Ayurveda combines the principles of traditional and natural medicines to improve our quality of life.
Ayurveda is India's over 5,000-year-old traditional medicine system, offering a holistic vision of wellness with a preventive emphasis on health.
According to this discipline, everything in the universe is composed of 5 elements: space, air, fire, water and earth.
The constitution of each person is composed of a unique combination of these elements in a natural balance, at a physical, physiological, mental and emotional level that is established at the moment of conception, and is known as prakriti or "nature."
The 3 constitutional types known as dosha, which may predominate in our nature are:
Vata (space + air)
Pitta (fire + water)
Kapha (water + earth
A healthy life depends on our ability to maintain and restore balance to the elements that make us up.
Factors that can create imbalances between the elements are an inadequate diet, irregularity in meal times, sedentary lifestyle, lack of rest, stress, emotions and overstimulation of the senses, among others. Likewise, we are affected by our constantly changing environment, influenced by the seasons of the year, the weather, age and personal life situations.
Ayurvedic medicine instills the sense of observation both of ourselves and of our surroundings, so that with understanding we can make the necessary adjustments to reposition ourselves in our own balance. Hence how useful it is to know our constitutional type, since it offers us guides on how to procure ourselves on a physical, mental and emotional level.
Regardless of our constitutional type, practice some habits to stay healthy like the following:
- Rest enough sleeping between 6-8 hours a day.
- Waking up early, 6am or earlier is the ideal time.
- Practice Yoga and meditation practice asanas and / or pranayamana before starting the day.
- Eat breakfast, nutritious, light and hot meals
- Respect meal times.
- Take breaks during the day to avoid a build-up of stress and quiet your mind.
- To hydrate adequately.
- Eat dinner at least 2 hours before bed
- Avoid stimulating activities before bed such as watching TV, reading, working on the computer or with electronic devices.
- Practice gratitude.
These simple suggestions have profound and tangible effects on our health. You can start to make gradual changes so that they can transform into lasting habits and enjoy their benefits fully.
Always wishing you health and well-being in body, mind and spirit.
Michele Torres
Certified Ayurveda Specialist (AIAS, Australia)
Certified Health Coach (IIN, USA)
Certified Yoga Instructor (Lunananda Yoga and Somatic Arts, Mexico)
Twitter @avani_ayurveda
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Last modified: March 24, 2024