Ayurveda seems to be popping up all the time lately, in conjunction with holistic wellness. So let's break it down for you!
Ayurveda is a holistic (meaning whole, mind-body-spirit) healing system that is thousands of years old. Originating in India, the word Ayurveda is derived from two Sanskrit words, “ayuh” meaning life or longevity, and “veda” meaning science or sacred knowledge. This can translate to mean “the science of longevity” or “the sacred knowledge of life”. Ayurveda teaches us to view ourselves as a combination of the three doshas, Pitta, Kapha, Vata, and our wellness as being an act of bringing balance to the doshas. Learning your primary and secondary doshas is as easy as taking a quick online quiz. https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/dosha-quiz/
Each dosha has qualities associated with the elements.
Pitta
Pitta is associated with fire and water energies, digestion and transformation.
Pitta rules appetite, digestion, absorption, assimilation, intelligence, charisma, courage and ambition. Pitta qualities include hot, sharp, light, liquid, spreading, oily.
Kapha
Kapha is associated with water and earth, structure and cohesion, grounding and stabilizing. Kapha rules nourishment, growth, lubrication, regeneration, fluid balances, fat regulation, strength, stamina, memory, compassion and contentment.
Kapha qualities include heavy, slow, cool, oily, smooth, dense, soft, stable, and cloudy.
Vata
Vata is associated with ether and air, movement and impulse, creativity and connection. Vata rules respiration, heart beat, muscle movement, nerve impulses, sensory perception, communication, flexibility, joy and consciousness. Vata qualities include dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile, and clear.
Ayurveda is not just about taking a pill to soothe the symptom, as is found commonly in Western Medicine, rather it teaches each individual to be accountable for their own health by being in tune with themselves and becoming an active and willing participant in their own journey to wellness.
If you're reading this blog, you're probably in the process of taking charge of your own health and wellness. Making changes, learning how to best support yourself in your own path. If you feel you need a little more structure, Ayurveda may be something to add into the mix, along with all the other great things you're already doing for your mind and body. Come back tomorrow to learn some great dosha-balancing tips to start you on your journey!
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