What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is Indian system of health and wellness which can be traced back centuries. Ayuh means life and Veda means knowledge. So Ayurveda means knowledge of life of science of life.

Health is not merely absence of disease. Health is when all our body systems are in balance and are functioning at their best. Health also includes a content and pleasant soul, senses and mind. Any disturbance in one of these components can lead to imbalance and from then on into a deviation from state of health. Ayurveda focuses on preventive and health maintenance as the main goal, in addition to treating disease.

In Ayurveda, each individual has a specific constitution and all protocols and plans are tailored according to that. This is called a person's prakruti. It is often referred to as someone's dosha. "Find your dosha!" or "Take the dosha test!" are often found on many websites and what they mean is find out your prakruti. All of us have 3 doshas in us. They are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. But the key difference is that these are present in different proportions in different individuals, thereby making each one of us unique.

What the dosha tests and questionnaires do is that based on your answers, they tell you which dosha is predominant in you. And that becomes your dosha. So at the end of taking a dosha test, I may find out that I am a kapha dosha person. Once this is done I can choose the diet and lifestyle recommendations for a kapha person.

Of course this is an over simplified example. An Ayurvedic counselor or practitioner will do a more thorough examination and give you a lot more information about your prakriti and find out if you have more than one dosha predominance and detect temporary dosha shifts etc

Ayurveda aims to treat not just the body but also the mind and the soul. Some of the various treatment modalities include dietary modifications, yoga therapy, Pranayama or breathing exercises, massage therapy, and of course herbs. Ayurveda also focuses on correcting imbalances from the inside out. By checking the status of your digestive fire (agni), the state of your doshas and your tissues, recommendations are made to help bring you towards your own natural balance. More about agni, doshas and ayurveda in upcoming posts!

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