Have you ever wished your body came with an instruction manual? Forget about battling your body and struggling to change what you've got. The ancient Indian wisdom of Ayurvedic medicine reveals that your individual body type/dosha is determined at birth. And you can learn to work with and really embody your full potential.
 |
| Ether Air Fire Earth Water |
Ayurveda is India's 5000-year-old science of life, health and longevity. It tells us that the five elements — ether (space), air, earth, fire and water — make up everything in the universe, including the human body. In humans, the five elements come together to create three different constitutional types, or doshas, known as
vata (from ether and air),
pitta (from fire and an aspect of water), and
kapha (from water and earth).
Our individual dosha influences us at all levels of our mind, body and consciousness. This includes our weight, our characteristics, behaviours and our reactions towards stress, certain foods, other people... even the weather.
Ayurveda is a deeply rewarding holistic way of using your own bodily wisdom to reverse any disease process and live in your element for a deeply fulfilled, happy and health life.
In understanding your own basic human nature you can look far deeper than the nuts and bolts of your physical anatomy and tune in to your innate body wisdom. When you honour your unique individuality you can restore harmony and balance and reclaim optimal health and well-being.
What is your Ayurvedic body type?
Here is a quick quiz to help you identify your predominant dosha.
Are you a vata, pitta or kapha?
Your body shape
- V: Thin and slender
- P: Medium and muscular
- K: Broad and stout
Your weight
- V: Light
- P: Moderate
- K: Heavy
Your eyes
- V: Small, active and dark eyes
- P: Blue or green with a penetrating gaze
- K: Large, round and pleasant; blue or brown in colour
Your skin
- V: Dry, rough and thin
- P: Oily, sensitive, prone to irritations
- K: Thick, moist, pale and cool
Your body temperature
- V: Cold hands and feet, preferring warm and cosy environment
- P: Hands and feet are warm and cool environment is preferred
- K: Adaptable to all temperatures but dislikes cold humid days
Your hair
- V: Dark, dry, brittle and frizzy
- P: Fair and fine with a tendency of premature greying
- K: Thick, oily and lustrous
Musculature
- V: Thin muscles and prominent joints, veins and tendons
- P: Loose and flexible joints with good muscle development
- K: Joints are large and strong with big bones
Your sleep patterns
- V: Light and is easily disturbed
- P: Sound with vivid dreams
- K: Usually deep and long
Your nature
- V: Enthusiastic but with a tendency towards nervousness and worry
- P: Purposeful and intense with a strong convincing ability
- K: Calm and stable
Your intellect
- V: Quick intellect with good short-term memory
- P: Strong intellect with a tendency towards anger and irritability
- K: Excellent memory with a tendency towards inactivity
Mostly V: you are a vata
Vata is the mobile force of air and ether and is the most creative, artistic and philosophical of the doshas.
Vatas are quick to learn, and easily distracted and bored. They are like delicate flowers, highly attuned to the senses and easily unbalanced by excess of any kind. Treat them with loving gentle kindness and they will be a friend for life.
Balancing vata dosha
- Keep warm
- Eat warm, moist cooked foods and warming spices
- Keep calm
- Keep a regular routine
- Get plenty of rest
- Avoid cold, frozen, or raw foods
- Avoid extreme cold
- Do gentle exercise such as yoga and tai chi
Mostly P: you are a pitta
Pittas are the warriors of the doshas. With their keen intellect and driven competitive nature they are in their element working as politicians, lawyers and are the corporate A types. If you want to get a job done, put a
pitta to work on it. But take care not to get them too hot under the collar as they may turn into the raging bull with all that heat!
Balancing pitta dosha
- Avoid excessive heat
- Eat cooling, non-spicy foods
- Avoid excessive oil
- Pitta people should do a medium amount of exercise and only during the coolest time of day
- Avoid excessive steam
- Limit salt intake
Mostly K: you are a kapha
Kaphas are the most docile, nurturing and robust of the doshas. They love nothing more than to lie on the sofa surrounded by soft cushions, beautiful scents and all their favourite things. Being comfortable is what's important to them. They can be hard to motivate and get going, but once they are up and running they are the most enduring and loving of the doshas.
Balancing kapha dosha
- Get plenty of vigorous and stimulating exercise like bush walking or dancing
- Vary your routine
- Get off the sofa and go outdoors
- Avoid heavy foods
- Avoid fatty, oily foods
- Keep active
- Eat light meals
- Avoid excessive dairy
- Avoid daytime naps
- Avoid iced foods and drinks
As an Ayurvedic therapist I can accurately pinpoint your dosha, sub-doshas and any imbalances with a quick physical check, including tongue and pulse assessment, and recommend lifestyle changes to balance your doshas and cure everything from coeliac disease to chronic fatigue and skin disorders.
Contact me now for an individual consultation to find out who you really are and what you are made for. Consultations may include individually tailored diet and exercise plans, Ayurvedic massage, yoga asanas and even career advice according to any current imbalance/disease.Consultations are offered in person and remotely via email/Skype.
Try it for yourself today and learn how to make peace with yourself and your life.
Blessings
x
