Ayurveda is a system of natural healing which is over 5,000 years old and rooted in the ancient Vedic culture of India. Literally meaning “the science of life” (Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge), Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga. Together yoga and Ayurveda work to help a person achieve health, happiness and liberation through the balanced and dynamic integration of body, mind and spirit with the changing cycles of nature. The goal of Ayurveda is to maintain health by preventing disease, and eliminating the root cause of dis-ease.
Ayurveda is a way of living. Ayurveda provides guidelines that an individual can follow, and work to achieve a physical, mental, and spiritual balance. In these guidelines, Ayurveda explains that humans are all a part of nature, and living in harmony with Nature is the secret to health and longevity. Additionally Ayurveda reveals that all life is made up of the same elements as are found in the Nature; earth is our body, water is the blood in our veins, fire is the heat in our body, air is our breath, and ether is the space in our atoms. According to Ayurveda there are three biological forces governing both our inner and outer environments. Known as doshas, they are referred to as: Vata (air/ether), Pitta (fire/water), and Kapha (water/earth). Every human being is a unique combination of these doshas.
Vata is the wind force in Nature that is responsible for all of the movement in the body. If a person is Vata dominant, he or she tends to be thin, light, energetic, lively and changeable—just like the wind. Pitta is compared to fire or the sun in Nature from which all transformative and digestive processes in the body take place. If Pitta is the dominant force, a person tends to be intelligent, driven, goal-oriented and fiery—and also has a strong appetite. Lastly, Kapha is the earth or moon in Nature and creates structure, stability, and lubrication in the body. If Kapha is the most dominant force, a person tends to be nurturing, supportive, caring, relaxed, easy-going, and affectionate. Each of these three doshas are represented in an individual in varying proportions.
When the doshas are balanced, the body and mind are in harmony with Nature and the individual experiences true health. However, if these doshas are not in sync and the person is not in harmony, he or she will often experience a variety of ailments. For instance, when Vata is in balance, a person is expansive, enthusiastic and creative, however if it is aggravated, he or she can suffer from anxiety, fear, constipation, dry skin and may have trouble focusing his or her attention. Similarly, when Pitta is functioning normally, a person will have healthy digestion, the firm ability to lead, speak and make decisions, but if Pitta is out of balance this person can be argumentative, irritable, short-tempered and may suffer from inflammatory conditions, indigestion or hyper acidity. If Kapha is balanced, a person will be calm, strong, sweet, grounded, stable and supportive. Although when it is imbalanced, a person may be lethargic, and suffer from congestion, weight gain and sluggish digestion.
Ayurveda works to identify a person’s unique body-type and offers guidelines to prevent the disease processes caused by imbalances in the three doshas. Adherence to Ayurvedic lifestyle and dietary guidelines along with herbal treatments, Ayurvedic oil massages, panchakarma, mantras, aromatherapy, meditation, and yoga reestablish and regenerate a healthy mind, body, spirit and equilibrium. Additionally, Ayurvedic treatments work to repair existing ailments that are already in place as a result of the imbalanced doshas.
Ayurveda is based on the laws that govern Nature, and in order to achieve health and happiness we must abide by Her laws. As the seasons change, wild animals must migrate, change their diets and hibernate in order to live harmoniously with their external environment. As humans, we too must re-connect to this natural cycle, by changing our own diets and lifestyle in accordance to each changing season. The ancient wisdom of Ayurveda teaches us how to live, eat and balance our lives with Nature in modern times.