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OCTOBER 2005 and JUNE 2009

Ayurveda
The Science of Life

Ayurveda (pronounced eye-yer-vay-duh) is the art of healthy living that enables you to create harmony in daily life by applying self- knowledge and self-care. The word, Ayurveda, is from the ancient Indian language, Sanskrit, and literally means "Knowledge of Life".
Just like Yoga, Ayurveda originated in India around 5000 years ago.  The ancient rishis studied the body for thousands of years and recorded what happens with certain behaviors or when we eat certain herbs and foods.  Ayurveda aims to maintain health in the healthy, it can also help heal the sick with natural remedies and lifestyle modifications, however Ayurveda works best as preventative medicine.  An Ayurvedic Dr. checks for signs of disease in your body before the disease actually develops (he checks your pulse, tongue, eyes, fingernails, skin, etc. ), your body will tell you when something is out of harmony--we have to learn to watch and listen for the signs!  An Ayurvedic lifestyle will help you with just that. 

The Ayurvedic approach names three basic energies that are in all of us in some mix (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha).  Because each person is a unique combination of these three energies, Ayurveda individualizes for each person.  Learning what mix you are and how to balance it with diet and lifestyle is the crux of live the Ayurvedic way.  The nice benefit about Ayurveda is that it does not tell you to not do something, instead it advises “if you do this then you get that”.  For example it does not say don’t eat ice cream and drink beer, but if you excessively eat ice cream expect this and if you drink beer expect that.  However there is a season for everything in Ayurveda :)  In the summer in the middle of a hot day a little ice cream is cooling and good for us, also beer is cooling and ok to drink in moderation in the summer.  But you would not want to eat ice cream or drink beer in the winter as they would create dis-harmony in the body.  What balances us in one season will create dis-harmony in another.

 You are the only one who can do this, because you are the only one who will truly benefit from your actions or suffer from your abuses.

It all begins with knowing yourself...
Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are the three doshas, in brief; they destroy and support the body when they are abnormal and normal respectively.  Astanga Hrdayam 1:6

Understanding Vata Pitta Kapha; The Doshas (dosha means that which decays!)
The rishis understood the world in terms of five elements (ether, air, water, fire, earth), they further described three vital energies within us made up of the five elements.  Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are the three vital energies; Vata is made of air and ether, Pitta fire and water, Kapha water and earth.
Vata, Pitta, and Kapha have specific functions in the body, but they do not work in isolation.  Full health and well being is possible when the doshas work harmoniously together.  When our doshas are balanced, we are protected from illness, even when exposed to a contagious disease.

So we all have these 5 elements in us, and they need to be in a certain balance, when one of the elements gets out of balance disease develops. For example, too much air in our bodies (vata imbalance) leads to air headedness, gas and digestion problems, dryness, etc. to much fire in our body (pitta imbalance) leads to increased anger, skin problems and rashes, heartburn, etc and too much earth in our bodies (kapha imbalance) leads to weight gain, sluggishness, hoarding, etc.

Vata Qualities:
Vata is dry, light, cold, mobile, active, clear, astringent, and it is dispersing. All of these qualities can manifest in an individual. For example, if a person has excess vata in his or her constitution, because of the dry quality, he or she will have dry hair, dry skin, and a tendency towards constipation. Because of the light quality, the person will have a light body frame, light muscles, be thin and underweight. Because of the cold quality, the person will have cold hands, cold feet and poor circulation. They hate the cold season and love summer. Because of the mobile quality, these people are very active. They like jogging and jumping and don't like sitting in one place.  They are quick to learn and quick to forget (hence the term ‘airhead’).  When imbalanced they will feel emotions of fear, anxiety, insecurity and nervousness.

