Today, we are going to look at another time-tested practice that has been around since 2000 B.C. – Ayurveda! We now live in a world where it is more important than ever to understand how our bodies interact with our environment and to be conscious of the balance between mind, body, and spirit.
We need to understand the root causes of physical, mental, and emotional imbalances in order to restore our sense of well-being and true healing. That understanding is different for each and every one of us. The one size fits all approach simply doesn’t work. That is why I wanted to inform you about the Ayurveda Experience. It is a great way to get to the source of your imbalance and restore balance.
Disclaimer: I am not a physician. I am providing content for information purposes based on my personal experience and research and my clients’ experience. Always seek advice from your practitioner regarding medical conditions or treatment options, and never delay due diligence in taking care of your body.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is an ancient form of holistic, preventive health care that originated in India. The word Ayurveda actually means “the science of life” in Sanskrit. It is a complete system of medicine that focuses on the interconnectedness and balance between our physical, mental and spiritual health. This system lives on the idea that our bodies are composed of five essential elements – air, water, fire, earth, and ether – and that each of us has a unique combination of them.
The Ayurveda Experience is a unique, holistic path that can help us unlock our natural capacity for wellness and live joyfully. By understanding this balance through diet, lifestyle, herbs, and other natural remedies, we can become more aware of our needs and take proactive steps towards improving our health from the root cause on up. The Ayurveda experience is a simple yet in-depth system of self-healing that will help you:
- Align with our purest inner core
- Nurture and cultivate our unique strengths!
- Understand our challenging areas
- Transform negative habits into positive ones
- Keep a sense of equilibrium even when things seem bleakest
If you’ve never heard of Ayurveda before, or if you want to learn more about it and take the first steps towards a healthier lifestyle, I highly recommend you read this article in its entirety. It is a great way to become familiar with the basics and start your journey towards better health through Ayurveda.
Brief History
Ayurveda is an incredibly ancient practice. First written in Sanskrit around 2000 B.C., it has been practiced in India, Sri Lanka, and other parts of Asia for thousands of years. “The Vedas” are an ancient collection of Indian texts, and the Ayurvedic system is based on teachings from these scriptures. Even today, many traditional Indian healers still practice this system.
The Ayurveda Experience is rooted in the belief that all aspects of human life are connected and inextricably linked. The system is based on a holistic approach to healing and focuses on the individual rather than just their physical symptoms. It seeks to identify the underlying cause of a condition and treat the underlying imbalance rather than just treating symptoms.
Today it is gaining popularity in the West as an alternative form of healing and health promotion. Centuries ago, Ayurveda was born from the idea that we each have a distinct blend of five fundamental components – air, water, fire, earth, and ether – residing in our bodies. Depending on your body’s makeup, you are one of seven constitution types which we’ll get into later in this article.
Ayurveda and Self-Healing
Ayurveda is all about self-healing. It promotes the idea that we can take an active role in our own health and wellness. By understanding our body’s natural balance and taking steps to maintain it, we can work towards optimal well-being. This is what drew me to learn more about Ayurveda and self-healing. No one knows our bodies the way we do. And, of course, we can’t play with our bodies because we only get one. (I know you felt that catchphrase coming on!).
It does not discredit Western medicine but gives us another way of looking at our own health. We can become familiar with the underlying sources of our physical and emotional ailments. We can also strengthen our relationship with ourselves to take proactive steps towards true health instead of just believing what the doctor tells us is it.
Don’t you think it’s unfair to believe you must take medication to feel good enough to have a decent quality of life? Sometimes medications and treatments are needed, but we shouldn’t depend on them to heal us. We owe it to ourselves to take ownership of our own health.
Balance is the Natural Order
Ayurveda promotes the idea that balance is the natural order. It’s more than just a good idea. It’s essential for our health and well-being. Our bodies are like a giant puzzle with all the pieces connecting to form one complete picture. Only when we’re living in balance can we truly enjoy a healthy, happy life. It is worth learning more about Ayurveda’s principles because we create our own imbalances.
