Ayurveda is a Hindu system of medical knowledge derived from antiquity. Its principles are still used today to treat and prevent diseases of various origins: physical, mental and spiritual. Ayurveda provides practical recommendations on the principles of nutrition, exercise (yoga) and meditation methods aimed at restoring harmony of body and mind. Learn the basic principles of Ayurveda and find out what your type of physical and mental constitution (dosha) is.

Ayurvedaliterally translated is knowledge about life (Sanskrit:ayu- life,veda - knowledge). It teaches how to maintain harmony between the body and mind in order to enjoy he alth and a long, happy life. In practice, this means following the recommendations of Ayurvedic medicine, which shows methods of treating various diseases and tells you what to do to keep the body and mind in good shape. The slogan that best reflects the goals of Ayurveda is: keep those who are he althy and heal the diseases of those who are sick.

Ayurveda - how was it created?

The timing of Ayurvedic origins is difficult to determine due to the lack of sources. The oldest records that have survived to our times form part of the Vedas - the sacred books of Hinduism considered the largest collection of texts illustrating human knowledge about the world. The Vedas probably arose between 1500 and 500 BC, but Ayurveda is a much older system. Before it was written in text form, it circulated orally for thousands of years. Only after Ayurveda was included in the Vedic books, one permanent canon was established regarding its basic assumptions. It is presented in the form of three medical treatises: Charaka Samhita (contains information on diseases and methods of their treatment), Sashruta Samhita (discusses knowledge in the field of anatomy and surgery), Astang Hriday (includes an overview of the works of the most important Ayurvedic doctors).

Ayurveda and yoga - what's the difference?

In common thinking, yoga and Ayurveda are often equated. However, both terms have completely different meanings.

Ayurveda is the entire system of Indian medical knowledge that deals with the three aspects of human life: body, mind and spirit. The physical and mental condition of a person depends on their interaction. To achieve harmony between the individualelements, you need to eat properly, exercise and meditate. Yoga is one of the ways of taking care of he alth recommended by Ayurvedic medicine. It not only strengthens the body but also helps heal diseases by performing the appropriate asanas. For example, postures such as dhanurasana and salabhasana counteract tension in the abdomen, liver and small intestine, positively influencing digestion.

Yoga is therefore only one of the tools that Ayurvedic medicine uses to treat various diseases and prevent their development.

Ayurveda - the theory of the five elements

According to Ayurvedic theory, the existence of the world is the result of the combination of five elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether. Every phenomenon that occurs on earth and every product of it (including people) have one or two elements assigned to them. Classification is made on the basis of the similarities between an object and an element. For example, water has qualities such as coolness and density, and earth means weight, solidity, and stability. In the classification of seasons, both of these elements are characteristic of winter, which is the coldest and at the same time wet. In turn, fire and air are elements attributed to summer, because then it is hot and dry.

On the same principle one can classify different types of people. However, when it comes to humans, they get a different name: dosha.

Types of Doshas (constitutional types) in Ayurveda

Doshas are biological energies that represent the five elements in the human body (earth, water, fire, air, ether). There are three doshas, ​​each of them is a combination of two elements:

  • vata- consists of air and ether, it suits movement, creativity, energy, but also fear and anxiety;
  • pitta- is a combination of fire and water, it is characterized by courage, anger, pride, ambition;
  • kapha- combines the elements of water and earth, is associated with such emotions as love, sacrifice, jealousy, greed.

In every person, one of the doshas mentioned above dominates the others. Thus, there are five constitutional types:

  • Vata people- they are either very tall or very short, they have a thin, bony build, it is difficult for them to gain weight. Their skin is sallow, dark, their hair is dry and thin, their nails are rough and brittle. Since they are dominated by the air element, they are fast and restless. They are characterized by weak immunity, nervousness, timidity, but also enthusiasm, energy and joy. They should lead a relaxed, regulated lifestyle and devote enough time torelax.
  • Pitta people- are of medium height, medium build, have a he althy, ruddy complexion, thin, oily hair, delicate pink nails. They are characterized by high physical fitness, intelligence, entrepreneurship, but on the other hand, they are easily angry and impulsive. The predominance of the fire element makes their domain to be intensity. For this reason, they should avoid going to extremes and use moderation in their lives.
  • Kapha people- they are usually short, have a strong build, a lot of body fat, thick bones. Their skin is cold and moist, their skin is fair, their hair is thick and shiny, and their nails are delicate and white. They are well-balanced, calm, rarely angry. In rare cases, they can be envious, greedy, and full of lust. Their dominant elements are water and earth, which makes the kapha people the most balanced and stable of all types. At the same time, they tend to be overweight and lazy, which is why they are advised to exercise a lot and be active at all levels.
  • People with double dosha- in some people it is difficult to decide which dosha is dominant, hence they are assigned double doshas, ​​e.g. vata-kapha, pitta-vata etc. Their personality is a combination of features attributed to a given constitutional type.
  • People vata-pitta-kapha- a rare human type in which all doshas are in balance. This makes them enjoy the best he alth because it is easier for them to maintain their inner balance.

See also: Lotus flower - yoga pose step by step

Ayurveda - what is the treatment?

To take advantage of the healing properties of Ayurveda, you need to establish your constitutional type. On this basis, we can implement appropriate he alth recommendations for us regarding the principles of nutrition, yoga practice and meditation. Each of these activities should help us strive for inner harmony. We can only achieve it if we reduce the influence of the dominant doshas and make them equal to the others.

In practice, this consists in avoiding factors that favor the burdening of the constitutional dosha assigned to us. For example, vata people dominated by the elements of air and ether should avoid eating dry, light, "inflated" foods (eg, precooked rice, popcorn). Pitta people, emotional by nature, living intensely, should avoid spicy foods and anything with a warming effect. On the other hand, in kapha people, whose element is earth and water, the aggravating factors are eating heavy, fatty foods, as well as too muchlong sleep and little physical activity.

More detailed advice on diet, exercise, and meditation practices for each constitutional type can be found in Ayurvedic textbooks. However, it should be remembered that self-diagnosis is not always accurate, and therefore the effects of treatment may not be satisfactory. Therefore, if we want professional help, it is best to go to a professional Ayurvedic teacher who will determine our constitutional type and order appropriate treatment.

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