Pitta Qualities:
It has hot, sharp, light, liquid, sour, oily and spreading qualities. Because of the hot quality, the pitta person has a strong appetite and warm skin. The body temperature is a little higher than the vata person. The second quality of pitta is sharp, therefore the pitta person has a sharp nose, teeth, eyes, mind and while talking uses sharp words. They also have very sharp memory. Because of the oily quality, they have soft warm oily skin, and straight oily hair.  Because of the light quality, pitta people are moderate in body frame, and they do not like bright light.  They are often wise, brilliant people, but can have a controlling, dominating personality. They have a tendency towards comparison, competition, ambition, and they have a quality of aggressiveness, so naturally they criticize. Pitta people tend to get inflammatory diseases, while vata predominant people tend to get neurological, muscular and rheumatic problems.

Kapha Qualities:
kapha will have heavy, slow, cool, oily, liquid, dense, thick, static and cloudy qualities. Because of the heavy quality, these people have heavy bones, muscles and fat. They will have a tendency to put on weight. Because of the slow quality, they have slow metabolism and digestion. They walk slowly and talk slowly. They don't like jogging and jumping. They love eating, sitting and doing nothing.  Kapha is cool hence kapha people have cool, clammy skin. Kapha people have thick wavy hair, and big, attractive eyes. They are slow to learn, but once learned they will NOT forget. Kapha people are forgiving, loving and compassionate. The kapha person has a sweet tooth and loves candy, cookies and chocolate.   When imbalanced kapha people suffer from congestion problems, ex. in the lungs, sinuses, lymph.
     
Keeping Vata Pitta and Kapha Balanced
Ayurveda uses lifestyle, diet, and herbs to help keep us in balance.  Generally you follow the diet for what season you are in--unless there is a severe imbalance.  The imbalance would be treated with routine and herbs.
Generally it is an excess of a particular food, substance, activity, or emotion that will disturb a dosha and start the disease process.  What is excessive will vary from individual to individual, and at different times of your life, your doshic balance is also related to your age and the season.
This list does not go into detail about food, foods greatly affect your dosha, learning which foods to eat are important.

Factors that Disturb:
Vata

	Exposure to cold
	No routine in your life
	Eating dry, frozen, or left over food
	Fasting
	Too much traveling
	Too much exercise
	Abdominal surgery
	Stimulants and other drugs
	Too little sleep, staying up late, working nights
	Not oiling the skin
	Repressing emotions of worry anxiety grief
	Fall and early winter

Pitta

	Exposure to heat
	Eating too much red meat, salty, spicy, or sour foods
	Irregularity of meals
	Exercising at midday
	Drugs, especially antibiotics
	Too much intellectual work/thinking
	Fatigue
	Repression of anger, hate, fear of failure
	Summer

Kapha

	Exposure to cold
	Eating too much sweets, meats, fats, cheese, milk, ice cream, yogurt, and fried foods
	Excessive use of salt
	Excessive use of salt
	Eating even when full
	Taking naps after meals
	Not exercising
	Sleeping too much
	Doing nothing
	Sedatives and tranquilizers
	Staying attached to emotions of doubt, greed, possessiveness, lack of compassion
	Late winter and spring

The interactions of the doshas in the body are complex, it takes time and experience to learn your doshic balance, to pay attention to when it is disturbed, and how to correct it.
Maintaining health is an ongoing process, as you learn to adjust your diet and lifestyle to balance your doshas you will only improve your health.

Determining your Constitution
Your constitution is best determined by an Ayurvedic physician, you can get an idea of your own tendency towards a particular constitution by using this questionnaire.
Mind Body Self-Evaluation Test
(Please choose suitable choices that apply to you over your ENTIRE life, not just currently)    
Vata Personality
( ) I usually perform activity very quickly, enthusiastic, lively by nature.
( ) I have a thin physique – I don’t gain weight very easily.
( ) I have always learned new things very quickly and forget easily.
( ) I tend to have difficulty making decisions.
( ) I tend to develop gas and become constipated easily.
( ) I become anxious or worried frequently.
( ) I tend to have cold hands and feet.     
( ) I don’t tolerate cold weather as well as most people.
( ) I speak quickly, miss words, and my friends think that I’m talkative. 
( ) I often have difficulty falling asleep or having a sound night’s sleep.
( ) I am easily excitable.
( ) I have cold, variable sexuality.
( ) I tend to be irregular in my eating and sleeping habits.
( ) My mind is very active, sometimes restless, but also very imaginative.
( ) My skin tends to be very dry, especially in winter.
( ) My energy tends to come in bursts.
( ) My moods change easily, and I am somewhat emotional by nature.
( ) My characteristic gait (walk) while walking is light and quick.