It’s not just physical imbalances but mental and emotional ones too. There is no such thing as all of a sudden. There is always a cause and effect, even if we don’t catch on until the “effect” happens. Let’s look at some examples.
If we’re not getting enough sleep or eating the right foods, then our bodies are in a state of imbalance. We can feel sluggish and low in energy, and our bodies cannot function at their best. It can lead to further physical imbalances, such as constant hunger. Constant hunger leads you to overeat and gain excess weight, for example. Our lives are essentially us creating imbalances and working to understand them so that we can restore our inner balance.
Remember when you said you would only eat dairy once and ended up eating it five times in one week and in excess? You know that dairy causes bloating and, in some cases, acne, but you did it anyway.
What about when you went to that all-you-can-eat shrimp night at Red Lobster, knowing you had a shellfish allergy? Yes, you took Benadryl, but that’s only a bandaid solution.
Let’s get more personal. What about the emotional and mental stress you deal with daily that you feel is holding you back from your true potential or negatively impacting your physical health? You know there’s something off, and you can feel it, but you don’t necessarily know what’s causing it.
Ayurveda looks at all these things to help you figure out where your imbalances are and how to restore balance. It’s all about understanding the relationship between your body, mind, and soul. It’s understanding your own body and its unique needs so that you can create the right balance for yourself. That’s the power of Ayurveda and self-healing.
Ayurveda is a powerful tool for understanding the underlying cause of imbalances and taking steps to restore natural balance. By understanding our personal constitution type and how the five elements interact in our body, we can take an active role in maintaining optimal health and well-being. It’s a beautifully holistic approach to healing and self-care that can help us live long and happy lives.
Imbalance is the Dis-Ease
To understand more about Ayurveda and the power of self-healing, we must first understand that imbalance is the root cause of all dis-ease. As I said before, only when our bodies, minds, and souls are in harmony can we genuinely experience lasting health and well-being.
The current state of your balance changes regardless of if it’s getting better or worse. They can change for the better in the summer or change for the worse when you lose your job. It’s different for everyone but ever-present. It means that imbalances can achieve restoration. It’s our job to ensure we’re doing what’s necessary to bring ourselves back into balance.
Ayurveda is more than just a system of healing. It’s also about prevention and maintaining balance for long-term health and well-being. From eating the right foods and getting enough rest, to stress management and mindfulness, it’s about understanding the interplay of various factors that influence our health.
Effects of the Ayurvedic Experience
Many people practice Ayurveda with excellent results. Others use specific rules that help to maintain balance and prevent further imbalances. For example, one of the principles of Ayurveda is to not eat after sunset. This rule helps to maintain a balance between the hours of sleep and other activities during the day.
The goal is to give your liver and kidneys a chance to detox and cleanse in that 4-hour window between 10 pm and 2 am I always talk about. Over time if that doesn’t happen, our bodies will suffer from the accumulation of toxins which can show up as physical and emotional imbalances.
Let’s look at other ways you can benefit from the Ayurveda Experience.
Treat the Cause, Not the Symptom
The most important aspect of Ayurveda is the understanding that true healing comes from treating the cause rather than masking the symptoms. Symptoms can be seen as clues that something is off balance and needs to be addressed. By looking at the root cause of illness, Ayurveda can help us address the symptom’s underlying cause.
Healthy Daily Routine (Dinacharya)
One of the fundamental principles of Ayurveda is establishing a healthy daily routine or Dinacharya. It includes waking up early, getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals, exercising regularly, and relaxing. One practitioner I spoke with told me about eating my biggest meal between 12 pm and 2 pm to give my body more energy throughout the day and to enhance detoxification. These are all critical components of keeping your body and mind in balance.
