By Kimberly Ulrich, CAS

Understanding the basic principles of Ayurveda will support healing here at our Ashland Ayurveda clinic or at home. Daily routines, diet information and basic herb knowledge can improve a person's ability to take care of themselves. Knowing how the doshas affect the seasons, our daily lives, and the stage of the life we are in, can guide us to greater health. When people have knowledge of the framework of Ayurveda they are better able to build a body, mind and spirit in balance with life.

Dosha, an important Ayurvedic concept, is based on the elements. Vata, Pitta and Kapha, the three doshas, are the pillars of Ayurveda. Doshas are humors or energetics. These concepts apply to each person's constitution as well as to the seasons, times of the day, emotional and physical traits, food, herbs and more.

Everyone has a blend of Vata, Pitta and Kapha qualities and therefore, their own basic nature. When these qualities are balanced then you have health and when they are not, you don't. Finding the balance, and maintaining it, is what the practice of Ayurveda is all about.

Vata is the energy of air and ether. It is the wind and the space that holds the wind. It is cold, dry, light, active or mobile and its primary taste is bitter. People of Vata nature tend to be thin, small boned, with dry hair and skin, fast talking, and have a tendency toward being anxious, constipated, creative and fun-loving. Hanging out with Vata, you might notice that the space is stirred up and a lot of points of view are talked about, but you may not get a lot done.

Pitta is the energy of fire, with a little water. It is a bonfire with a bit of oil in the wood that keeps it burning. Pitta is hot, light, mobile, a little oily or wet, and its primary taste is sour. People of Pitta nature tend to be of medium build and weight, sometimes red-headed, with deep-set eyes, focused, courageous, and relatively quick to anger. If you're in a group, the strongest Pitta is the one directing the show, keeping people on task, and he or she may get a little irritated with the folks that speak too slowly and don't get to the point.

Kapha is the energy of water and earth. It is the boulders as well as the water that flows over them. Kapha is cool, heavy, immobile, wet and its primary taste is sweet. People of Kapha nature are stocky, slow-talking, with round faces, big eyes and lustrous thick hair. You may not notice Kapha right away but when you do, you'll see that they are supportive and compassionate. They are the people that stay in the same job for decades and hold the space for the activity of others.

Ayurveda is perhaps 10,000 years old. See Events & Classes for more information. Therefore it is one of the oldest healing modalities in the world. It is part of the text of Vedanta which provides a complete view of all existence and how to live a healthy life, to both prevent and cure disease.