Total Vata Score: ____

Pitta Personality
( ) I consider myself to be very effective in my work and activities.
( ) I have medium, proportionate, toned body frame.
( ) I feel uncomfortable or become easily fatigued in hot weather – more than other people.
( ) In my activities, I tend to be extremely precise and orderly.
( ) I am strong-minded and have a somewhat forceful manner.
( ) I become impatient very easily, people consider me stubborn.
( ) I tend to perspire easily.
( ) I have a strong appetite; if I want to, I can eat large quantities.
( ) I am very regular in my bowel habits.
( ) I get angry quite easily, but then I quickly forget about it.
( ) I am very fond of cold foods, such as ice cream, ice cold drinks.
( ) I am more likely to feel that a room is too hot than too cold.
( ) I don’t tolerate foods that are very hot and spicy.
( ) I am not as tolerant of disagreement as I should be.
( ) I enjoy challenges, and when I want something, I am very determined in my efforts to get it.
( ) I tend to be quite critical of others and also of myself.
( ) If I skip a meal or a meal is delayed, I become uncomfortable.
( ) I have hot intense sexuality.
( ) One or more of these characteristics describe my hair – early graying or balding, thin, straight, blond, red or sandy-colored.

Total Pitta Score: ______

Kapha Personality
( ) I tend to gain weight easily and find it difficult to lose weight.
( ) My body frame is heavy, broad, evenly proportioned.
( ) I can easily skip a meal without any difficulty.
( ) I frequently tend to get excess congestion, mucus and sinus problems.
( ) I tend to do things in a slow and relaxed manner.
( ) I feel comfortable if I sleep at least 8 hours daily.   
( ) I am calm by nature and not easily angered.
( ) I don’t learn as quickly as some people, but I have excellent retention and a long memory.
( ) I have smooth, soft skin with a somewhat pale complexion.
( ) I have a large, solid body build.
( ) I have slow digestion, which makes me feel heavy after eating.
( ) I have very good stamina, physical endurance, steady energy, walk gently and slowly.
( ) I like to sleep more,I feel tired even though I sleep more and am slow to move in my activities in the morning.
( ) I work well with good routine.
( ) I generally eat slowly and my activities are methodical.
( ) I dislike cool and damp weather, and it bothers me a lot.
( ) I have warm, enduring sexuality
( ) My hair is thick, dark, and wavy.
( ) People like to call me sweet natured, peaceful, affectionate, cool, calm minded.

Total Kapha Score: _______

My Mind-Body Personality is: VATA  ______PITTA  _____KAPHA _____

Routine
A stable healthy routine are fundamental to remaining healthy and keeping vata in balance.  Allowing yourself to relax from the rigidity of the routine one or two days each week will help keep pitta and kapha in balance (pitta people tend to be a bit “anal” and kapha people can be stubborn). 

