Ayur - Life | Veda - Wisdom
ayurveda tells us which substances, qualities, and actions are life-enhancing (vedayati) and which are not (ayusya)
Ayurveda's origins go back at least 5000 years, making it the world's oldest continuous natural healing system, Ayurveda originated and developed through intimate observation and understanding of the subtle laws and forces in nature. This knowledge flowed from the insights and deep perceptions of yogic healer/adepts from the Vedic tradition of India, who observed the intricate relationships between the external and internal realms of existence. Many modern medical traditions, including modern surgery, find their origins in the Ayurvedic tradition. Ayurveda teaches us to connect with Nature by developing our understanding of the effects and properties of food and our changing environment.
Just as everyone has a unique fingerprint, Ayurveda states that each person has a distinct pattern of energy - a specific combination of five elements, earth, water, fire, air and space.
These elements translate into three principles called "doshas"
They are called Vata ~Air & Space Dosha, Pitta~ Fire & Water Dosha, Kapha~Water & Earth Dosha.
Vata is cold and dry in nature, Pitta is hot and moist in nature, and Kapha is cold and moist in nature,
Vata is in charge of all motion in the body and mind. Everything that moves, from a molecule to a thought, moves because of Vata, and every motion of any kind influences every other motion. Motivated by air and space, Vata directly influences the our bones, mind and nervous system.
Pitta is in charge of all transformation in the organism. Digestion of food by the gut, of light by the eyes, and of sensory data by the skin and brain are examples of pitta's activities. Motivated by the Sun and the masculine element, Pitta directly influences digestion and will-power.
Kapha is the stabilizing influence in the living being. It lubricates, maintains, builds and contains. Motivated by the Moon and the feminine element, Kapha's areas of influence include bodily structure, mucus, synovial fluid, reproductive tissue and nurturing.
The elements and doshas are also reflected in the changing seasons. The intensity of their effects will depend on our personal Ayurvedic constitution and current state. For example, a Fiery Pitta person will have a stronger reaction to hot Summer weather, and heating foods like chilli. A Water/Earth Kapha person will feel the cold, damp weather and should avoid cold, heavy foods especially during late Winter and early Spring. An Air/Space Vata person will feel the cold, dry weather and should reduce cold, dry and light foods, particularly in Autumn and early Winter. As we all differ in constitution, with understanding, we can develop resilience to the changing seasons.
Vata, Pitta and Kapha also have differing physical effects when unbalanced.
Excess Vata/wind creates dryness in the body, causing dry skin, dryness in the colon leading to constipation along with brittle nails and bones.
Excess Pitta creates inflammation which may manifest as skin conditions like acne or rosacea and digestive issues like heartburn and acid diarrhea. Excess Kapha creates excess phlegm, immune system issues, tendency to water retention and obesity, feelings of heaviness, sluggish digestion and congested skin.
Vata, Pitta and Kapha also have differing psychological and emotional tendencies when unbalanced.
Excess Vata creates feelings of anxiety and un-groundedness due to its' light nature. Vata excess can cause insomnia.
Excess Pitta creates feelings of anger or "hot" headedness due to its' hot nature. Irritability, being overly critical of self and others and turbulent mood swings may also occur. They can be a need to "let off steam".
Excess Kapha creates feelings of lethargy, heaviness and a tendency to feeling teary, or a heavy depression due to its' heavy and watery qualities.
Kapha types are prone to stubborness and resisting change in their lives. They may cling to relationships, jobs and places they have outgrown.
With advice from an Ayurvedic Practitioner, appropriate diet, lifestyle, herbal and body treatments can cleanse and re-balance our body, mind and emotions. Treatments include individualised dietary and lifestyle adjustments, massage (abhyanga), yoga and pranayama practices, herbal blends, relaxation and detoxification strategies. Ayurveda embraces both a vegetarian and non-vegetarian approach to diet. It does not exclude meat eating, but explains the effects of this food type on the different doshas. As meat is seen as a heavy food, appropriate cooking techniques and spices can be utilised to make meat more easily digested and assimilated. Meat is considered a nourishing medicine for many conditions, particularly relating to Vata excess. However, vegetarians can utilise different strategies to gain similar nourishment and strength. The key to good health is inextricably linked to the state of our "agni", or digestive "fire". A weak fire will go out with heavy food and needs to be coaxed into a healthy flame, allowing maximum nutrition and prana to be absorbed into our body. Similarly, if the digestive fire is too strong, our food burns too quickly and we also miss out on nutrients and healthy prana. Both can be addressed and rectified with Ayurvedic understanding.
Ayurveda recognises that our health and behaviour are inextricably linked and that each being, whether a herb, animal, person or planet, exists in an ever changing, non-separate relationship with the rest of creation. Understanding and applying this precious, unique relationship confers health of body, mind and awareness. The five elements move from subtle to gross, and have particular qualities...
Space pure vibration, containment, relates to sound
Air/wind movement, friction, relates to touch & sound
Fire transformation, energy, combustion, relates to sight, sound & touch.
Water liquidity, cohesion, suppleness, permeability, relates to taste, sight, touch & sound.
Earth solidity, density, growth, structure, relates to smell, taste, sound, touch & sight
By understanding these properties in food, weather and lifestyle, we can adjust out health and well being at the root level.
