Ayurveda Mini Course
Day 2: Dosha Imbalances / Doshas in Balance
What does balance mean to you?
For your overall health, finding balance is essential.
Your basic nature is a unique combination of the three doshas—everyone has all of the doshas in varying quantities—so finding balance is an individual and personal journey. Some people love a daily routine that rarely changes, while others crave spontaneity. A 60-hour workweek might be fine for your colleague, but it just doesn't work for you.
The more you know and understand your dosha type—your essential nature—the better prepared you'll be to make changes to balance your mind and body.
In understanding the mind-body principles—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—it's crucial to recognize their balanced and imbalanced expressions. When these principles are in harmonious proportions within the mind-body physiology, it results in a state of well-being, happiness, and seamless bodily functions. However, lifestyle choices play a significant role in either maintaining this balance or causing an imbalance in the doshas.
Deviation from a proper diet and unhealthy lifestyle choices can disturb these principles, leading to distress in the mind or body.
Understanding and addressing imbalances is vital for maintaining overall well-being and preventing chronic health issues associated with the disruption of these mind-body principles.
The Elements and their Attributes
The three doshas reveal physical and mental traits.
Parents and inheritance play a role in your essential nature, but there's more to the story. Whether you're slight or sturdy, determined or indecisive, excitable or calm—your unique combination of the three doshas is set at conception. But throughout your life, your choices and experiences can change the state of balance of your doshas.
Your dosha type shapes your destiny, without necessarily determining it.
Vata
(Air + Space)
Vata, responsible for all movement in the body and mind, is akin to the wind—dry, light, subtle, irregular, quick, mobile, cold, rough, and changeable. Those with a predominant Vata constitution are typically thin, light, and active, displaying quick movements, adaptability, and a tendency towards inconsistency in habits, interests, and bodily functions.
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Pitta
(Fire + Water)
Pitta oversees digestion, with its fire principle metabolizing experiences for absorption and elimination. Pitta attributes include being hot, light, intense, penetrating, spicy, sharp, and acidic. Individuals with a significant Pitta constitution are intellectually sharp, often excelling in leadership, vision, and communication. They possess a hearty appetite, good digestion, warmth even in cooler environments, and a strong desire for knowledge and recognition.
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Kapha
(Earth + Water)
Kapha manages structure, protection, and lubrication, characterized by attributes like heaviness, coldness, solidity, stability, wetness, smoothness, and slowness. Those with a predominant Kapha constitution tend to be sturdy and consistent, physically heavyset with strength and endurance. They are process-oriented, slow to anger, and exhibit moist, youthful skin. The heaviness of Kapha predisposes them to retaining excess weight.
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Reflection
Which physical and mental qualities do I recognize most in myself?
That's it for today!
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