Discover Ayurveda’s 5 Principles And 3 Doshas
Everyone wants to live a healthy lifestyle, but not everyone knows how important it is to follow Ayurveda’s 5 principles and 3 doshas. If you are wondering what this means, do not feel bad! Most people have never even heard of Ayurveda before.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian science for health and wellness through diet, detoxification, exercise and other lifestyle factors. Ayurveda has been practised in India for over 3,000 years.
Ayurveda literally translates as “the science of life.” And while it may seem like just another fad or trend at first glance, Ayurvedic wisdom can help us attain our optimal state of being.
It teaches us how to understand ourselves better by allowing us to identify our dominant dosha. It encourages individuals to re-connect with nature and the environment around them.
It helps us adopt healthier eating habits that nourish both body and mind. It has been proven that Ayurveda can help balance our hormones, calm our nervous system, reduce stress, and improve immunity.
It emphasizes the importance of a healthy mind, body, and soul. Ayurveda encourages us to take a holistic approach to our health which includes taking care of our emotions, mental state, home environment, etc.
Now that we have an understanding of what Ayurveda is about, we’ll explore the 5 basic principles of ayurvedic wisdom, the three Dosha types and what that means for you.’s
The Five Fundamental Principles of Ayurvedic Knowledge
The First Principle
The first principle outlines how balance is key to maintaining our mental and emotional equilibrium. For example, when we are feeling stressed or anxious, it’s important to take time out for ourselves in order to recharge and relax. The same holds true if we’re feeling lethargic or sluggish. It’s important to be mindful of our physical and mental needs so that we can remain in an optimal state of being.
Understanding the concept of balance is all about learning how to strike a balance between opposing forces, such as hot and cold, yin and yang. We also need to find balance among different elements within our own bodies. For example, there are three different doshas within the body that are responsible for managing everything from our mental state to our metabolism. If one or more of these doshas becomes imbalanced, it can lead to a variety of health issues.
The Second Principle
The next principle is all about understanding how everything in existence is interconnected and interdependent. We are all made up of the same five elements — fire, air, water, earth and space. There is a constant movement or flow within these elements and that’s what keeps our planet in balance. For example, we need the sun to give us warmth and light in order for plants to grow. The rain nourishes the plants which in turn provide us with oxygen. When we understand how everything is interconnected, it helps us maintain a more harmonious existence.
The Third Principle
The third principle underlines the importance of balance at all levels including physical, mental and emotional. As mentioned earlier, our individual doshas need to be in sync so that we can remain healthy. For example, people who are predominately Vata (air and space) need to balance their wind element by ensuring they eat warm, oily or fatty foods. Pitta (fire and water) people need to watch out for hot, spicy and acidic dishes which can imbalance the fire in their system. Kapha (water and earth) types need to be mindful of how much water they are taking in since this can lead to weight gain.
The Fourth Principle
The fourth principle is all about recognizing the connection between eating and feeling well. Ayurveda matches each food with a particular dosha based on its inherent qualities. For example, Vata types should stick to warm foods that are easy to digest whereas Kapha individuals need lighter, dryer dishes that are low in fat and sugar. Regularly eating the right types of food help keep us healthy as well as prevent illnesses such as cancer and heart disease.
The Fifth Principle
The final principle underlines how important it is for us to make lifestyle changes so we can live a long, happy and fulfilling life. By maintaining good digestive health, staying active and exercising regularly, we can keep the body strong and healthy. Ayurveda encourages us to follow a wholesome and nutritious diet that’s in line with our individual dosha. By maintaining good digestion and following an Ayurvedic lifestyle, we can prevent diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
In the ancient Indian philosophy of Ayurveda, the key to good health and happiness is balance. Now that we know what Ayurveda is and how it can help us become healthier, happier people, let’s take a look at the five basic principles.
What Are The Three Dosha In Ayurveda?
There are three different dosha or body types. Each person is either a combination of the three types, with one dominant type, or they are a unique blend of all three types. It’s important to know what you are because it dictates what kind of diet you should be consuming, how active you should be and countless other factors that affect your well-being on a daily basis. You can figure out what you are by looking at the list of characteristics below.
If you are all three, it is very likely that your dosha will change seasonally. For example, in the springtime when the weather gets warmer and everyone is more active, sometimes even more introverted people will begin to show characteristics of pitta dosha.
Once you figure out what type of body you have, the next step is to look at the different kinds of foods that are appropriate for each dosha. Sometimes, people are a unique blend of two or three types so it will be difficult for them to find their perfect diet plan without consulting an Ayurvedic expert.
