Know Yourself, An Introduction to Ayurveda

The ancient healing science of Ayurveda is mainly a preventive system of medicine. Like yoga, which encourages us to know ourselves at a deep spiritual level, Ayurveda teaches us to understand our body; our particular nature; and our individual mixture of the elements at a deep physical, mental, and emotional level. With that knowledge we are able to identify activities, conditions, herbs, and foods that either keep us healthy and in balance, or make us ill and throw us out of balance.

Ayurveda is based on the five-element theory, which maintains that all creation, including humankind, is made up of the same five elements-earth, water, fire, air, and space. Each element has its own particular qualities and lends those qualities to us, depending on the proportion of that element in us. For instance, the earth element creates solidity, stability, and heaviness, while fire creates warmth, digestive power, and a "fiery" complexion. When these elements are in balance we manifest wellness; when they are imbalanced we become ill. Let's look at these qualities more closely so that you can begin to identify them in yourself.

The Ayurvedic system simplifies this process by arranging the five elements into three physical/psychological types, called doshas. Earth and water combine to form kapha dosha; fire and water make pitta dosha; and air and space create vata dosha. One or two doshas usually predominate in each of us. When we discover what these are, we can alter our habits to keep them in balance, which creates harmony in mind and body.

The Three Doshas

What follows is a brief, stereotypic explanation of each dosha when it is in balance (fostering healthy, positive attributes), and when it is out of balance (resulting in illness and negative attributes). Look for yourself, or parts of yourself, in each description.

Vata is air and space, so its qualities are cool, dry, irregular, and expansive. Physically, vatic people tend to be easily chilled, with dry skin, dry kinky or wavy hair, light-colored eyes, and an irregular or disproportionate build (they are often gangly). They tend to be light on their feet and loose jointed. Mentally, they are creative, enthusiastic, intuitive, and sometimes even clairvoyant. They have sharp minds, but poor memories; they get lost easily, like the classic "air head." Like the wind, their energy comes in bursts-they tend to push hard, then collapse. When imbalanced, this type becomes fearful and can suffer from insomnia and constipation, as well as chronic fatigue and chronic pain syndromes. You have probably met someone like this-perhaps a willowy woman with long blonde wavy hair who dresses in rainbow gauzy clothes. She may be into crystals or visit her psychic on a regular basis, and you feel that she might really blow away if the wind is a bit too strong. Vatics can seem other worldly, or just downright silly if you are a strong pitta personality who values practicality and efficiency.

Pitta is mainly fire, so its qualities are hot, oily, irritable, and intense. Physically, pittic people have medium, athletic builds, angular faces, fine/thin hair that grays (or balds) early, and red tints in their skin. Mentally, they are quick-witted, intelligent, ambitious, and competitive. If imbalanced, they are angry, impatient, impulsive, and can even be violent. They tend to have inflammatory illnesses-bleeding ulcers, colitis, chronic sore throats, or red, warm, itchy or burning skin eruptions. Imagine a red-faced, red-haired male executive, who goes to the local pub to unwind after his 12-hour work day. He has a lot to say, loves to be right, has some beer with his spicy hot salsa and chips, and ends up in a brawl before the night is over.

Kapha types could never muster the kind of intensity that ends up in a fight, especially in the evening hours when they would rather be curled up on a comfy sofa with some snacks, watching TV. Kapha has the qualities of mud (earth and water)-cold, heavy, wet, and stable. This type tends to have large frames, with well-lubricated joints, which give them a certain grace. Kaphic people have cool, pale, thick skin (china doll-like), large eyes, broad, even teeth, and lustrous hair. They are usually quite handsome. Mentally, they are determined, steady, hard working, and loyal. It may take some time for them to learn something, but once they do they don't forget it. They have good memories, excellent concentration, and long patience. For this reason they make good managers and administrators. Like Mother Earth, they have a great capacity for nurturance, faith, and compassion. When imbalanced, they become overweight, develop fibroid or fatty tumors, or suffer from chronic nasal or sinus congestion. (It is said the word "cough" comes from the Sanskrit word "kapha.") Mentally, kaphics can be greedy, lazy, and stuck in their ruts. While vatics love change, and need stability, kaphics are great with routine but often need to be pushed (sometimes with great vigor) to change.

Coping with Imbalances

Can you see yourself in one or two of these stereotypes? Most people exhibit these characteristics in combination. For example, you might be predominantly vatic, with strong pitta characteristics, in which case your dosha would be vata-pitta. Once you have identified your predominant constitutional type, you can use this knowledge to keep yourself in balance-in other words become healthier, happier, and more in tune with yourself. Most Ayurvedic treatments involve working with your doshas by making simple changes in the foods you eat, the exercise you choose, and the lifestyle you generally keep.

Grounding Vata

Vata is the dosha that most commonly becomes imbalanced; it tends to lead the others out of balance too, so let's start there. Vata is aggravated, or imbalanced, by most of what we accept as the status quo in this "civilized" world-stress, traffic, crime, caffeine, white sugar, irregular schedules, and change. These throw vata off balance, causing feelings of being ungrounded, unsteady, and fearful. To counter that, vatic people, or those with a vatic imbalance, need to do some of the following:

• Vatics need routine. They should sleep at the same time every night, get up about the same time every morning, and eat regular meals while sitting calmly in a pleasant atmosphere-not while driving, walking, or doing desk work. They should try to exercise regularly and practice relaxation. External structure helps to stabilize internal chaos and reduce anxiety.

