What is Ayurveda and the 3 Doshas?

Ayurveda is the traditional natural healing system of India going back over 5,000 years. It is also a philosophy.

The word ‘Ayurveda’ is made up of two Sanskrit words: ‘Ayu’ means life and ‘Veda’ means knowledge. Therefore Ayurveda is often translated as ‘Art of Living’ or the ‘Science of Life’.

Yoga and Ayurveda share the same origin and are considered sister sciences.

Ayurveda gives you the knowledge to maintain a physically and emotionally balanced state by living in harmony with nature, eating the right food and living a lifestyle unique to your Ayurvedic mind-body type.

This mind-body type is called a ‘Dosha’ in Sanskrit and by understanding your Dosha, you can start to bring your body and mind back to a balanced state and ultimately live a healthier, happier life.

Complimenting this, Yoga gives you the technology – which is your physical practice (Asana), Soundwork (Mantra), breathing exercises (Pranayama), meditation (Dhyana) and Yogic wisdom (Yamas & Niyamas) to re-balance your mind, body and soul, and ultimately connect with your ‘Soul’ or your ‘Higher Self’.

Whether you are at the beginning of your  Yoga journey or an experienced Yoga practitioner, I truly believe that it’s essential that you understand your Dosha as it is difficult to fully benefit from Yoga on its own, when your mind and body are not nourished and balanced.

Through eating the right food for your Dosha and living a lifestyle that is unique to your Dosha, that is when you will feel the full benefits of Yoga.

Discovering and understanding your Dosha (Ayurvedic mind-body type)

What is Dosha (mind-body type)?

Every individual is made of a combination of five elements, Air, Ether, Fire, Water and Earth and these elements combine in the human body to form three Doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Doshas are the energies believed to circulate in the body that make up every individual, which perform different physiological functions in the body.

The differing portions of these Doshas determine individual characteristics and physical constitution.
Each individual has all three Doshas but usually one or more of the three Doshas is predominant. When these Doshas are imbalanced, it is believed to cause particular physical and mental disorders.