Ayurveda literally means "Science of Life" and it truly is. Ayurveda is the traditional medicine of India and is a complete system encompassing diet, lifestyle, herbal medicine, meditation and yoga. Because it is a science founded on simple, natural principles, this ancient system can easily be applied to modern life.
Ayurvedic ConstitutionsAyurveda has the concept of the three doshas known Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Vata = Air + Space Pitta = Fire + Water Kapha = Water + EarthThere are actually seven constitutional types, because an individual may be Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Vata-Pitta, Pitta-Kapha, Vata-Kapha, or Vata-Pitta-Kapha equally. The last two types are extremely rare, whereas the first 5 are the most common.
Ayurveda is the science of lifeAyurveda is said to be 5000 years old and is more relevant today than ever. Ayurveda is holistic, comprehensive and simple to understand, although the science behind it is rich and complex. You'll see that anyone can apply basic Ayurvedic principles to their life and enjoy natural health and optimal wellness. We'll start with Ayurveda's definition of the Five Elements. Ayurveda teaches that the entire universe is made up of the following five elements: earth, water, fire, air and space. All matter is composed of these elements - our bodies, food, the environment. Everything has its own particular proportion of these elements, including us. When we know which elements are primary for us, we can make choices that allow us to live a life of balance. Our particular elemental make-up dictates what balance looks like on an individual level, as is detailed below. We are born with a very specific elemental composition called our constitution, or Prakruti. Many factors influence which constitution we are born with: heredity, our parents' health at our conception, our in utero environment, astrology, and our past life karma. Our constitution is with us from birth and never changes.
