel healthy, vibrant and mentally clear. Depending on your Dosha, there are certain foods Ayurveda recommends eating or avoiding in order to bring out the best feelings. In addition, knowing how to work with the seasons is a beautiful way to connect with your unique qualities and avoid imbalance as the weather changes!
What does living for your constitution mean?
According to Ayurveda, the first and foremost necessity for healing is a clear understanding of the three doshas. Vata being the principle of movement, governing things like blinking, pulsations of the heart, movement in the muscles and tissues. Psychologically responsible for anxiety, fear, freshness, change and creativity. Pitta being the fire, the bodily heat energy. Responsible for digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism, skin color, intelligence, understanding, luminosity! Psychologically responsible for anger, jealousy, criticism, bravery and determination. And Kapha, the biological water. Providing the material and structure of the body, giving us strength, resistance, stability, memory retention, energy, immunity. Psychologically responsible for attachment, forgiveness, love, compassion.
All three of the doshas are present in each individual in varying degrees. No individual is made up solely of any one element. We are all a unique combination and expression of the doshas, with a predominant tendency toward one or more. Once we know what the elements are doing within the system, then we can see where they go out of balance and treat them accordingly! For example, if you are Pitta predominant and are getting heartburn constantly. Then we need to cool down that fire inside of you! Or lets say you are Vata predominant and you are just filled with air feeling like a bloated and gassy mess! Well, lets ground some of that air flow! Finding balance and health means working with the elements and balancing out their qualities through diet, lifestyle, herbs and mindfulness.
Okay! Let’s find out your dosha and get your healing process started!!!! Email me for questions!
Comments