The Vata Dosha
People who have Vata bodies tend to be cool, dry and move around a lot. They are generally tall, thin people with high metabolisms so they need to eat regularly throughout the day in order to maintain their energy levels. They also tend to be forgetful so it’s good to write down a schedule and stick to it as much as possible!
Vata Diet Plan
Foods that are appropriate for Vatas tend to be dry, salty and spicy. Dry toast and crackers with a bit of butter or olive oil will help increase your body’s warmth so you can stay focused and energetic all day long. Hot soups are also great for vata people since these warm the body from the inside out. Finally, it’s crucial for Vatas to have a salty snack before bed so their metabolism doesn’t get too low while they’re sleeping!
Vata Tea Recipe
Black pepper, cinnamon and ginger make a great tea because these spices are hot, spicy and have anti-inflammatory properties. Simply place 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger root, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of black peppercorns and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon sticks into two cups of boiling water for 10 minutes. Then strain the tea and drink it hot or cold!
The Pitta Dosha
People with a pitta body type tend to be warm, dry and have a strong digestive system. They are generally good at absorbing knowledge and communicating their thoughts in an organized way which makes them smart and intuitive. They also tend to get irritated easily by cold weather or other people’s negative attitudes.
Pitta Diet Plan
Foods that are appropriate for a pitta diet tend to be warm, spicy and have some oil or fat in them. Dishes with garlic, ginger, onion, green chillies, cilantro and turmeric are all great choices because they increase the body’s warmth. Steamed vegetables are also good to eat because they are soft and easy to digest. Sweet fruits tend to be good for pittas but if possible it’s recommended that they avoid bitter greens like spinach, kale and broccoli because these foods dampen the digestive fire. A pitta dosha person should absolutely stay away from raw salads or anything excessively cold!
Pitta Tea Recipe
Ginger, cilantro and mint are great ingredients to use in tea because these plants also help reduce inflammation. Simply place 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger root, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro leaves and 1 tablespoon of chopped mint leaves into 2 cups boiling water. Let this steep for 10 minutes then strain the tea and drink it hot or cold!
The Kapha Dosha
People who have a Kapha body type tend to be cool, wet and have strong immunity from sickness. They are generally patient, calm and loving people who can easily build emotional attachments with others. They also tend to be lazy in nature so they need a lot of encouragement to exercise or deal with stress.
Kapha Diet Plan
Foods that are appropriate for a Kapha diet tend to be sweet, oily and have some salt in them. Salty snacks like chips tend to be really appealing for people who have Kapha body types so it’s best to avoid these foods on a regular basis to avoid weight gain. It’s also important to have a warm, spicy, soupy breakfast every morning so the digestive system wakes up ready for the day. The spices will increase your body’s warmth and digestion will remain strong throughout the whole day!
Kapha Tea Recipe
Cinnamon, ginger and cardamom make a great tea because these spices can reduce phlegm and induce coughing to get it out of the system. Just like the pitta tea above, simply mix 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger root, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of honey and ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice into two cups of boiling water for 10 minutes. Then strain the tea and drink it hot or cold!
How To Incorporate An Ayurvedic Lifestyle Into Your Life?
It can be difficult to understand how Ayurvedic principles might translate into our modern lives but it’s worth the effort because these lifestyle changes will help you live longer!
In addition to living a healthier life with less chronic illness, there are also countless benefits from choosing an Ayurvedic approach such as increased self-awareness about your own body type which helps us better communicate our needs or desires without having to resort to anger or resentment.
Whether you’re looking for ways to improve your mental clarity today or you want to understand your body type better so you can prevent health concerns in the future, incorporating some Ayurvedic lifestyle changes into your life would be a great way to achieve these goals!
Just remember that Ayurveda is not an overnight solution. Practising this ancient style of medicine requires patience and consistency but it will pay off in the end when you’ve prevented many common ailments with ease!
Ayurveda encourages adapting to the seasons in order to adapt your diet, exercise patterns etc. but if you’re not able to follow this guide exactly it’s still worthwhile to try and incorporate some of these ideas into your daily life!
I hope that reading about Ayurveda has encouraged you to look inside yourself and better understand why you might be feeling stressed or anxious. I also hope that you will try some of these Ayurvedic products and find out first-hand whether this ancient form of medicine would be a good fit for your body!
Thank you so much for reading my post!
Feel free to leave a comment below.
I would love to know if you already use Ayurveda in your life! 🙂
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Neelu Kalra
Yessss.. I believe in Ayurveda and try to follow diet accordingly but some days are cheat days as well.? Your write up is indeed very interesting so keep them coming..Warm Regards from Mumbai, India
Caroline Fouquet
Thank you so much for your words. ?