Ayurveda is the ancient Indian philosophy of health and wellbeing. It means the ‘art of living wisely.’ In simple terms, Ayurveda is a holistic system which guides us so that we can live a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. It recognises that we are all unique and focuses on food, lifestyle, massage, yoga and herbal remedies to suit our individual make-up.

Ayurveda is timeless - it has existed for over 4000 years but yet it still applies to modern day life. The key to its longevity is because Ayurveda is logical. An early description given in the Charaka Samhita (the earliest Ayurvedic literature) written circa 150BCE-100CE says:

“It is called ayurveda because it tells us which substances, qualities and actions are life enhancing, and which are not.”

The wisdom of Ayurveda encourages us to take responsibility for our own health according to the different stages of our lives, the seasons, and the environment we live, work and play in. These factors all have a big impact on our health and it makes sense to adapt our lifestyle accordingly so we can continue to live in harmony with our body and stay at optimum health.

The doshas:

In Ayurveda we are said to have body-mind types, these are known as dosha and consist of vata, pitta and kapha. Each dosha has certain attributes and describes our individual characteristics, inherited traits, our likes and dislikes and our tendencies.

Generally we are a combination of dosha but one will usually dominate. If a dosha becomes out of balance, which can happen for a number of reasons, it can effect how we behave and even our health.

Vata types tend to be visionary, imaginative and full of creative energy but when they are out of balance they can be forgetful, spaced out, anxious and uptight. Typical vata problems are erractic digestion, constipation, bloating, anxiety, insomnia, dryness or joint disorders.

The vata dosha is comprised of akasa (ether) and vayu (wind). Each dosha contains aspects of all the five elements but space and wind are predominant in vata.

Vata is the air element that is held within the confines of ether. It shares qualities familiar to both elements. So, vata is cold, light, rough, mobile, subtle, clear, dry and astringent. When vata manifests these qualities are apparent.

The primary site of vata is the colon. It also resides in the bladder, thighs, ears, bones and the sense of touch. The root ‘va’ means ‘to spread’ and it is responsible for all movement in the body; the flow of breath and blood, elimination of wastes, expression of speech, it moves the diaphragm, muscles and limbs, regulates the nervous system and it also stimulates the function of the intellect. It is like a current of electricity and is responsible for regulating all electrical impulses in the body-mind. It is the messenger. In fact without vata the other dosha are inert. As it is said in the Sharangadhara Samhita 'pitta is lame, kapha is lame. They go wherever the wind takes them, just like the clouds.’ Because of this dynamic function an aggravated vata is often involved in the movement of the other dosha around the body.

Pitta types are confident, passionate leaders, organised and perfectionists but excess pitta can make them fiery, snappy and irritable. Pitta people have a tendency to suffer from skin irritations, overheating, heartburn, diarrhoea and ulcers.

The pitta dosha is made up of tejas (fire) and jala (water). The seemingly contradictory combination of fire and water to form pitta is actually complimentary. Pitta exists as water or oil in the body, thus preserving the tissues from the destructive aspect of fire.

It is pungent, hot, penetrating, greasy, oily, sharp, liquid, spreading and sour. Its primary function is transformation. It is the force of metabolic activity in the body associated with the endocrine function, hormone levels, digestion, body temperature, visual perception, hunger, thirst and skin quality. Mentally it plays a role in understanding and in digesting sensory impressions. Again, the five aspects of pitta determine its location in the body. It resides in the eyes, blood, sweat glands, the small intestine, stomach and lymph. Its primary site is in the small intestine.

Kapha types tend to be loyal, kind-hearted, calm and full of love, but a kapha overload can make them lethargic, lacking in energy and a little overindulgent. Kapha types are prone to congestion, excess weight, sluggish digestion and lack of energy.

It's important to try and keep our doshas in balance in order to stay on top form. It's not always easy with the hectic lives we lead, but if we can learn what our body needs and adjust our lifestyle accordingly, it's a big step closer to staying healthy and happy!

The kapha dosha is a combination of the prithvi (earth) and jala (water) elements. As the water element it is contained within the earthen structures of the tissues and skin, the dry earth is moistened by the reviving water element. It is slow, heavy, cool, dense, soft, greasy, unctuous, sticky, cloudy, liquid and sweet.

Kapha literally holds the body together. It is cohesive, gives shape and form, aids growth and development, lubricates and protects, helps smelling and tasting. It relates to phlegm in the body. It resides in the chest, throat, head, pancreas, stomach, lymph, fat, nose and tongue. Its primary site is the stomach.

We can be any combination of constitution. Every combination is unique and has dominant characteristics.

Ayurveda is about wise living. It’s about balancing your personal nature with the world around you; your environment with the larger environment. If it is a boiling hot day, you are pitta by nature and you have been living off hot curries its time to seek the opposite; cooling refreshing, soothing activities such as drinking cool water, aloe vera juice or rose water and generally chilling out.

What is so empowering about Ayurveda is that we can adjust our habits and behaviour to be suitable for the time of day, the season and the stage of our life which can help lead us to perfect health.