Ayurveda, the science of life and self-healing, has its roots in India, dating back to more than 5000 years.
Ayurveda teaches us to become familiar with our individual Prakruti, or inborn constitution. It also believes that each one of us has three bodies, a physical, subtle, and a causal body. In order for changes to occur, one has to actively seek changes not only at the physical level, but also at the mental emotional level. Ayurveda empowers you with
tools to make changes at all levels.
These tools are: understanding of your constitution (prakruti), your ideal daily routine, types of foods, food combinations, excercise, yoga, and meditation. It also uses Five Sense Therapy i.e. taste (food and herbs),
touch (massage), sounds (mantras and music), smell (aroma) and sight (color), along with some cleansing and rejuvenation therapies.
Ayurveda recognizes three main energies called Doshas that are fundamental to all life. Western sciences know them as catabolism (vata dosha), metabolism (pita dosha), and anabolism (kapha dosha). These three doshas consist of
the five elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth in varying proportions.
Vata dosha is composed of the elements ether and air and is the energy of movement.
Pitta dosha is primarily made up of the elements fire and water and is the energy of transformation and change.
Kapha dosha is the principle formed from the elements earth and water and is responsible for protection and lubrication of the body.
It is important to remember that we all have vata, pitta, and kapha within us, but in varying proportions. This is what makes us such unique individuals!