Find out more about the three
Body Mind Types or an Ayurvedic Consultation
ayurveda tells us which substances, qualities, and actions are life-enhancing (vedayati) and which are not (ayusya)
Ayurveda's origins go back at least 5000 years, making it the world's oldest continuous natural healing system, Ayurveda originated and developed through intimate observation and understanding of the subtle laws and forces in nature. This knowledge flowed from the insights and deep perceptions of yogic healer/adepts from the Vedic tradition of India, who observed the intricate relationships between the external and internal realms of existence. Many modern medical traditions, including modern surgery, find their origins in the Ayurvedic tradition. Ayurveda teaches us to connect with Nature by developing our understanding of the effects and properties of food and our changing environment.
Just as everyone has a unique fingerprint, Ayurveda states that each person has a distinct pattern of energy - a specific combination of five elements, earth, water, fire, air and space.
These elements translate into three principles called "doshas"
They are called Vata ~Air & Space Dosha, Pitta~ Fire & Water Dosha, Kapha~Water & Earth Dosha.
Vata is cold and dry in nature, Pitta is hot and moist in nature, and Kapha is cold and moist in nature,
Vata is in charge of all motion in the body and mind. Everything that moves, from a molecule to a thought, moves because of Vata, and every motion of any kind influences every other motion. Motivated by air and space, Vata directly influences the our bones, mind and nervous system.
Pitta is in charge of all transformation in the organism. Digestion of food by the gut, of light by the eyes, and of sensory data by the skin and brain are examples of pitta's activities. Motivated by the Sun and the masculine element, Pitta directly influences digestion and will-power.
Kapha is the stabilizing influence in the living being. It lubricates, maintains, builds and contains. Motivated by the Moon and the feminine element, Kapha's areas of influence include bodily structure, mucus, synovial fluid, reproductive tissue and nurturing.
The elements and doshas are also reflected in the changing seasons. The intensity of their effects will depend on our personal Ayurvedic constitution and current state. For example, a Fiery Pitta person will have a stronger reaction to hot Summer weather, and heating foods like chilli. A Water/Earth Kapha person will feel the cold, damp weather and should avoid cold, heavy foods especially during late Winter and early Spring. An Air/Space Vata person will feel the cold, dry weather and should reduce cold, dry and light foods, particularly in Autumn and early Winter. As we all differ in constitution, with understanding, we can develop resilience to the changing seasons.
Vata, Pitta and Kapha also have differing physical effects when unbalanced.
Excess Vata/wind creates dryness in the body, causing dry skin, dryness in the colon leading to constipation along with brittle nails and bones.
Excess Pitta creates inflammation which may manifest as skin conditions like acne or rosacea and digestive issues like heartburn and acid diarrhea. Excess Kapha creates excess phlegm, immune system issues, tendency to water retention and obesity, feelings of heaviness, sluggish digestion and congested skin.
Vata, Pitta and Kapha also have differing psychological and emotional tendencies when unbalanced.
Excess Vata creates feelings of anxiety and un-groundedness due to its' light nature. Vata excess can cause insomnia.
Excess Pitta creates feelings of anger or "hot" headedness due to its' hot nature. Irritability, being overly critical of self and others and turbulent mood swings may also occur. They can be a need to "let off steam".
Excess Kapha creates feelings of lethargy, heaviness and a tendency to feeling teary, or a heavy depression due to its' heavy and watery qualities.
Kapha types are prone to stubborness and resisting change in their lives. They may cling to relationships, jobs and places they have outgrown.
With advice from an Ayurvedic Practitioner, appropriate diet, lifestyle, herbal and body treatments can cleanse and re-balance our body, mind and emotions. Treatments include individualised dietary and lifestyle adjustments, massage (abhyanga), yoga and pranayama practices, herbal blends, relaxation and detoxification strategies. Ayurveda embraces both a vegetarian and non-vegetarian approach to diet. It does not exclude meat eating, but explains the effects of this food type on the different doshas. As meat is seen as a heavy food, appropriate cooking techniques and spices can be utilised to make meat more easily digested and assimilated. Meat is considered a nourishing medicine for many conditions, particularly relating to Vata excess. However, vegetarians can utilise different strategies to gain similar nourishment and strength. The key to good health is inextricably linked to the state of our "agni", or digestive "fire". A weak fire will go out with heavy food and needs to be coaxed into a healthy flame, allowing maximum nutrition and prana to be absorbed into our body. Similarly, if the digestive fire is too strong, our food burns too quickly and we also miss out on nutrients and healthy prana. Both can be addressed and rectified with Ayurvedic understanding.
Ayurveda recognises that our health and behaviour are inextricably linked and that each being, whether a herb, animal, person or planet, exists in an ever changing, non-separate relationship with the rest of creation. Understanding and applying this precious, unique relationship confers health of body, mind and awareness. The five elements move from subtle to gross, and have particular qualities...
Space pure vibration, containment, relates to sound
Air/wind movement, friction, relates to touch & sound
Fire transformation, energy, combustion, relates to sight, sound & touch.
Water liquidity, cohesion, suppleness, permeability, relates to taste, sight, touch & sound.
Earth solidity, density, growth, structure, relates to smell, taste, sound, touch & sight
By understanding these properties in food, weather and lifestyle, we can adjust out health and well being at the root level.
Find out more about the three
Body Mind Types or an Ayurvedic Consultation
