Mastering Your Health: How to Balance Your Doshas for Optimal Ayurvedic Wellness
By Dennis Bluthardt, Namaste Studios
The core concept of doshas here is an ancient medical system from India called Ayurveda. The three main doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each Dosha combines two elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. These elements are represented in this universe’s living and non-living aspects. This means the entire cosmos is interdependent from the external to the internal environment. Each Dosha governs various functions, from your psychological functions to your digestion, and understanding the qualities of each Dosha will provide you with insights to understand better your body and the exemplify-hood around and within you.
What Are Doshas in Ayurveda?
In Ayurveda, what I consider to be the original system of personalized medicine, three biological energies, or doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), made up of the five elements (space, Air, Fire, water, and Earth), serve as the foundational theory upon which your physiology sits. Ayurveda says that these three doshas manifest differently in every human being.
The Vata dosha is governed by space and Air. This combination produces the principle that governs movement, creativity, and flexibility in the mind and body. Like the wind, Vata people can be quick, enthusiastic, exhilarating, and abundantly flexible with change. However, they can also be very cold, constantly moving, and have an erratic life flow.
Pitta represents Fire and water, the principle that governs digestion, transformation, and metabolism. For you, the upside may be that you are an intellectual giant, eloquently expressive, and the CEO slaying dragons. But beware: the fiery beast also awakens anger, irritability, working until 10 PM, skin conditions, and digestive issues. Once awakened and then provoked, the fiery beast can be merciless. The Pitta may consider fire practices such as Agni Sara and Uddiyana bandha for core strength and cooling practices for core relaxation. Kapha is Earth and water, the principles that govern stability, structure, and the sweet juiciness of a human being. If you have a lot of Kapha, you will love to hear that you are likely always a reasonable, affectionate, trustworthy, and happy person with incredible stamina. And a little on the heavy side. But so loyal, the perfect employee! Prone to having the qualities of water and Earth, being an excessively slow mover, and becoming a hoarder. Who knew? Ayurveda says: get moving and clean your house!
How to Identify Imbalanced Doshas
Ayurveda divides human biology into three doshas. Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each Dosha combines the elements that make up everything in the world. The five elements, Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth are the essential building blocks of all matter. Imbalances in these doshas can show up in a variety of ways. An imbalance in Pitta could display itself in fiery, inflammatory conditions, an excess of heat, and what seems to be some very irrational irritability.
Then there’s Kapha. Imbalances in Kapha might show up as lethargy, congestion, and an unexpected weight on one’s frame.
The list of things that could exacerbate an imbalance in one of the doshas is extensive and varied. Living in a way that honors your body and the planet while upholding the health of your community is suitable for several reasons.
From a diet perspective, here’s the condensed version: Vata needs warm, moist foods; Pitta needs cool, hydrating foods; Kapha needs light, mobile (stimulating) foods. (By the way, a healthy diet for Vatas is absolutely gruel to Pitta, yet it is precisely what a Kapha needs to lose weight. Is this difference becoming clearer?)
To sum up, understanding the symptoms of imbalances and how lifestyle and diet affect your condition will get you to optimal health. Conscious choices will help you arrive at a balanced state faster.
Effective Ayurvedic Remedies
In the world of Ayurveda, each of the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) is a combination of different elements, and they regulate distinct physiological and psychological functions:
Vata Dosha = Air + Space Elements
Most of Vata’s specific characteristics or “imbalances” will bring about certain issues/problems in the body. These problems can be solved by doing the OPPOSITE of what Vata is. Some examples include taking grounding herbs such as Ashwagandha to aid the nervous system—and using “heavy”/warming oils like Sesame Oil for the body to counteract “light” and “cold.”
Pitta Dosha = Fire + Some Water Elements
Because Pitta is Fire responds very well to “cooling”/soothing things. Try using herbs that work to “cool” your body down internally (e.g., aloe vera, Peppermint) and externally (e.g., Coconut Oil). Often, issues like a “sense of inflammation,” rash, or redness can mean things are a bit too “hot” and irritated in our bodies, and we will be happy with whatever cooling agents you can give them.
Kapha Dosha = Earth + Water Elements
Stagnation and slowness often occur when there’s too much Kapha. This is when we want to resort to more substantial, stimulating herbs (like Ginger Pepper, Trikatu, and Black Pepper) and “lighter” oils (e.g., Mustard Oil) that allow better circulation. Treatments like Dry Brushing before Abhyagna can also help move the body. The taste of ginger and the act of massaging oils are so “waking” and energizing that they are bound to move whatever’s “sleeping.”
