Living A Yogic Lifestyle: Ayurveda-The Science of Life

[Guest guest]

Good Morning!

 

This week I am dedicating my writings to the power of yoga! Yoga has

been a huge influence in my life and has given back to me in so many

ways! So this week, I am introducing the power of yoga and how it may

have an influence over you.

 

 

Living A Yogic Lifestyle: Ayurveda-The Science of Life

 

The principle medical system of India is known as Ayurveda and is over 5,000

years old. This " Science of Life " is considered the art of living in harmony

with nature. In Ayurvedic philosophy, people, their health, and the universe are

all thought to be related. It is believed that health problems can result when

these relationships are out of balance. The goal of Ayurveda is to integrate and

balance the body, mind, and spirit. This is believed to help prevent illness and

promote wellness.

 

Developed from the ancient text of The Vedas, Ayurveda views the human body as a

homunculus of our cosmic Universe, regulated by the balance between three

primordial humours, call dosha.

 

Your dosha is your Ayurveda mind & body type. There are three doshas in

Ayurveda: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. We each have all three of the doshas in our

physiology, just in different proportions, so your dosha is unique and personal;

it is like your fingerprint.

 

• Each dosha is made up of one or two of the five basic elements: space, air,

fire, water, and earth.

• Each dosha has a particular relationship to body functions and can be upset

for different reasons.

• A person has her own balance of the three doshas, although one dosha usually

is prominent. Doshas are constantly being formed and reformed by food, activity,

and bodily processes.

• Each dosha is associated with a certain body type, a certain personality type,

and a greater chance of certain types of health problems.

• An imbalance in a dosha will produce symptoms that are related to that dosha

and are different from symptoms of an imbalance in another dosha. Imbalances may

be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle or diet, too much or too little mental and

physical exertion, or not being properly protected from the weather, chemicals,

or germs.

 

 

Prakruti: Your Constitution

 

Your constitution is an energetic force that expresses itself through your own

unique genetic make-up. It determines the physical and structural

characteristics that define your body and your internal physiological tendencies

such as level of your metabolism, strength of your digestive system.

 

Prakruti defines your natural state and your potential. Inherent ideal balance

of the 3 doshas within your body is determined at conception and does not change

throughout your lifetime.

 

We determine Prakruti by our most stable factors such as physical structure,

nature of voice and the basic personality. One's Prakruti does not by definition

produce symptoms, only tendencies. Your constitution also affects, but is not

the only factor in determining your emotional tendencies and the expression of

your personality

 

Every living creature has all 3 doshas within them. There is an infinite number

of combinations and permutations with no two people being exactly the same. It

is important to remember that no cell of the body can exist without all 3

doshas.

 

 

Vikruti: The Nature of Imbalance

 

Healing is the process of returning the Vikruti to the state of Prakruti. The

word dosha literally means " that which has a fault " , a system that is quick to

change. Ayurveda is the pursuit of balance. To achieve this we must know our own

constitution, the nature of the disease and the nature of the remedies. Often

your dominant dosha will be the one that becomes imbalanced, but this is not

always so. Vata is often affected because of our fast-paced lifestyle, changing

jobs, relationships and living location. Our competitive culture also leads to

Pitta imbalance. So our Vikruti is our current dosha state or our natural state

of imbalance.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

http://www.peacefulmind.com/ayurveda.htm

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit