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August 2007
AYURVEDA
Knowledge of Life
Do you ever get the feeling that you lack balance or an inner calm? Or would you simply like to take an intense look at a more healthy diet and lifestyle? Even if you only need a few simple wellbeing tips – Ayurveda might just be the right thing for you. The traditional Indian teaching known as Ayurveda or “knowledge of life” is the combination of medicine, nutrition and philosophy all rolled into one. Despite the fact that it’s been practiced for thousands of years, Ayurveda is still astoundingly relevant today and although it shouldn’t be a replacement for medical care, it can always be used to support treatment. Introductions to Ayurveda and its applications are currently being offered in numerous medical centres and clinics throughout the world. Here is a small overview of the effect and opportunities of this ancient health belief.
The balance of all things
According to Ayurveda teaching, our world consists of three different governing forces or Doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These forces regulate all of our physical and emotional processes and are responsible for health, nutrition and all our likes and dislikes. Each person has his or her own Dosha type or can be a mixture of types. The trick is finding the right balance between these three forces as it’s when they become unbalanced that a person can become ill. This is where Ayurveda steps in: by matching a person’s Dosha with a lifestyle that fits him or her, your body and spirit can be correctly aligned, resulting in the stimulation of the person’s own powers of self-healing. In the West, Ayurveda is primarily known for its nutrition based teachings despite its similar experience in other therapies such as massages, steam baths and sound, colour and breathing therapies.
What type am I?
Are you Vata, Pitta or Kapha? To be certain what your main governing force is, you should take an Ayurvedian body type test. To summarise, Vata is responsible for the nervous system, breathing and sensory functions, as well as a person’s emotional well-being. Those belonging to this type have a lighter build and tend to suffer from insomnia and nervousness. Pitta regulates the body’s heat processes along with digestion and metabolism. As a Pitta type, you are organised, strong-minded, impatient and have a medium build. Kapha stands for growth, structure, bodily fluid maintenance, physical strength and resistance. Kapha types are stronger, calm and stable.
