Introduction to Ayurveda and the Doshas

YOGA JOURNAL

Ayurveda is an awareness and lifestyle that promotes balance, health and honoring the unique body we have been gifted with. Ayurveda directly translates to “Knowledge of Life”. This practice employs a range of practices for optimal health including yoga and meditation practice, detoxification methods and the principle of Ahimsa; non-violence. By Ahimsa, practitioners of Ayurveda adhere to a vegetarian diet as it is far less toxins going into the body and far less bad vibes going out into the Universe. 


Ayurveda recognizes 3 main energetic houses:: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.  These are identified by the way the energy manifests  in the physical body and reacts to it’s environment.  Many of us have a main Dosha energy within us but also identify with the other energies. This is totally normal- we all have unique energetic proportions between the Kapha, Vata and Pitta energy. It is most likely however that you will find one of these categories to describe you far better than the others. What Dosha our energy is Viking with can change based on living environment, experience, age and constant change.  

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• ​Stability and potential energy
• Time of year: Late Winter, early Spring.
• Earth and water elements.
• Translation: To stick.
• Associated with physical stability, structure and fluid balances in the body.
• Qualities: Oily, cold, stable, dull, vicious, smooth, dense.
• Time of day: 6-10 am & pm.
• Life phase: Childhood.
• Anabolism.
• Balanced Kapha mind:  Loving, patient, kind,  nurturing, stable, devoted, loving.
• Unbalanced Kapha mind: Controlling, insecure, lethargic, apathetic, insensitive, materialistic. 
• Kapha body type: Larger build, well developed, tall or short, cool skin.

• Time of year: Summer.
• Fire element.
• Translation: To burn.
• Associated with body heat, energy production, metabolism and the digestive system. 
• Qualities: Oily, hot, light, intense, fluid, acidic.
• Time of day: 10 - 2 am & pm
• Life phase: Adulthood
• Balanced Pitta mind: Intelligent, perceptive, warm, friendly, courageous, a good leader,  enlightened.
• Unbalanced Pitta mind: Aggressive,  vain, manipulative.
• Pitta body type: Good metabolism, toned muscles, medium height, bright skin that is glowing. ​

• Energy of movement. (Kinetic)
• Time of year: Late fall, early winter.
• Air and Ether elements. 
• Translation: To move.
• Associated with body movement, thought, emotion and detoxification.
• Qualities: Dry, cold, light, quick, mobile, rough.
• Time of day: 2 - 6 am & pm.
• Life Phase: Old Age.
• Catabolism.
• Balanced Vata mind: Energetic, adaptable, 
• healing vibes, good with expression and communication, positive spirit,                                     creative.
• Unbalanced Vata  mind: Indecisive, anxious, secretive, hyper-active, unreliable. 
• Vata body type: Either Tall                                        and lanky or tiny and skinny,                                        little eyes, good circulation, thin/light.

Here are a few little posters outlining the info in this blog if you want to print it out or have this info ready on your phone!

Thanks so much for taking the time to learn a little bit about Ayurveda and the doshas! We haven’t even begun to scratch the surface! Until next time.