Exercise and Movement
Ayurveda also strongly recommends making time for daily exercise or physical activity. Even if it’s just a 15-minute walk, incorporating movement into your daily routine helps keep your body balanced and your energy levels up. The exercise you choose should be tailored to your constitution type and lifestyle. If you want to create a customized workout program based on your Ayurvedic constitution, take my free health assessment here to get started. I’ll be in touch with you shortly after.
Herbal Supplementation
Ayurveda also encourages the use of herbs as part of a daily routine. Herbs have been used for centuries to promote health and well-being. I can effortlessly maintain my health and high testosterone at 40 (the age men get told it starts to drop) because I supplement. Some herbs beneficial for the mind, body, and spirit include ashwagandha, turmeric, and Shatavari.
Better Energy and Enhanced Vitality
Finally, the Ayurveda Experience helps us improve our energy levels and vitality. By incorporating long-term healthy habits into your daily routine, you will feel more energized, motivated, and alive! You can also use Ayurvedic techniques such as yoga, pranayama, and meditation to help increase your energy levels and overall vitality.
Caring for the Body, Mind, and Spirit
Ayurveda is about taking care of the body, mind, and spirit. It is a holistic approach to health and well-being that focuses on the interplay of various factors that influence our health. You’d be surprised at how some of the constitutions of Ayurveda have a higher tendency for anxiety. Keeping it balanced is the key to preventing anxiety or lowering anxiety symptoms. So take the time to learn more about Ayurveda, and enjoy the Ayurveda Experience!
Enhanced Sleep, Improved Focus, and Clarity
The Ayurveda Experience also helps to improve sleep, focus, and clarity. Since Ayurvedic principles are based on maintaining balance, part of that includes getting enough rest. Every part of the body needs rest to repair and rejuvenate itself (including the brain).
So by understanding these basic principles, you can ensure that your body is getting the rest it needs to function optimally. Additionally, Ayurveda can improve focus and clarity of mind by incorporating certain herbs, such as Brahmi, into your daily routine.
The Three Gunas
Now we are getting into the nitty-gritty of the Ayurveda experience and self-healing. There are three Gunas. Each guna has a different energy or sattva, rajas, and tamas. Sattva is the quality of balance, clarity, and joy. Rajas is the quality of movement or excitement. Tamas is the quality of dullness or heaviness. Each of these qualities affects your body, mind, and spirit, so it is crucial to understand how they work to create balance.
The Three Doshas That Make Up The Ayurveda Experience
The three doshas represent the three energies that govern our physiology and mental functioning. They are called Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each one is associated with a particular element. While each dosha lives in each individual, their actual ratio will differ.
Vata
The Vata dosha relates to the elements of air and ether. It is the energy that governs movement in the body, including circulation and breathing. Other movements include nerve impulses, communication, and our capacity to experience joy, flexibility, and expansive consciousness. Vata’s qualities are dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile, and clear.
Vata dominant individuals are quick and imaginative thinkers. They have a thin and light frame. They are usually busy and active but can become quickly exhausted. These individuals love to talk and shop. They are also energetic and love new experiences.
Let’s revisit the three Gunas for a better understanding. When one of the three Gunas gets out of balance, it’s either in excess or insufficient. Think of excitement (rajas). If a Vata-dominant individual loses their excitement to communicate, they will withdraw. Withdrawal can negatively impact their level of joy.
Or on the flip side, over-excitement can show up in the form of anxiety, leading to overstimulated communication. Think of someone talking very loud and fast, not giving you the ability to speak.
Pitta
The Pitta dosha is associated with the elements of fire and water. It governs metabolism, digestion, charisma, courage, ambition, intelligence, and transformation. The qualities of Pitta are hot, sharp, light, liquid, spreading, and oily.
Pitta-dominant individuals are very ambitious and competitive. They have an average body frame with good muscular definition. They tend to be high achievers but can also be irritable and intense. These individuals enjoy challenges and are often successful in their endeavors. Pitta dominant individuals are good leaders and to-the-point speakers.
