Ayurveda & The Doshas
Ayurveda is a medical science developed through meditation and through the observation of the micro and macro expression of the five elements — Ether (space), Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Sanskrit for “the science of longevity,” Ayurveda is a full-spectrum system of healing with more than 5,000 years of case studies proving its efficacy. According to this system, wellness originates in balance and in aligning oneself with the rhythms and elements of nature. Treatment focuses on diet, daily and seasonable routines, medicinal herbs, oils, bodywork, yoga and meditation.
In Ayurvedic physiology, the five elements mentioned above form specific pairs to create the doshas called vata, pitta and kapha. These three mind-body or metabolic types make up the world and exist within each of us.
Vata is made up of the ether and air elements. It embodies the energy of movement, and it is light, airy and rising. (SEE DETAILED DESCRIPTION BELOW)
Pitta is the fire element. It embodies the energy of transformation, and is hot and sharp.
Kapha is a combination of the water and earth elements. It embodies the energy of building and holding structure.
We all have all three of the doshas within us, but typically one or two of them show up more in your personality, strengths, tendencies, and challenges.
Prakruti
Your Ayurvedic Dosha(s)
According to Ayurveda, each individual contains a unique composition of the doshas creating a body, mind and personality that is as unique as your thumb print. Your constitution, which is called prakruti, is formed by the three doshas — vata, pitta and kapha — coming together in a unique ratio. This is determined at the moment of conception by the genetics, diet, lifestyle, and emotions of the parents, and is impacted by your mother’s diet, life style, environment, and mental/emotional state during the nine months you were in the womb.
VATA dosha
Ether + Air
Vata is a combination of the ether and air elements. It embodies the energy of movement, and it is light, airy and rising. It is responsible for creativity, communication, breath, heartbeat and elimination.
When vata is too elevated, a person may experience anxiety, fear, restlessness, gas, bloating, constipation, joint pain, etc.
HEALTHY VATA
Vata dosha is responsible for creativity, clarity, imagination, intuition, communication, movement, joy and adaptability. These energies allow us to be more inclined toward change, quick to act, inspired to create and excited to dream up innovative ideas. Vata gives us the gift of being able to pivot, which is often why fall (vata season) feels so ripe with change.
Vibrant vata may also show up as a new insight, an ever-evolving curiosity, a compelling understanding of yourself, an excitement for what is possible, a genuine willingness to adapt, a strong pull to try something new, desire for authentic communication and expression, or a more playful approach to your relationships. These are ways that the gifts of vata dosha manifest, and they are all available to you when vata is properly cared for.
VATA CHALLENGES
When vata becomes too elevated — which is especially common during the fall — we might have a difficult time focusing or staying on task. We may even become overwhelmed by ideas, questions and uncertainty. This is what gives rise to anxiety, insomnia and racing thoughts. In order to stay grounded, centered and at peace within ourselves, we must tend to vata — especially in the fall and winter months.
Air and ether are fragile energies, and they need to be handled with the utmost care. Too much of these elements within us can be debilitating. In such cases, we experience the change in season more like a windstorm turning everything upside-down and making a mess, rather than a soft ocean breeze brushing our skin. In these moments, we may also experience dry skin, constipation, gas, bloating, cold hands and feet, painful joints, brittle hair or nails, low libido, painful or infrequent menstrual cycle, and even forgetfulness or loss of memory. Excess vata can makes us flighty, easily distracted, indecisive, or unable to finish what we’ve started.
When these imbalances reveal themselves, vata is telling us that it needs more care and attention. If we refuse vata’s need for steady, grounding, and gentle attention, the flow of energy in our subtle channels can become erratic, unpredictable and painful.
Balancing VATA
We work to soothe vata by removing substances and activities that have the same qualities, and adding activities and substances that have the opposite qualities.
The qualities of vata are: cold, dry, light, rough, subtle, mobile and clear. Tastes that elevate vata are bitter, astringent and pungent. Anything that contains these specific qualities or tastes will increase vata, perpetuating imbalance. Vata is also particularly imbalanced by trauma, grief, travel and stress. Imbalanced vata my result in anxiety, constipation, joint or low back pain, dry skin, insomnia, gas or bloating.
The opposite qualities of vata are: hot, slow, soft, static and moist, and its balancing tastes are sweet, salty and sour. Things that contain majority of these qualities or tastes will decrease vata. When used intelligently, these gunas and tastes bring vata back into balance.
Here are three simple ways to keep your vata happy:
Commit to a regular daily or weekly routine. Keep it consistent because the light and mobile qualities of vata need structure to stay grounded.
Eat well-cooked, well-spiced foods. Avoid foods that are cold, light, dry and rough such as raw vegetables (yes, that means salad) because these increase vata in the body.
Rub the soles of your feet with sesame oil each night before bed to bring a heavy, oily quality to your body, ensuring that vata’s activity is soothed and you get a good night’s rest.
If you would like to learn more about how the doshas manifest in you, meet with an Ayurvedic Practitioner for 1:1 support or start by taking the Mind Body Type Quiz.
Self care is a radical act — when you are vibrant and awake, you have the clarity and energy to show up for what you believe in. Cultivate Balance provides Ayurvedic consultations, Goodness Guides, and online wellness courses that support you to nurture yourself so you can nurture the world. Dive in with our FREE mini-course, The Basic Balance Challenge!
