"I believe staying connected and aware of our bodies in all their dimensions; physical, mental, spiritual and emotional is critical for health and happiness. When there is consistency and commitment towards the process of staying healthy the chance of living life to its fullest and transitioning peacefully, without suffering, is possible."
--Suheila Mouammar
I n t e r c o n n e c t e d n e s sIdeas about the relationships among people, their health, and the universe form the basis for how Ayurvedic practitioners think about problems that affect health.
Ayurveda holds that: All things in the universe (both living and non-living) are joined together. Every human being contains elements that can be found in the universe. All people are born in a state of balance within themselves and in relation to the universe. The processes of life disrupt this state of balance. Disruptions can be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, or a combination. Imbalances weaken the body and make the person susceptible to disease. One’s health will be good when interaction with the immediate environment is effective and wholesome. Disease arises when a person is out of harmony within oneself or the universe. Constitution and Health: Ayurveda also has some basic beliefs about the body's constitution. "Constitution" refers to a person's general health, how likely one is to become out of balance, and one’s ability to resist and recover from disease or other health problems. An overview of these beliefs follows: The constitution is called the prakriti. The prakriti is thought to be a unique combination of physical and psychological characteristics and the way the body functions. It is influenced by such factors as digestion and how the body deals with waste products. The prakriti is believed to be unchanged over a person's lifetime. Three qualities called doshas form important characteristics of the constitution and control the activities of the body. Practitioners of Ayurveda call the doshas by their original Sanskrit names: vata, pitta, and kapha. It is also believed that: Each dosha is made up of one or two of the five basic elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth. Each dosha has a particular relationship to body functions and can be upset for different reasons. A person has his/her own balance of the three doshas, although one dosha usually is prominent. Doshas are constantly being formed and reformed by food, activity, and bodily processes. Each dosha is associated with a certain body type, a certain personality type, and a greater chance of certain types of health problems. An imbalance in a dosha will produce symptoms that are specifically related to that dosha. Imbalances may be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle or diet; too much or too little mental and physical exertion; or not being properly protected from the weather, chemicals, or germs. In summary, it is believed that a person's chances of developing certain types of diseases are related to the way their doshas are balanced, the state of the bodies (physical, emotional and mental) or lifestyle factors and choices. |
The vata dosha
Vata is thought to be a combination of the elements space and air. It is considered the most powerful dosha because it controls very basic body processes such as cell division, the heart, breathing, and the mind. Some examples of how Vata can be thrown out of balance are: staying up late at night, eating dry fruit, or eating before the previous meal is fully digested. People with vata as their main dosha are thought to be especially susceptible to skin, neurological, and mental diseases. The pitta dosha
Pitta represents the elements fire and water. Pitta is said to control hormones and the digestive system. When pitta is out of balance, a person may experience negative emotions (such as hostility and jealousy) and have physical symptoms (such as heartburn within 2 or 3 hours of eating). Some examples that create an out of balance Pitta dosha are: eating spicy or sour food; being angry, tired, or fearful; or spending too much time in the sun. People with a predominantly pitta constitution are thought to be susceptible to heart disease and arthritis. The kapha dosha
Kapha combines the elements water and earth. Kapha is thought to help keep up strength and immunity and to control growth. An imbalance in the kapha dosha may cause nausea immediately after eating. Kapha is aggravated by, for example, sleeping during the daytime, eating too many sweet foods, eating after one is full, and eating and drinking foods and beverages with too much salt and water (especially in the springtime). Those with a predominant kapha dosha are thought to be vulnerable to diabetes, gallbladder problems, stomach ulcers, and respiratory illnesses such as asthma. |
