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ThethreedoshasinAyurveda(vata,pitta,kapha)

ThethreedoshasinAyurveda(vata,pitta,
kapha)
Tridosha:TheScienceOfAyurvedaandthe
threedoshas(vata,pitta,kapha)
TheancientscienceofAyurvedaistheoldestknownformofhealthcareintheworld.Oftencalled
themotherofallhealing,itoriginatedinIndiasome5000ormoreyearsago.
RecentlyAyurvedahasbeenhavingaprofoundimpactupontheworldofhealthcare.Popular
booksbyDeepakChopra,M.D.andAndrewWeil,M.D.havecalledattentiontothepotentialofthis
ancienthealingsystemtobringhealingtothosesufferingwithchronicdisease.Inaddition,
Ayurvedapromisestoimprovethehealthandlongevityofjustabouteveryone.
AyurvedaisascienceofSelfunderstanding.Byunderstandingyourownuniquenatureor
constitutionyoucanbegintounderstandhowyouinteractwithyourenvironmentandthusmake
choicesthatwillleadyoutowardgreaterhealth.
Ayurvedadefinesdiseaseasthenaturalendresultoflivingoutofharmonywithonesconstitution.
Ourconstitutionistheinherentbalanceofenergieswithinourbodiesandourminds.Itdescribes
whoyouareonthemostfundamentallevel.Thisuniquebalanceofenergydetermineseverything
fromourbonestructuretoourpredispositiontowardcertainhealthchallenges.Infact,our
constitutiondefineswhatwearenaturallyattractedtoaswellaswhatrepelsus.Itdefineswhatis
inharmonywithournatureandwhatwillcauseustomoveoutofbalanceandexperiencesickness
anddisease.Becauseweallhaveadifferentbalanceofenergy,Ayurvedashowsthatthepathto
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optimalhealthisdifferentforeachpersondependingupontheirconstitution.
ThescienceofunderstandingournatureorourconstitutionisthescienceofTridosha.Tridosha
definesthethreefundamentalenergiesorprincipleswhichgovernthefunctionofourbodiesonthe
physicalandemotionallevel.ThethreeenergiesareknownaVata,Pitta,andKapha.Each
individualhasauniquebalanceofallthreeoftheseenergies.Somepeoplewillbepredominantin
onewhileothersareamixtureoftwoormore.Letslookateachofthesenow.
Vata
TheVatadoshaissaidtobemadeupoftheairandetherelements.Thismeansthatithas
qualitieswhicharesimilartotheseelements.Vataisverymuchlikethewinditislight,cool,dry
andmobile.Inthebody,thosepeoplewithaVatanatureexperiencemoreofthesequalities.Their
bodiestendtobelight,theirbonesthin,andtheirskinandhairdry.Theyoftenmoveandspeak
quickly.Whenoutofbalance,theymayloseweight,becomeconstipatedandhaveweaknessin
theirimmuneandnervoussystems
Thesequalitiesalsoreflectintheirpersonality.ThosewithaVatanaturetendtobetalkative,
enthusiastic,creative,flexibleandenergetic.Yet,whenoutofbalancetheymayalsobecome
easilyconfusedandoverwhelmed,havedifficultyfocusingandmakingdecisionsandhavetrouble
sleeping.Thisbecomesmoreapparentwhentheyareunderstress.Emotionallytheyare
challengedbycoolemotionslikeworry,fearandanxiety.
InordertobringbalancetoVata,programsaredesignedwhichemphasizetheopposingqualities
ofwarmth,heaviness(nourishment),moistnessandstability.Inthediet,thisisreflectedinthe
consumptionofcookedgrainssuchasriceandcookedvegetablesaswellastheintakeofwarm
milkwithspices.Pungentherbslikegingerwhichincreaseinternalheatandnourishingherbslike
ashwagandhabringbalancetoVata.Ayurvedicprogramsincludenotonlyherbsanddietbutalso
colorandaromatherapies,detoxification,yogaandmeditation.
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Pittadosha
ThePittadoshaissaidtobemadeupofthefireandwaterelements.Fireismorepredominantand
thosepeoplewithapredominantPittanaturehavemanyofthequalitiesoffirewithinthem.Pitta
tendstohot,sharpandpenetrating.Itisalsosomewhatvolatileandoily.TheoilynatureofPittais
relatedtothesecondarycomponentofwater.PeoplewithaPittanaturereflectthesequalities.