Morning Daily Personal Cleansing

	Clean tongue with tongue scraper and brush teeth (while we sleep toxins called ama coat the tongue, hence morning breath--ama is described as undigested toxic residue!) scraping the tongue with a copper or stainless steel tongue scraper is the best way to remove these toxins so they are not absorbed back into our body. This also cures halitosis. While brushing remember to brush gums, inside of cheeks under the tongue etc etc.
	Gargle with ¼ cup warm water and 1 tsp sesame oil. This is good for gums and teeth.
	Clean nostrils, I recommend using a neti pot, but you can snort water and then blow it out. Neti will clean mucus and pollution from our nostrils, helps prevent the common cold and sinusitis, and relieves allergies. Using your pinky finger, carefully massage each nostril with sesame oil, this will help prevent the mucus membranes from drying. This must be a daily habit, if you wait until you have a cold or infection it is too late for neti!
	Splash cool water on your face and eyes. Spray rosewater on your face. Sleep is tough on your face, rinsing your face upon waking will disperse heat or leftover pitta energy (heat rises, and as we sleep heat dissipates from our bodies and rises toward our face and eyes). Ayurveda also recommends splashing your face with rosewater, rosewater is good for your eyes (it can relieve the blood shot eyes pitta people are prone to) and has regenerative properties.
	Drink warm water with 1 tsp fresh lemon or lime juice and 1 tsp raw honey and a 1/4 tsp tumeric (in the winter I also add fresh ginger to this). The first item you ingest sets the mood for the remainder of the day. This serves a twofold purpose, warm water stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, and secondly lemons and limes are high in minerals and vitamins and help to loosen ama or toxins in the digestive tract.

Your body readily adapts itself to your habits, so it is important to set healthy habits.  However it should not feel like a struggle to start a healthy routine.  Keep it simple, just pick one or two items that appeal to you from the Ayurvedic routine and gently work them into your schedule.  When you have successfully made them a habit, then add a little more.  Little by slowly what feels like routine becomes a ritual that you enjoy :)

Striking a Balance
As we learn about healthy routines and healthy ways of eating and living remember to relax and enjoy your life! 

main meal.  And I love to quote an ancient Ayurvedic saying “If you eat standing up, death looks over your shoulder”.
But as stated above, relax and remember as Aristotle said "Moderation in all things". 
And really, who didn’t say it:
MODERATION IN ALL THINGS - "Thinkers of ancient Greece held the notion of moderation in high esteem. As early as the ninth century B.C., the historian Hesiod wrote in 'Works and Days,' 'Observe due measure, moderation is best in all things.' The Greek playwright Euripides echoed that sentiment in 'Medea' (c. 431 B.C.) with, 'Moderation, the noblest gift of heaven,' and after him the philosopher Plato advised in 'Gorgias' (c. 375 B.C.), 'We should pursue and practice moderation.' Centuries later, Chaucer first rendered a similar English saying in 'Troilus and Criseyde' (c. 1385) with 'In every thyng, I woot, there lith mesure (moderation or proportion)'.
Do not get so wrapped up in the yogi lifestyle that you become rigid!  Every now and then eat french fries or pizza, or eat a winter food in the summer ;)
On that same note, I would like to share a snippet from my friend Fran Sussman’s latest newsletter (she is teaching the sacred archetype workshop we are holding in July):

Beer and Hot Dogs?
Surely, if we are healthy, our systems should be able to tolerate an occasional indulgence. No, I don't recommend beer and hot dogs!  And yes, we are responsible for making choices that are appropriate to our state of health.  I would even say that a sign of health would be to make predominantly healthy choices in every aspect of life, including what we choose to eat, or not eat. But my definition of health would include the ability to deal with a certain amount of stress without having symptoms, whether that stress comes in the form of exposure to a virus, an upsetting argument, or an occasional serving of french fries.
    
Health as a process includes our weaknesses, our slips and all the uncontrollable factors of life, as well. While there is integrity in doing the best we can, there is guaranteed failure in targeting only perfection.

The good news is that as our health improves, (1) we naturally and more consistently make more choices that support it and (2) we are better able to withstand the stresses we are expose to, whether voluntary or involuntary. Do your best to make as many choices each day that support your optimal health, and you will see and feel changes!

Relax and enjoy your life, an occasional french fry or stressful situation will not cause decay or disease in  your body :)

Sadhana
Sadhana is a sanskrit word, most people understand sadhana to mean a spiritual practice; however the direct translation of the word sadhana means “that which CAN be done”.  So with your lifestyle and your yoga remember to adapt these practices to your individual-ality, your unique nature and circumstance.  The effectiveness of your practice is not measured by the achievement of an asana or a routine; but rather by the feeling created by your practice.  You should feel good from your practice--if not--it is not yoga or ayurveda!

© 2009 Bobbi Misiti | Be Fit Body & Mind YOGA