A Beginners Guide To Ayurveda & Balancing the Three Doshas

We all receive energy from plants around us, in the form of prana. Oxygen is something, that makes the world go round and round. It also increases the vitality of life. The sun also provides us with the much-needed energy. For the unversed, Ayurveda is the science of life, and yoga is the application. So, all yogis are related to Ayurveda, as the latter is supposed to be the ancient healer. Now, you can also undergo Ayurveda treatment to balance the doshas, at a Yoga school in Rishikesh.

The Three Doshas Decoded

There are three different types of energies – Vata, Kapha, and pitta. These are important concepts in Ayurveda. The entire Ayurvedic system revolves around the three doshas. You may be wondering, how these energies affect the body. Vata is related to the air element, pitta is related to fire, and Kapha is related to water. Doshas are mainly connected to the various elements of nature. You must have heard about the Pancha mahabhutas. They are air, water, fire, earth, and ether.

If you delve deeper into the three doshas, you will find that Vata comprises air and space. Pitta is made up of fire and water. And, lastly Kapha is made up of earth and water. When all the three doshas are balanced inside the body, the body is said to be in equilibrium. You should read about these in detail, to understand the deeper connotations of Ayurveda. Students joining the 200 hour Yoga teacher training in Rishikesh will learn about these in complete detail.

• Vata Dosha – Vata is mainly concerned with mobility and movement. It concerns the nervous system and controls circulation. If you ever see an individual who is always bubbling with energy and is creative, he can be vata. However, there are a few other characteristics, that you need to check. Vata dominant individuals have dry skin, medium stature, and very fine hair. Vata people are sensitive to cold. However, they also have some negative qualities. They may be moody and may also have anxiety attacks. Vata individuals should have a diet, that increases the Kapha qualities. If you are a Vata individual, you should have buttermilk, nut milk, teas, beef, chicken, turkey, eggs, carrots, beets, rice, oats, ginger, basil, almonds, and ghee. You can enjoy a relaxing bath, with lots of essential oils.
• Pitta Dosha – These individuals often have a good digestive fire, which you can attribute to their pitta element. They also tend to have a powerful intellect. You will find such people to be born leaders. Moreover, they have a lot of strength. They are of athletic build and have a fiery persona. Pitta people love sweet, bitter, and cold foods and drinks. However, if the pitta is in disbalance, it may lead to emotional weakness, anger, and undue excitement. Moreover, pitta people also tend to have hyperacidity, heartburn, diarrhea, headaches, and inflammation. So, if you are a pitta person, you should try to meditate and relax regularly. Pitta individuals need at least seven to eight hours of sleep. A pitta individual can have any type of food. However, you should avoid excessively pungent, salty, or sour food. These activate the heat inside the body and can heat up the body, very fast. You can have sweet, bitter, and astringent foods. Eggs, banana, pear, plum, figs, grape, green leafy vegetables, barley, rice, wheat, unsalted butter, milk, paneer, coriander, turmeric, and sweet juices can balance the pitta fire.
• Kapha Dosha – Such individuals are rather slow, heavily-built, and have a lot of endurance. They love to eat. They are loyal in nature, and love their family, and children. If there is a kapha disorder, such individuals withdraw from external interactions and shut themselves off, from the world. If you are a kapha individual, you might notice yourself getting depressed. Moreover, you might enter a fantasy world of your own. Regular exercise is very beneficial for kapha people. You need to stimulate your digestive fire, and so warm and cooked food is the way to go. Stay away from salty, excessively sweet, protein-rich, and oils. Yoi can eat chicken, eggs, prawn, apples, cherries, mangoes, lettuce, peas, garlic, quinoa, millet, oats, soya milk, caraway, cinnamon, and herbal teas.

Balancing The Doshas According to Ayurveda

According to Ayurveda, there is a secret to balancing doshas in your body. It is also important that you find your Prakriti and Vikriti. Understand the causes of imbalance, and exercise the solutions. When your body is in balance, you will automatically feel happier, content, and lively. Every individual has a combination of two doshas. One is more dominant than the other. If you can eat, drink, and lead your life according to the doshas, you will lead a happy and healthy life. Dinacharya and Ritucharya are also important.

The Ayurvedic way of life is indeed approachable, practical, and doable. So, you should also follow it to the core.