This week I am diving into Ayurveda Yoga Therapy as I continue my studies in holistic wellness and work towards completion of both Ayurveda Yoga Therapy and SOMA Breath Master Instructor & Breath Therapy programs.
Ayurveda offers a complete system of rebalancing body, mind and spirit and has been practiced for thousands of years. Over the last decade, I have dipped into Ayurveda during trips to India; or when I feel that my body is off balance. Ayurveda Drs I've worked with have been able to identify issues in my body that are off the radar of Western Doctors; and they have always helped me to return to better self-care rituals and routines.
As we face the prospect of a more time in our homes, being mindful of what we put into both our minds and bodies becomes more important and Ayurveda with Yoga can help you maintain your own equilibrium while everything else is spinning out.
If you feel inclined to explore Ayurveda, a useful place to start is to determine your Ayurvedic constitution. A Constitution checklist is a quick and easy way to self-select the answers that most reflect how you are feeling right now (your Vikruti), versus how you’ve felt over the long term (your Prakruti). Your Prakruti is your natural and balanced state based on your body. Each of us will have a different Prakruti, and our Vikruti will change depending on what is happening in our lives and impacting our health.
For me, my Prakruti is: My Vikruti is:
Vata: 3 Vata: 9
Pitta: 23 Pitta: 17
Kapha: 7 Kapha: 5
What this quick assessment shows me is that I am more naturally Pitta/Kapha; however right now, all of my Doshas are out of balance with an emphasis on increased vata and decreased Pitta and Kapha.
By examining the qualities of my Prakruti and my Vikruti, I am able to very easily identify the areas that are out of balance and make lifestyle changes that will support better balance.
Using my own constitution as an example, I will use the next few paragraphs to demonstrate where my imbalances are:
Pitta / Kapha Consitution:
According to Yoga Veda Institute, Pitta constitution are oily, sharp, hot, light, fleshy smelling, spreading, and liquid; and a predominantly kapha constitution will be unctuous, cool, heavy, slow, smooth, soft, and stable; meaning that these qualities will express themselves generously throughout your mental, emotional, and physical make up.
For me, the elements that predominate are:
Pitta
Oily skin – particularly around my face (currently experiencing the opposite);
A sharp intellect that can be fiery when in excess;
Warm body temperature and usually a strong metabolism but the latter has been flagging for a long time;
A sometimes fleshy smell, but less so these days; and
Strong willed and open with my opinions and/or desire to influence processes and lead people.
Kapha
A grounded and stable quality that helps people feel comfortable, but right now feeling too heavy and weighed down;
Can get stuck in a pattern if kapha is in excess;
Soft hearted and empathetic when balanced; but right now feeling more cold and dry in both areas right now; and
Can be stubborn when in excess, but normally known to be stable and steady.
Because I am experiencing an excess of Vata right now, the following elements are manifesting:
Overactive mind and a lot of activity as I build my business;
Insomnia and lack of sleep; and
Dry skin and feeling very cold right now.
Using this insight, I can start to make practical changes such as:
Regularising my sleeping pattern;
Setting time aside for daily meditation and gratitude;
Clearing my calendar of unnecessary tasks; and
Taking a detox or purification and changing my diet to increase the moisture in my body.
As you can see, exploring the elements of each dosha alongside a Constitution Assessment can be very helpful for identifying where your Prakruti is out of balance. We often think that it takes a lot of effort to make impactful changes. What is needed is the willingness to take the first step.
Once you have a deeper understanding of where the imbalances are, you can then start to identify practical changes that will help you bring your doshas back into balance.
Need help? Drop into my calendar and let's talk at http://book.timsnell.co
More on this in my next update. In the meantime, you can explore your own doshas very easily online.
Love this idea Tim - you might just find you have your first client x
Interesting 👍Thank you 🙏. I changed significantly as I were a new person since I really slowed down.
Very interesting! The ayurvedic principles are very helpful in out life style, bringing us closer to nature and the elements. Thank you 🙏🏽💚🍃