Theytendtofeelwarm,havesomewhatoilyskin,penetratingeyesandsharpfeatures.Theytend
tohavemoderateweightsandgoodmusculature.Whenoutofbalancetheytendtowarddiarrhea,
infections,skinrashesandweaknessintheliver,spleenandblood.
Thesequalitiesalsoreflectintheirpersonalities.Pittapeopletendtobehighlyfocused,
competitive,capable,courageous,energeticandclearcommunicatorswhogetrighttothepoint.
Theyliketosolveproblemsandwhenunderstresstheydigintheirheels.Theycanhoweveralso
becomeoverlyintenseandspeakwithasharptongue.Theymakegreatfriendsbutfeared
enemies.Emotionallytheyarechallengedbytheheatedemotionsofanger,resentmentand
jealousy.
InordertobringbalancetoPitta,programsaredesignedtoemphasizetheopposingqualitiesof
coolness,heaviness(nourishing)anddryness.Coolspiceslikefennelarerecommendedinthediet
alongwithfoodssuchasrawvegetables,cookedriceandwheataswellasmostbeans.Sweet
herbslikeshatavariareusedtonourishthebodywhilebitterslikedandelionroottemperthefire.A
ClinicalAyurvedicSpecialistputstogetherprogramsthatnotonlyincludefoodsandherbsbutalso
aromas,colors,massage,detoxification,yogaandmeditation.
Kaphadosha
WithintheKaphadoshathereisapredominanceofthewaterandearthelements.Likethese
elementsKaphatendstobecool,moist,stableandheavy.Inthebodythesequalitiesmanifestas
dense,heavybones,lustrous,suppleskin,lowmetabolism,andlarge,stockyframes.Inaddition,
thosewithaKaphanaturetendtofeelcool.Whenoutofbalance,Kaphaindividualsareproneto
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gainingweightandtendtohaveweaknessesintheirlungsandsinuseswherethereisan
accumulationofmucous.ThoseofKaphanaturearealsomostpronetononinsulindependent
diabetesmellitus.
Theelementsofwaterandearthalsoreflectinthepersonality.Theheavy,stablenatureofKapha
reflectsinastablepersonalitywhichisnotpronetoquickfluctuations.ThosewithaKaphanature
handlestressverywell,oftennotevennoticingthatitexists.Theydon'tlikechange,aregenerally
conservativeandwouldprefertokeepthingsjustthewaytheyare.ThosewithaKaphanatureare
alsocomfortseekers.ThisrelatestothesoftwaterynatureofKapha.Toomuchcomforthowever
canleadtoalackofmotivationandfeelingofbecomingstuck.WhenKaphaisoutofbalance,the
heavyemotionsofdepressionandlethargyresult.
InordertobringbalancetoaKaphanaturetheopposingqualitiesoflightness,drynessand
warmtharerecommended.Thesequalitiesareintegratedindietaryandherbalprogramsaswell
asaromaandcolortherapies,detoxification,yogaandmeditation.Grainssuchasquinoaand
amarantharerecommendedaswellashotspiceslikecayennepepper.Lotsofvegetablesand
verylittlenutsordairyareprescribed.Cleansingherbslikeguggulandpungentslikeclovebring
balancetoKapha.
Wemustrememberthatweareallacombinationofthethreedoshicenergies.Onthemost
fundamentallevel,Pittaisourmetabolism,KaphaourstructureandVatathemobilitythatbrings
actionandlifeintocreation.Withoutallthreeenergies,wesimplycouldnotexist.
Todetermineapersonsconstitution,aClinicalAyurvedicSpecialistconductsatwohour
consultationtakingalookateveryaspectofaperson.Thisphysical,emotional,andspiritual
evaluationidentifiesthebalanceofenergiesinaperson'sbodyaswellasareasofimbalance.
Oncethenatureofthepersonandtheimbalanceareidentified,theClinicalAyurvedicSpecialist
canthenputtogetheratreatmentprogramutilizingtheappropriatedietandherbs,aromas,colors,
yogaandmeditationaimedatrestoringormaintainingbalance.
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OptimalHealthisachievedthroughAyurvedicMedicinewhenwearelivingincompleteharmony
withourenvironment.Inordertoliveinharmonywemustfirstunderstandourownnatures.Only
thencanweintelligentlymakechoiceswhichsupportusonourjourney.Goodluckonyours!

WhatisVataDosha?Tipsanddietfor
balancingvata
Thewordvatameanstoblowormovelikethewind.
Consistingoftheelementsairandether,itistheprincipleforceofmotioninthebodyandmind.
Whenvatadoshaishealthy,themovementsofthebodyaregraceful,unimpeded,andyet
controlled.Whenoutofbalance,themovementsbecomeerratic,excessive,decreased,or
blocked.
