Ayurveda Doshas
Ayurveda - the science of life
Ayurveda, pronounced “EYE-yer-VAY-da,” translates to the “science of life” and is a 5,000-year-old holistic health system of India that describes a complete, sophisticated, tried-and-true medical science of life that sets the stage for healthy living.
Ayurveda differs from a western medicine perspective by addressing the root cause of disease through assessment of the physical body, the mind, the senses, and the soul. It works on the principle of prevention and calls attention to the quality of each shift and change that occurs internally and relates to external body functions. This assessment is used to track signs and symptoms and understand how your inherent constitution is affected by the fluctuations of your environment, diet, sensory impressions, stress levels, and relationships.
Ayurveda operates on three principles:
“Like” increases “like”
Opposites often bring balance
The more closely you mirror the natural order of life, the less likely disease is to occur
By implementing diet, lifestyle, herbal medicine, psychology, biorhythms, behavior, and therapeutic bodywork, Ayurveda helps slow down the progression from imbalance to disease by addressing the underlying causes early on. Ayurveda can support digestion, the immune system, and the state of mind, with the ultimate goals of preventing disease, preserving health, and promoting longevity.
The five basic elements of Ayurveda
Ayurvedic anatomy starts with the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether (space). All the elements are present in each individual, yet the proportions and combinations vary from person to person. Keeping one’s individual qualitative and quantitative balance of these five basic elements is necessary for total health. The elements create three compounds that govern all functions as well as energy in the body. These compounds, known as “doshas,” are movement, transformation, and cohesion.
Doshas
Ayurveda groups the five elements into three basic types of energy or functional principles (or dosha) that are present in everybody and everything. The concept of the dosha is unique to Ayurveda and governs all biological, physiological, and pathophysiological functions of the body, mind, and consciousness. When in balance, they act as basic constituents and protective barriers for the body in its normal physiological condition, maintaining harmonious psychophysiology. When out of balance, they can corrupt or vitiate the bodily tissues, become impure, and contribute to the disease process. “Dosha” literally means “fault” or “impurity,” but doshas only become a problem when the imbalance has been in the body for a while, causing discomfort and, eventually, disease. According to Ayurveda, the first requirement for healing oneself and others is to have a clear understanding of doshas.
There are three doshas, known as vata, pitta, and kapha, that are the compounds that naturally arise to make up a human organism. When certain elements come together in various combinations, each performs a specific function in the body and manifests as a recognizable grouping of qualities:
Vata – the energy of movement (air + space)
Pitta – the energy of transformation (fire + water)
Kapha – the energy of structure and lubrication together; cohesion (water + earth)
For example, air and space are cold, dry, light, and mobile. If we are made up of air and space (vata), then moving to a cold climate, eating dry and light foods, and not having a secure job and/or home can aggravate these qualities and imbalances can show up and manifest as dry skin, cold hands, and an unfocused mind. Ayurveda manages imbalance by introducing opposite qualities to reduce the “like” qualities, so in the case of excess vata, introducing moist, heavy foods; taking warm oil massages and baths; and practicing grounding, balancing breath work can all help to alleviate the symptoms and bring the vata dosha back to where it belongs, thus bringing the body into a state of balance. For a deeper dive on Ayurveda, check out Serena's full online course linked here: Awaken to Ayurveda
Wisdom + insights provided by SERENA ARORAAbout the Author: Serena's teaching career of over 22 years is supported by life-long practice and world-wide study including a Bachelor of Education and Masters in Holistic Therapy. As an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner, certified yoga therapist, former middle school teacher, and entrepreneur, Serena brings a unique depth of knowledge, creativity, and experience to her students. Currently based in Playa Negra, Costa Rica, Serena is the co-founder of the Peace Retreat Costa Rica. To learn more about Serena Arora, visit her website at https://www.serenaarora.com or, checkout her and her partners current offerings at https://www.swasthayogainternational.com.