• Vatic people need grounding, warming, nurturing foods. These include cooked root vegetables, grains, some oils (sesame, olive oil, and clarified butter are best), and dairy products if they can tolerate them. Vatics have little tolerance for raw foods, so they should limit their intake of salads, especially in cold weather. Beans may also be challenging because gas-forming foods (beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) increase vata. They should be eaten with some caution. Tofu and fresh cheese provide ample protein for vatic types who wish to be vegetarian.

Of all the doshas, this one may actually benefit from small amounts of flesh foods (chicken or fish). Spices, especially salt and warming spices like ginger, help vatic digestion. Sour foods are also good. Vatics need to eliminate caffeine and white sugar, which give them bursts of energy but leave them exhausted. Drugs, tobacco, and alcohol are also best avoided by vatics because this type is the most susceptible to addiction.

• Exercise for vatic people is often problematic. They tend to push hard and overdo, so they need exercise that doesn't encourage this. Because they also have loose, weak joints, they can easily injure themselves with high-impact sports like jogging. Ideally, they should walk, cycle, swim, dance, or practice tai chi or hatha yoga moderately. Hatha is especially good for vatics because it increases their awareness of their capacity, and therefore decreases their tendency to overdo.

Calming Pitta

Pittic imbalances are also common today because pitta is aggravated by salty, oily, and spicy food, and by the kind of stressful, competitive situations often experienced in the business world. Here are a few tips for when your fire is running a bit out of control.

• Pittic people are efficient, practical, ambitious, and work-oriented. But because it is easy for pittics to get obsessed with work and competition, they need to make sure they set aside time for their families, for exercise, and for relaxing. They need to resist labeling these things "non-productive," and realize that this part of their lives is important for keeping them in balance. Pittics may find the most satisfaction in a job that allows self-direction-they make good leaders, speakers, and teachers.

• Foods that aggravate pitta are hot, spicy, oily, and salty. So Cajun curly fries are generally out of the question. The best foods are moderately spiced (cumin and coriander are especially helpful), cooling, and refreshing, and contain only small amounts of oil. Sweet foods, like grains and dairy products, and bitter leafy greens are cooling and balancing and should be eaten regularly. Alcohol and red meat tend to exacerbate the aggressive nature inherent in pitta and should be avoided.

• Exercise for pittics is essential to help them disperse their energy and aggression, but intensely competitive sports (like racketball and tennis) may actually increase pitta. Group sports that minimize solo performance (like volleyball and softball) or sports that promote competition only against oneself (like hiking, dancing, or the martial arts) are good. Cooling sports (like swimming and water and snow skiing) are ideal. Pittic types are easily overheated, so vigorous exercise in the bright, hot sun should be minimized, and pittics should always wear sunscreen.

Energizing Kapha

The biggest problems for kaphic types are inertia and nurturing others at the expense of their own development. Here are a few tips to help them keep moving-and moving in the right direction.

• Kaphics need to create purposeful change. Setting reasonable goals on a weekly or monthly basis is helpful. Since they tend to have good memories, taking some kind of a class provides them with a challenge. But remember, maintaining a routine of sleeping, eating, exercise, and relaxation is key.

• Kaphic types need to avoid foods that have the same qualities as earth-heavy, wet, and cold. Ice cream is the epitome of kapha. Cheese, milk, oils, lots of grains, salt, and sweets should be limited, and even avoided if mucus is rampant. The best foods for kaphic types are light, dry, and warm. They do well with fresh fruits, vegetables, salads, some grains and beans, and heating spices. Chili, salsa, and Mexican food are good for them.

• For kaphics, exercise is of the utmost importance. Vigorous exercise that causes sweat is best. An aerobics class is too frenetic and overstimulating for vatics, but is great for kaphics, and because they are highly susceptible to heart disease and high cholesterol, a good cardiovascular workout is essential. (But even kaphics need to balance their aerobic exercise with warmups and stretching.) The most important thing for kaphics is to get off the couch every day and move.

Know Yourself

All of us, no matter what dosha we are, need a time of day that is our own, to breathe, relax, and contemplate our lives. Pittics especially need stress-reducing techniques so they can tolerate the fast pace of modern living; kaphics need movement so they don't get stuck in a rut, and vatics need some calming meditation to reassure them that there is little to fear. But everyone needs self-reflective meditative time to breathe and think. Everyone needs good food, laughter, and trusting relationships. No one needs poor food, stimulants, stress, or polluted air. And no one needs worry, self-condemnation, or guilt. If we have gotten out of balance, we can restore our equilibrium by observing ourselves and making some simple, basic adjustments.

Try some of the suggestions offered here. Remember: you have a certain makeup that is yours alone. It may be out of balance, but if so, all it requires is some attention and maintenance to function at its best. All of us were designed to be healthy and happy. The key is knowing ourselves.

Carrie Angus, http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/hiinstitute/archive.html (source: naturalhealthweb)

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