Ayurveda is the belief that optimal health is achieved by balancing the spirit, mind and body. It was started over 5,000 years ago in India and was the primary health system. It combines science with psychology, spirituality and philosophy. Ayurveda uses guidelines, recipes, self care practices and remedies to live a healthy and balanced life.
What About Western Medicine?
Working in the healthcare industry in the western world, I understand that Ayurvedic medicine is not meant to replace, but to complement western medicine. The focus is more preventative rather than treating something already gone wrong.
Ayurvedic medicine acknowledges that physical conditions and mental conditions are closely intertwined. The health issue isn’t looked at on its own, but what factors may have caused it.
How Does Ayurveda Relate to Yoga?
The ancient yogic texts, The Vedas, intended for yoga and Ayurveda to be practiced together. Ayurveda was to achieve a balanced body and optimal health, while yoga was to achieve spiritual awakening or enlightenment. The better nourishment that our body received, the more likely we were able to attain enlightenment.
Ayurveda Diet: Listen to your Gut
According to Ayurveda, the secret to health is in the digestive system, the eternal fire or Agni. With digestion of food, you digest emotions and experiences. When food sits in the GI tract for too long toxins build up and cause health issues.
Food consumed should be organic, fresh and in season without GMOs or artificial flavoring. Foods should be chosen based upon your body and mind type, known as the Doshas.
What are Doshas?
Ayurveda is based on the natural elements of fire, water, earth, air and ether (space). They exist not only in the universe but in our bodies. These elements make up the three Doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
Vata: made up of air and ether. It is dry, light, cold and mobile. It is in charge of movement in the body, such as the circulatory system, bowel elimination, respiration, and all other physical movement. When Vata is out of balance you experience constipation, bloating, anxiety, irregular periods, forgetfulness and insomnia.
Pitta: made up for fire and water. It’s hot, oily, liquid, and light. It is mostly seen in the stomach, small intestines, blood, liver, gallbladder and spleen. When out of balance, you feel hot all the time, have skin breakouts, smell bad, suffer from heartburn, ulcers, acid reflux, and diarrhea. It can also cause anger, competitiveness, stress and burnout.
Kapha: made up of earth and water. It’s heavy, slow cold, dense, wet and soft. It’s in your lungs, stomach, lymph system, and sinuses. It regulates bone density, strength, body fat and stamina. Imbalances cause cold and clammy feeling, weight gain, lethargy, excessive mucus, infections, swelling, water retention, laziness, depression and loneliness.
We are all made up of all three of these Doshas, but some are more prevalent than others in each individual. It’s important to know what your primary Dosha is to choose Ayurvedic practices and diet to complement and balance you. Take the quiz to find out your Mind-Body type.
Ayurveda Practices to Start Incorporating Today
Oil pulling- Swishing around oil in your mouth removes toxins. Choose the oil best suited for your dosha
Tongue Scraping– Using a metal tongue scraper removes toxic build up
Dry Brushing– nursing the skin with a dry brush to remove dead skin cells
Abyanga– self oil massage to stimulate the lymphatic system and moisturize the skin
Neti– clearing the nasal passages with salt water using a Neti pot to remove toxins and allergens
Nasya– lubricating the nasal passages with oil to moisturize, decrease creation of more mucus and detoxifies.
How Can You Incorporate This Into Your Life?
I found it overwhelming to start all of this at once, so I have slowly started introducing things. You don’t need to follow these guidelines 100% of the time. Start off making a few changes. I started with a morning routine using the self care rituals and small changes in food choices based on my Dosha. I traded in raw veggies for more cooked to balance my Vata qualities. Try things one at a time and slowly start introducing more Ayurvedic practices into your daily life until it becomes habitual. There are so many benefits, but allow yourself some grace and trust that you are on the right path to optimal health.