Crafting an Ayurvedic Diet
An Ayurvedic diet serves the three doshas or energetic forces we all have: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each Dosha has different constitutions and requires different kinds of food.
This was all part of my understanding as I began changing my diet based on Ayurvedic principles.
Vata, associated with dryness and coldness, should consume warm, moist, and grounding foods. Cooked whole grains, say, oatmeal, sweet porridges, or rice-based dishes, can help pacify Vata. Healthy fats, including ghee, olive oil, or ripe, sweet fruits, are also excellent choices. Drink warm herbal teas daily to maintain internal hydration, heat, and nourishment.
Pitta, associated with heat in the body, should consume cooling foods. Those with much Pitta could benefit from eating juicy, sweet fruits. Foods with a high-water content will help reduce their internal heat and fiery disposition. Like Vata, those with high Pitta might also enjoy sipping on herbal tea (caffeine-free) throughout the day. Fresh salads can be their most straightforward path to daily nutrition, or kick things up with a Pitta-detoxifying salad recipe. Generally, a simple lunch with quinoa, cucumbers, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, and microgreens with a tahini-based dressing will give cooling nourishment.
Kapha, associated with heavy, cold, dense, and moist elements, should consume warmer, light, drier, and astringent foods. Pungent (heating) and bitter foods are also great for balancing out Kapha’s natural weightiness. Some legumes, for example, benefit Kapha-types because they dry the body. Local fruits with these qualities can be excellent for balancing the constitution.
Think of what is growing in your area at different times of the year, and try to begin or end your day with warm herbal infusions. Take fresh ginger with your meals as an appetizer and enzyme-inducer. Cook vegetables, lentils, and light staples like basmati rice or quinoa. Use a lot of coconut oil to help liquefy your internal fat deposits and improve digestion. Mung beans, amaranth, and barley are excellent sources of highly digestible plant protein. Cumin, coriander seeds, or fenugreek are great for stimulating your digestion. A complete meal might look like a Vedic Buddha bowl or a simple grains-greens-beans dish, say Goshen’s sauteed vegetables & buckwheat.
Embracing an Ayurvedic Lifestyle
In Ayurveda, daily routines and practices are key to dosha balance, the formula for well-being.
Yoga. Everyone can fold yoga into their lives. Different poses hit different doshas. For example, Child’s Pose is a lovely calming pose to soothe Vata; Warrior is a great Kapha. Different sequences help balance out what you have going on too much. Remember that you are not born just one Dosha; you can be a combination of one, two, or all three.
Meditation. It’s a game-changer, friends. A daily practice, even just a few moments, is a great way to start the day fresh or to solidify in your heart that you will conquer your day. I love meditating to low alpha waves (sound = 174 Hz) to start my day. But meditation can be whatever. Find what works for you and do that.
Sleep. The obvious answer. It’s one of the best ways to regenerate your love for life. I sincerely appreciate my ability to pin cars (bullet journal) and watch YouTube to destress sometimes. Your circadian rhythm or internal process works best when you have regulated the hours your body expects to sleep! Everyone’s sleep clock is different. Some people are morning bloomin’, Others not (like me). If you constantly run on a few hours of sleep, this lack of sleep and your ability to heal!
In Ayurveda, there is a concept of balancing your doshas. The three doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, are combinations of the five elements expressed in your physical ‘suit’ to regulate physiology and function. The physiological and psychological functions in our body are classified under the doshas. When these go out of balance, we may experience signs of discomfort or physical and mental health issues. Each one of us has a unique composition of these doshas, and different types of lifestyles, environments, and foods may balance them.
Some practices are integrated into Ayurveda, such as yoga, and others emotionally and spiritually ground us and produce harmony in our suit, which is proper health, according to many. The medicinal system comprises daily routines for individuals to follow. No, it’s probably not what you think. I’m not discussing meal-prep plans. It is more about the timing of meals, what to eat and when, how to implement mindfulness, yoga, and meditation into your life, and some herbal recommendations. Tailoring even minor lifestyle changes to these practices can significantly improve mental clarity, prevent burnout or fatigue, boost overall energy levels, and even boost immunity. Everyone may have a separate dosha composition, and some may be more prevalent than others; some practices may work better for others than they do for you. Those express the needs of your Ayurvedic composition and diet. Try to see where you’re at in terms of dosha composition the next time you take an Ayurvedic test (and if you haven’t taken one, I recommend you take one; it’s very fun!), because it may teach you more about some health experiences or patterns you’ve been having or how to treat some patterns of disease in the future.
To learn more, visit Ayurveda at Namaste Studios to book an Ayurveda session. Additionally, you can find more of our Ayurveda Blogs here.
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