Ayurveda is one of the oldest traditional systems of medicine that originated in India. The word Ayurveda made up of two words Ayus(life) and Veda( knowledge or science ). Ayurveda's exact meaning of knowledge of life.
There are two aims of Ayurveda
There are two aims of Ayurveda
- To maintain the health of a healthy person
- To the treatment of disease
Ayurveda tells three tripods of life
- Mind
- Body
- Soul
Good health depends upon a balance between mind, body, and soul. According to Ayurveda the entire world including our body is made up of five elements called panch Maha-Bhutas.
- Earth(prithvi)
- Wind(vayu)
- Water(Jal)
- Fire(Agni)
- Aakash(space)
These elements combined and made of three energies or dosha
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha.
These three energies have a specific impact on our body
Vata dosha
Vata dosha
- Vata dosha is composed of space and air. Vata dosha mainly resides in the colon as well as in the brain ears bone and joint.
- Vata dosha governs all movement in the body like breathing, the activity of the nervous system,
- Vata dosha is in control of muscles and joint movement
- When Vata dosha is balanced, we have regular breathing, healthy bowel function, a calm mind
- Imbalance Vata dosha can cause intolerance of cold and wind, fear, insomnia, constipation, dryness in the skin.
Pitta dosha
- Pitta dosha is a combination of fire and water elements.
- Pitta is mainly found between the navel and heart.
- Pitta doshas control our digestion and metabolism. If pitta dosha is balanced we experience good appetite, the right level of all hormones, good vision (eyesight)
- Imbalance pitta dosha can be caused-hyper acidity, intense hunger or thirst, etc
Kapha Dosha
- Kapha dosha made up of water and earth elements.
- Kapha is mainly located above the heart.
- Kapha dosha maintains the physical structure and lubrication of our body.
- Kapha dosha is balanced, it gives you physical and mental strength.
- Imbalance Kapha doshas-obesity, slow digestion, dullness, depression, diabetes
Ayurveda believed that if these three doshas are balanced, it will make us healthy. Any kind of imbalance that happens, can lead us to disease. Many factors lead to this imbalance like weather, daily routine, time of day, sleep, etc.
Quality of Dosha
Ayurveda described the quality of each dosha. Once we know and understand the qualities of the three doshas, we can figure out all of the ways to keep dosha balance
Quality/General characteristic of each dosha -
Quality/General characteristic of each dosha -
- Vata is dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile
- Pitta is oily, sharp,, hot, light, mobile, and liquid.
- Kapha is heavy, Slow, Cold, oily, slimy, dense, soft, stable, and sticky
Now learn how to balance
According to Ayurveda principal like attract like and opposite help to create balance dosha.- If our Vata dosha is out of balance(any of Vata qualities in excess can cause an imbalance), we need to adjust our diet and lifestyle, which means we need to bring in the opposite qualities of Vata doshas. Need to prescribe certain herbs which help to balance Vata dosha. Vata dosha would be balanced by rest, heat, regular routine, gentle yoga.
- If pitta dosha is aggravated we need to choose cooling and non-spicy food or liquid, sweet and bitter taste in our diet and lifestyle. Certain herbs help to balance pitta dosha.
- For balancing Kapha we need to follow the light and less oil in the diet and add lots of exercise in your lifestyle.
- Yoga is defined as chitta vriti nirodha .Chitta vriti means -the activity of mind, Nirodh means controlling, means - yoga helps to control the fluctuant activities of the mind
- Another meaning of yoga means union, when we do a yoga pose the body, mind, and breath are brought together and create stability, calmness.
Benefits of yoga
- Yoga brings harmony between body and mind
- Yoga improves circulation
- Increase mind-body awareness
- Yoga keeps the body fit and flexible.
- Yoga develops inner awareness and many more.
The connection between yoga and Ayurveda
- Ayurveda and yoga both are paths of Vedic text. Ayurveda focuses on good physical health and healing the other side yoga improves an individual's physical, mental and emotional health.
- Yoga and Ayurveda both believe in three doshas.
- Ayurveda goals are to maintain the health of a healthy person and cure of diseases,yoga is the path to reach these goals
- The practice of Ayurveda and yoga together, strengthen our body and calm mind and bring us peace
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