Kapha
The Kapha dosha is associated with the elements of earth and water. It governs structure, stability, lubrication, growth, energy conservation, nourishment, fluid balance, fat regulation, strength, stamina, memory, and our ability to feel compassion and contentment. Kapha qualities are heavy, slow, cool, oily, smooth, dense, soft, stable, gross, and cloudy.
Kapha-dominant individuals tend to be on the heavy side and are usually slow to warm up. These types of people are gentle, loyal, and loving. They have an easygoing attitude and are steady and reliable in their friendships and relationships.
Kapha dominant people are loyal and take on responsibilities with ease. They tend to be thoughtful, forgiving, sweet, patient, loving, slow-moving, yet sturdy and resistant to change. Their love for food isn’t the problem. Their slow digestion, i.e., slow metabolism, is the problem. They enjoy being surrounded by family and friends but can be prone to depression.
You Can Have More Than One Dosha
It is important to remember that everyone has all three doshas in them, but the ratio of each varies. For example, someone may have a predominance of Vata, with Pitta and Kapha in lesser amounts. This is called a Vata-dominant constitution. Knowing your constitution and understanding how the doshas balance each other is a key to good health.
- Vata-Type: A more significant amount of Vata
- Pitta-Type: A tremendous amount of Pitta
- Kapha-Type: A greater amount of Kapha
Now let’s look at combination constitutions.
Vata-Pitta-Type (or Pitta-Vata)
Those with a Pitta-Vata constitution have larger Pitta and Vata doshas but less Kapha dosha.
Pitta-Kapha (or Kapha-Pitta)
These individuals have lesser Vata and more Pitta and Kapha in their constitution.
Kapha-Vata (or Vata-Kapha)
Vata-Kapha individuals have high amounts of the Vata and Kapha doshas and less of the pitta dosha.
Tridoshic (or Vata-Pitta-Kapha-Type)
Tridoshic individuals are unique because they have an equal balance of all three doshas within the body.
Are you starting to understand the constitutions?
To understand which constitution you have, I invite you to take the below dosha quiz. It will help you to understand your own unique constitution and what self-healing techniques you can incorporate into your daily life. Plan to take the test every month to see where you are because the doshas change. I took the test one month ago, and I was Pitta-dominant. Today, I am tridoshic (Vata (30) -Pitta (40) – Kapha (30)). I’m still Pitta dominant, but my levels of Kapha and Vata have increased.
Your results will show within the page, once you click submit.
Dosha Quiz
Answer each question as honestly as possible, selecting the option that best describes yourself for most of your life. Don’t focus on moments or situations but the overall experience. If you’re having a hard time doing this, select the option that best describes someone similar to you. If more than one quality is applicable in each characteristic, choose the one that applies the most.
How do You Balance Your Dosha?
Before we talk about how to balance your dosha, let’s look at the imbalances in each constitution. Not that every imbalance happens as excess in each constitution.
- Vata imbalances show up as fear, anxiety, physical and emotional constriction, ungroundedness, poor circulation, constipation, dry skin, cracking joints, emaciation, insomnia, twitches, tremors, and other abnormal movements.
- Pitta imbalances emulate anger, jealousy, inflammation, excessive heat, heartburn, loose stools, migraines, rashes, bruising, bleeding disorders, sharp hunger, an overactive metabolism, and difficulty sleeping.
- Kapha imbalances cause attachment, greed, resistance to change, heaviness in the mind and body, lack of motivation, excessive sleep, depression, a sluggish metabolism, congestion, water retention, hardening of the arteries, and the formation of masses and tumors.
Is Ayurvedic Medicine Safe?
Ayurveda is a safe and natural approach to healthcare. It is based on an ancient philosophy of health and well-being that uses the healing power of nature. It uses natural remedies to help people achieve balance and restore health. Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health and well-being that uses natural methods to treat the mind, body, and spirit.
However, as with anything, pay attention to how your body responds to herbs and supplements. For example, some experience dizziness when taking Shatavari.
