Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a system of healing that offers both preventative and curative measures toward optimal health. Literally translated, Ayurveda means "knowledge of life" in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India. Ayurveda principles are designed to align you with the ability to balance your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy.

The goal of Ayurveda is to create a state of holistic health, beyond the physical body, and teaches us that health is a psychosomatic response to belief, energy and the sensation of prana coursing through our own body in order to create a healthy society and environment. In order to create this harmony inside and out, Ayurveda recommends one to discover within the natural rhythm of one's body to live in accordance with the laws of nature.

Ayurveda treatments are non-invasive and involve cleansing, building and balancing using natural remedies, including yoga, herbs, food, meditation, breathing techniques and mantras. Individuals are diagnosed based on their unique constitution, which involves one of three basic Ayurvedic doshas (constitutions), or a combination of the three.

Vata is made up of the wind and air qualities, that which is subtle, dry, light cold, rough, mobile, clear and changeable. A vata person may tend toward dry skin, a light frame, brittle nails, erratic speech, quick movements, and an inability to focus for long periods. Vata constitution thrives in a warm, moist, tropical climate, and is thrown out of balance by cold, dry mesa.

Foods to balance vata include sweet, oily, warm and heavy, such as root vegetable soups or vegetables braised in a bit of butter, rather than dry foods such as crackers or plain grains. It is important for vata's to lubricate the inner world, and food can help to balance the vata constitution by calming the nerves, soothing the brain, and activating the prana.

Pitta dosha is made up of fire and water. While heat predominates the pitta constitution, pitta is also sharp, light, spreading and oily, and tends towards a strong appetite, sharp mind, light eyes, and oily skin and hair. PItta governs metabolic and transformative functions of the body, to maintain appetite, thirst, coloration, assimilation, digestion, intelligence and comprehension.

Astringent and bitter foods are balancing for the pitta dosha. Oily, fried foods will throw pitta out of balance and will result in digestive disturbances. Pitta doshas tend towards anger, agression, impatience and irritability.

Kapha dosha is made up of water and earth, with the qualities of of heavy, slow, dull, grounded, cold, oily, dense, soft, static, sticky and clouy. A kapha person may tend towards heaviness, laziness, and have cool, soft skin, along with fluid retention and an aversion to change. Kapha also represents the principle of cohesion, and so a person with a Kapha dosha may tend to hold on to weight, relationships, possessions or money. Kapha governs lubrication, structure, support, strength, stamina, nourishment, growth, immunity, fat regulation water electrolyte balance and the sense of smell.

Kapha dosha should watch the intake of dairy or sweet foods, if trying to reduce weight. Because of the tendency to retain fluid, kapha people should exercise often and not overdo water intake.

If you would like to know more about your unique constitution, and receive lifestyle recommendations to balance your energy, email: consultations@createradiance.com

Namaste,
Waller