Tounderstandthevatadosha,itisimportanttounderstanditsqualities.Vatadoshaislight,dry,
mobile,cold,hard,rough,sharp,subtle,flowingandclear.Abodyandmindinwhichthevata
doshapredominatesexpressesorreflectsthesequalities.
Vatadoshaisbestunderstoodintermsofitscomponentparts,itssubdoshas,whicharethefive
typesofvataorfivetypesofmovement.Eachsubdoshadefinesadirectionofmovementand
governsspecificactionsinthebody.
PranaVayu:Pranavayurepresentstheforcethatdrawssensoryexperiencetous.Itistheforceof
attractionandhasamagneticnature.Thewayitfunctionsdeterminesthetypesofimpressionswe
exposeourselvesto.Pranavayuresidesintheheadandheart(chest)wheredesiredwells,
choicesaremade,andsensoryexperienceisprocessed.Whenitishealthy,wearedrawntoward
thatwhichisharmoniousandwhichbringsushealthandwellbeing.Whenpranavayuisoutof
balance,wemisuseoursensesandbringinsideofusthatwhichwillcausedisease.
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SamanaVayu:Whereaspranavayurepresentstheforceofattraction,samanavayurepresents
theforceofabsorption,pullingtheimpressionswearedrawntotowardthecenterofourbeing.For
example,samanavayucarriesnutrientsfromtheintestinesintothecirculatorysystem,andthe
sensationsofthingswetoucharecarriedfromtheskintothecentralnervoussystem.When
samanavayuisfunctioningproperly,impressionsareproperlyabsorbed.Whenitisinastateof
dysfunction,absorptionbecomesdifficult,andmalnourishmentandnumbnessmayoccur
(respectively).
VyanaVayu:Onceabsorbed,animpressionmustbeactedupon.Thisistheroleofvyanavayu,
whichistheforcethatcirculatestheresponse,movingitfromthecentertowardtheperiphery.
Followingourexamples,inthedigestivesystembloodcarriesthenutrientsthroughoutthebodyso
thateachcellreceivesitspropersupply.Inthenervoussystem,asignalissentfromthecentral
nervoussystemtowardamuscleororgan.
UdanaVayu:Udanavayuisresponsibleforactionandexpression,whichmeansputtingthe
energyreceivedtowork..Cellstaketheenergyreceivedandperformtheiruniquefunctions.
Nutrientsareusedforcellularenergyandforbuildingproteins.Thenervesinstructmusclesand
organstoactproperly.
ApanaVayu:Cellularactivityproducesbothworkandwaste.Whileudanaisresponsibleforthe
work,apanavayuisresponsibleforcleaningupthewaste.Apanavayueliminateswasteprimarily
throughthefunctionsofurination,defecationandmenstruation.However,itisresponsibleforall
thedownwardflowingenergyofthebodyandassuchisalsoresponsiblefortheenergyneededfor
carryingthechildoutofthewombandintotheworld.
TheQualitiesandPresentationofVataDosha
Thenaturalexpressionofvatadoshaintheconstitutioniofthebodyandmindreflectsthequalities
inherentinthedosha.Examplesofthewaythesequalitiesmanifestareasfollows:
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Light:Thebonesofthebodyarenarrow
Cold:Apersontendstobecomechilledeasierthanothers
Dry:Theskinoreyeshaveatendencytobecomedry
Mobile:Apersonmovesquickly,oftenwithalackoffocus
Subtle:Themindisopentonewideas,isexpansiveandinterestedintheesoteric
Hard:Ifthetissuesofthebodybecomedry,theywillthenbecomehardthisiseasiesttoseeasan
imbalanceFlowing:Themindflowseasilyfromoneideatothenext
Sharp:Thebridgeofthenoseisthinnerandsharperthaninotherconstitutionaltypes
Rough:Astheskinbecomesdrier,itbecomesrougherwhichhisiseasiesttoseeasanimbalance
Clear:Theeyesareclear
Whenvatadoshaisoutofbalance,thereisanexcessofthequalitiesthatdefinethedosha.The
specificsymptomsproducedasaresultoftheimbalancedependuponwhichsrota(channel
system)andwhichdhatu(tissue)insidethatchannelareaffected.Generalizedexamplesofexcess
vataqualities(imbalances)inthebodyareasfollows:
Light:Thebodylosesweight
Cold:Apersonfeelschilled
Dry:Thelipsbecomechapped
Mobile:Thevoicebecomestooquickandrambles
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Subtle:Apersonistooeasilyaffectedbythefeelingsofothers
Hard:Thestoolsbecomehardanddifficulttoeliminate
Flowing:Thereisaninabilityofthemindtofocus
Sharp:PaininthebodyissharpliketheprickofaneedleRough:Theskinbecomesrough
Clear:Theeyesandthemindbecomevacant
ManagingVataDosha
Ayurvedaioffersmanyapproachestobringingvatadoshaintobalance.Whetherthetoolsusedare
dietary,herbal,colors,aromas,mantras,massageoilsorlifestyle,theprinciplesusedtoreturnto
balancearethesame.Itisnecessarytoincreasethequalitiesopposedtotheimbalance.Where
thereisanexcessoflightness,weincreaseheaviness.Wherethereisanexcessofcoldness,we
increaseheat.Wherethereisanexcessofhardness,weincreasesoftnessandsoon.Whileeach
ofthetreatmenttoolsnotedabovearevaluable,byfarthemostimportanttoolislifestyle.Only
throughadoptinganappropriatelifestylecanthevatadosharemaininbalanceandthecauseof
diseaseberemoved.
