Ayurveda uses diet, medicine, routine, exercise, yoga, the taking of minerals, and many other cures - it is a holistic system. But importantly, it does not say we should all take the same cures, even if we have the same illnesses. This short video will introduce ayurveda a little further, and help you identify your ‘type’, or dosha. Once you have identified your dosha (or combination of Doshas), you will be a step closer to understanding why you suffer from any ailments that you do, and the right methods of Ayurveda treatment this depends.

Which of these do you think relates most to you? Do you seem more Kapha, more Vata, or more Pitta? When you have decided - or if you need more information to decide - read the following information to find your best treatment:

Vata Dosha
Kapha Dosha
Pitta Dosha

eg.

Kapha is composed of the qualities and energies of Earth and Water. It is responsible for strength, structure, lubrication, and immunity.

During a typical consultation you will come to understand the current balance of these in your physiology, as well as the build-up of any toxins (called Ama) in the body that may be blocking the proper flow of energy and intelligence of the body. Based on this assessment, natural means for rebalancing the body will be discussed.

Things that help Kapha:

• Learning about the other doshas that make up your essential nature - pitta and vata - will help you create new role models and ways of behavior.

Things that exacerbate Kapha:

• Identifying too closely to Kapha, thinking of it more as a star sign than as a symptom of imbalance.

A list of famous people that displa classic Kapha signs will come here. This is useful for identifying yourself, but also for other doshas, to find new rolemodels outside their dominant dosha.

What is your experience of being primarliy Kapha? What things have you done to help?

The Pitta dosha is associated with fire or heat. Wherever there is transformation, there is Pitta (doing its job). Whether it is in the GI tract, liver, skin, the digestion, eyes or brain doesn’t matter, for these are all locations where Pitta works, as Pitta is transformation.

Pitta provides the following functions:
1. Metabolism - at all the various levels from digestion of food to transformation of all other material
2. Thermo genesis - maintains the proper body temperature
3. Vision - converts external images into optic nerve impulses
4. Appetite - the feeling of hunger and thirst
5. Comprehension - of information into knowledge, also reasoning and judgment
6. Courage & Braveness - to face the situation
7. Complexion - gives color and softness to skin

Things that help Pitta:

• Learning about the other doshas that make up your essential nature - vata and kapha - will help you create new role models and ways of behavior.

Things that exacerbate Pitta:

• Identifying yourself too closely to your predominant dosha imbalance (it is not your true nature).

A list of famous people that displa classic Pitta signs will come here. This is useful for identifying yourself, but also for other doshas, to find new rolemodels outside their dominant dosha.

What is your experience of being primarliy Pitta? What things have you done to help?

Translate these dosha into the integrated system of ayurveda:

The Vata dosha is composed of the elements ether and air and is the energy of movement. Those with a Vata nature are enthusiastic, exciting, vibrant and creative, with many interests. They move, speak, and think quickly. When out of balance they feel anxious, overwhelmed and fearful, and may experience physical symptoms including constipation, gas and dryness. They tend to be thin by nature and are sensitive, and often feel cold. Vata types benefit from simple, nourishing food and a regular routine.

Things that are helpful to balancing vata:

• Regular medical checkups (reduces the unknown and hence anxiety)
• Warm and cooked foods
• Planning
• Cinnamon
• Coffee in the morning (it is less interfering in the day)
• Home Ownership (? stability)
• Regular employment (? stability)
• Having Children (?)
• Finishing tasks off completely before beginning another
• Non -goal orientated meditation
• Marriage and Steady Relationships (?)
• Gentle exercise, such as walking or T’ai Chi.
• Early to bed and early to rise (rising about 7am is optimal)
• Learning about the other doshas that make up your essential nature - pitta and kapha - will help you create new role models and ways of behavior.

Things that are unhelpful (aggrivate vata):

• Sleeping in the day
• Staying up late, and sleeping late
• Skipping meals
• Self Employment (? unstability)
• Cold food
• Irregular meal times
• Being Single, living alone (?)
• Jolting about on a bumpy road
• Starting and moving from project to project before completion
• Vigorous exercise
• Lack of planning
• Nuts. Chilies.
• Renting (?)
• Eating, drinking, texting when driving
• Lacking knowledge (the unknown produces anxiety)
• Becoming identified with your dosha.

(?) These items are conjecture by our readers. If you have any confirmation, comments, or further things to add to this list, please leave them here.

A list of famous people that displa classic Vata signs will come here soon. This is useful for identifying yourself, but also for other doshas, to find new rolemodels outside their dominant dosha.

What is your experience of being primarliy Vata? What things have you done to help?

7:00 am

Wake Up. Prayers and motivations if desired, whilst still in bed.

7:08 am

Bathroom. Bowel and urinary cleansing. Brush teeth and wash face from the night before. Apply medicated oil where proscribed and generally.

7:20 am

Put on exercise clothes and take a walk of 10 minutes each way, building up time and stamina. Allow the oil to be transpired into your skin. Be conscious of deep abdominal breathing and keep breaths and steps integrated. After your walk, rest for 5 minutes by sitting quietly.

7:50

Have a shower, pat dry yourself.

8:00

Sit down quietly with a straight spine and close your eyes. Relax and do nothing. Allow your thoughts to move as they wish - from the breath, random thoughts, or nothing much at all. This type of “non-meditation” does not require the achievement of anything at all, other than pausing from the rest of your day’s activities. Increase from 5 minutes to 10, 15 or 20 minutes, as you feel more comfortable with this type of non-doing.

8:20

Eat a warm, cooked breakfast, as proscribed. Medication as proscribed. Digestive tea, afterwards.

8:40

You are free to spend the day as you wish or need to, due to commitments. Drink relaxation tea throughout the day as proscribed.

12:00

Have a cooked lunch, as directed by your doctor. For instance, steamed vegetables and rice, or soup and toasted rye bread. Follow with digestive tea.

2:30

If hungry, have a snack of fruit, banana or apple, for instance, and yoghurt. Sticky sugar or herb-infused honey can be added, if desired.

Before sunset

Eat a cooked dinner, as per lunch. Follow with any proscribed medicines and digestive tea. Spend the evening socializing, alone, as you wish.

10:00

Repeat your “non-meditation“, as in the morning.

10:30

Brush your teeth. At no later than 10:30 go to bed (even if you are not tired).

Then, wake up refreshed!