Is Ayurvedic Medicine Effective?
The answer is yes. Ayurvedic medicine is effective. Ayurvedic medicine can help you achieve balance and restore your health through herbs, diet, lifestyle changes, yoga, and meditation. That doesn’t mean you don’t see your doctor. It means taking control of your health and learning more about how the Ayurveda lifestyle can help you.
Understand the Risks
As with anything, there are risks to be aware of. It’s important to discuss all treatments with your doctor before beginning them. For example, if you are on medications, certain herbs and natural remedies can interact with them and cause problems. So always talk to your doctor before beginning any treatment. That’s where seeing an ayurvedic practitioner comes in.
Visiting an Ayurvedic Practitioner
It’s possible to self-diagnose and treat yourself, but it’s best to visit an ayurvedic practitioner to get personalized advice and guidance. An ayurvedic practitioner can help you understand your unique constitution and advise how to balance it best. They can also provide natural remedies and lifestyle advice to help you restore balance in your life.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to health and well-being. Everyone is unique, so finding what works for you and your body is essential. The Ayurveda experience is a fantastic journey of self-discovery and healing. Start understanding your dosha and incorporate the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda into your daily life.
Commonly Prescribed Treatments
Common Ayurvedic approaches to restoring balance include herbal remedies, dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, yoga, and meditation. One of the best treatments is pranayama (breathing exercises) and yoga, which help bring balance to all three doshas and can be used for many health concerns.
Wrapping Up
The Ayurveda Experience is a robust and holistic approach to restoring balance and healing yourself. You can incorporate Ayurvedic wisdom into your life by understanding your dosha and changing your diet, lifestyle, and daily activities. You have the power to achieve balance and health in your life. Start your journey with Ayurveda today!
And Remember, don’t play with your body. You only get one!
Peace and Blessings
Frequently Asked Questions on the Ayurveda Experience
Below are frequent inquiries on using the Ayurveda Experience to cure the stress of imbalance for self-healing.
Is Ayurveda a Buddhist?
No, Ayurveda is not considered a form of Buddhism. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medicine system that uses physical and mental techniques to restore balance and health. It is rooted in the Vedic tradition and has been practiced for over 5000 years. However, Buddhism draws heavily on ayurvedic principles and practices.
Who is the God of Ayurveda?
The original concept of Ayurveda is linked to Dhanwantari, a Vedic god of medicine and healing. He is said to be an avatar of Vishnu and is known as the “father of Ayurveda.”
Is Ayurveda or Chinese medicine older?
Ayurveda is one of the oldest documented medical systems, having origins in India more than 5000 years ago. Chinese medicine dates back to 2000 B.C. and is based on the ancient wisdom of Taoism. Both systems approach health from a holistic perspective and are used to treat different conditions.
What beliefs are Ayurvedic practitioners based on?
Ayurvedic practitioners believe in the fundamental principles of balance, unity, and harmony. They strive to maintain a healthy balance between body, mind, and spirit to ensure optimal health. It is done using diet and lifestyle remedies, herbs, meditation, yoga, massages, and other natural therapies.
Why is Ayurveda a way of life?
Ayurveda is a way of life because it focuses on restoring balance to the body, mind, and spirit. It holistically looks at health and addresses the underlying cause of imbalance rather than just treating symptoms. Ayurveda also encourages lifestyle choices focusing on well-being and balance, such as eating well, getting enough rest and exercise, and establishing healthy relationships.
What are the three types of Ayurveda?
The three types of Ayurveda are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each type has unique properties and represents a different balance of the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. These three types also correspond to different mental and physical characteristics and behaviors, which can inform an individual’s health.
What are the benefits of Ayurveda?
There are many potential benefits of Ayurveda, including improved digestion, better sleep, increased energy, relaxation and stress reduction, improved focus and mental clarity, enhanced immune system function, improved skin health, and much more. Additionally, Ayurveda can help manage chronic conditions such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, as well as mental health issues.