Oneofthemostimportantlifestyletoolsformaintaininghealthandforsupportinghealinginthe
vataindividualistheadoptionofregularhealthyroutinesthatareinharmonywiththerhythmsof
nature.Stabilityisgreatlyimprovedthrougheatingandsleepingatthesametimeseveryday.
Itisbesttoarisewithinahalfhourofthesunrising.Themorningroutineshouldincludetimefor
selfabhyanga(oilmassage),meditationandyogaasanapracticeinadditiontoproperdaily
hygiene.Mealsshouldbetakenregularlythroughoutthedayasmanyasfivesmallmealsperday
takeneverythreehourswouldbeappropriate.Thesemealsshouldbetakenatthesametimeeach
day.Thisincreasesboththeheavyandstablequalities.Thefoodsshouldbesomewhatoily
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(moist),cookedwhenpossible(warm)andmoderatelyspiced(warm).Bedtimeshouldoccurat
about9:00or10:00,thoughthisdependssomewhatontherhythmofthesunsetandvaries
seasontoseasonandbylatitude.Wakingandsleepingtimesshouldbeconsistentfromdaytoday
(stability).
Specifictreatmentsareavailableforalmosteveryknownconditioninthebodyassuchsymptoms
canbeunderstoodintermsofthetenpairsofoppositequalities.Oncethequalitiesofthepatient's
constitutionandconditionareknown,theexperiencedpractitioner,knowingthequalitiesofthe
remedies,isabletodesignatreatmentprogramthatbringstheseoppositequalitiesintoharmony.
Thesequalitiesprovidethebodywiththefundamentalenergiesandrawmaterialneededto
supportthehealingprocess.

TheWayofSuccess?VataStyle!
Therearemanyroadstosuccess.Oneofthoseisthepathofinspiration.Theinspiredindividualis
onewhodrawsinspirationfromaboveandbringsitdownthroughtheircrownchakraintotheir
heartwhereitgestatestillreadytoemergethroughtheorgansofactionandtakeformintheworld.
Leftunobstructed,successisguaranteedandthecreationisoneofdivinebeauty.Throughthe
unencumberedmind,thedivineriverflowseffortlessly.Actionisguidedbyahigherpowerandthe
actorisitstool.
Inspirationisafragilemomentformany.Aglimpseofthedivineisoftenfleeting,asallowingitto
flowcontinuouslycanbetoomuchformany.Formost,thewindofmindcausesripplesinthe
stillnessthatdistortstheperceptionofdivineintention.Thiscreatesdoubts,fearandsubsequent
overwhelm.
Donotdoubtthemoment.Themomentofgenuineinspirationwillleaveanimprintuponyour
consciousness.Withintheripplesofconfusion,theimprintremainslikeanecho.Moveforwardand
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jumpinthewater.Letgoandallowthedivineflowtocarryyouoff.Buthowwillyouswim?That,
youcanfigureoutlater.Youmaynothaveto.Theriverwillcarryyoutowhereyouneedtobe.All
youneedistosurrenderandtrustinthedivine.Asitswatersflowoverandaroundyou,comfortwill
replacefearasyouareliftedupandovertherocks.Andshouldyoudrown,youwilldosowitha
smileradiatingfromyourheartandyouwillberebornanewforweneverreallywere.
Withtrueinspiration,thereisnorealchoice.Wearedrawntotheriver.Thenextstepistojumpin
withjoy!

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