The Language of Ayurveda
The language and wisdom of Ayurveda can sometimes appear as intimidating or confusing, especially to those who are new to the practice. The language we use in Ayurveda allows us to better describe and relate the natural world. The terminology we use in Ayurveda comes from and ancient dialect called Sanskrit. In Hinduism, it is believed to have been used as a means of communication and dialogue by the Hindu Celestial Gods, and then by the Indo-Aryans. Just like any language, it feels confusing and foreign at first, but through repetition, I hope to bring you some clarity and simplification.
Ayurveda is an indigenous medicinal system originating in India over 5,000 years ago as a sister science to yoga. The goal was to view health and well-being through an all-encompassing lens of the body, mind, and spirit in relation to the natural world around us. Ayurveda translates to “the knowledge of life” or “the art of living”, which is beautifully poetic on its own. This practice has been established in many Eastern cultures for centuries through oral and written teachings which has evolved and branched out into specialties. While Ayurvedic doctors and clinics serve us greatly, this sacred practice is mainly used as a tool for practitioners to apply to their every day life for longevity and vitality.
Svastha means health. The radiant, bright, and joyful energy that a person naturally emits without effort, is their strong prana (life force) which means they have good svastha. In Ayurveda, svastha refers to the wholeness of every being, not only the physical or mental health. We are dynamic beings, and are constantly experiencing changes. Health or svastha is finding the harmony of mind, body, and spirit. Ayurveda teaches us that our internal and external environment affect our state of being, and by paying close attention to ourselves and the rhythms of nature, we can sustain a state of equilibrium.
The Five Elements
Ayurveda is based on the cadence of nature and the elements of mother earth. These elements are present in every living and breathing thing. It is the connection between every microcosm in the entire universe, uniting the inner and outer world. The five elements or pancha mahabhuta, are space, air, fire, water, and earth. These are the foundations of all basic principles of energy, physics, space, transformation, liquid, and matter. Each element is associated with each of our senses - touch, sound, taste, vision, and smell.
Akasha (Space/Ether)
This is the most subtle energy of all the elements, as it represents something we cannot hold. It is universal, formless, and non-moving, yet it exists everywhere at all times. The qualities of akasha are clear, light, soft, subtle, and immeasurable. This energy is associated with vibration, expansion, and the sensory organ.
Vayu (Air)
Representing the energy of movement, vayu initiates and directs all universal motions. The subtle energy or tanmantra of the air element is cold, dry, mobile, rough, dry, quick, and subtle. It governs all sensory organs which help guide us on how and where to move in space in relation to other objects. Internally, this tanmantra is the involuntary movements such as blinking, breathing, the beat of the heart, the contraction of muscles, and any impulses on the nervous system. It also is the energy and motion of elimination and the coming and passing of thoughts. Prana is essentially our primary life force, as it represents the breath we take into our bodies, without which life would not exist.
Agni (Fire)
Agni is the element of fire, also known at our center of transformation, processing, digestion and vision. It embodies heat, sharpness, lightness, and dryness, most present in the summer season. Agni is associate with the tanmantra (subtle energy) of vision or rupa, responsible for sight and intelligence. This element is our propeller of knowledge, perception and drive. This energy is what allows us to digest food, transform thoughts into actions, process emotions, and recollect information and experiences.
Apas (Water)
The function of Apas, the element of water, is to offer immunity, cohesion and adhesion, all of which are sources of grounding and stability. Apas qualities are fluid, cool, soft, oily, heavy, and slimy. The tanmantra of apas is the taste sense (rasa). The taste sense is extremely functional for helping us experience pleasure and satisfaction of food. We are made of up to 60% water, so it is evident that it lives within us, in our plasma, saliva, sweat, mucous, urine, blood, and spinal fluid. It is our source of vitality, immunity and mobility.
Prithvi (Earth)
This dense and heavy element is earth or prithvi, is our skeletal structure and physical foundation. It is dense, dull, heavy, large, and stable. It is what shapes the body’s solid structures that support us and give us freedom and stability. Prithvi is alive in our cartilage, nails, bones, teeth, hair, and skin.
The Twenty Qualities in Ayurveda
As you may have noticed, each element contains a unique set of qualities and characteristics that can also be used to describe all that is in this universe. These qualities collect together to create the twenty qualities of Ayuirveda, known as the gunas. Understanding these set of twenty qualities is exceptionally helpful in learning how to be your own healing and Ayurvedic practitioner. They allow us to identify our experiences of both the outer and inner world. These qualities are often split up into two categories or ten pairs; building qualities (brahmana) and lightening qualities (langhana). Both vata and pitta dosha represent light qualities, and kapha represents the building qualities.
Building / Lightening
Slow / Sharp
Cold / Hot
Heavy / Light
Oily / Dry
Smooth / Rough
Dense / Liquid
Soft / Hard
Cloudy / Clear
Stable / Mobile
The Three Doshas
Each of these unique qualities listed above are grouped as energetic constitutions called doshas. The three doshas in Ayurveda are vata, pitta and kapha, and are used to best identify these elements present in your body or your environment. By observing carefully, you may begin to identify these energies based on your body type, your tendencies, and habits. The twenty elements categorized as doshas look as such:
Vata: dry, light, cold, rough, mobile, clear
Pitta: oily, sharp, hot, light, mobile, liquid
Kapha: heavy, slow, cold, oily, liquid, smooth, dense, stable, cloudy
Vata ( Air/Ether)
Vata is made up of air and ether or space and represents the energy of movement. It is mobile and light, and is responsible for initiating the action of pitta and kapha dosha which have little mobility. When vata is out of balance, it directly affects the other doshas by extension. Vata is the propeller of the nervous system, intellect, sound sensory, elimination, and all involuntary movements of the body. The main location of vata on the physical body is the colon, pelvis, lower back, ears and skin.
Pitta (Fire/Water)
Pitta dosha is our inner fire. It is the energy of transformation, governing our metabolism, digestion and all biochemical changes that occur in the body. Not only does this energy help us digest food, but it also allows us to digest and process all information we receive through our senses. It is the energy that defines our intelligence and ability to comprehend. Pitta dosha is present in the physical body through the small intestines, liver, spleen, blood, sweat, eyes, and endocrine glands.
Kapha (Water/Earth)
Kapha is the energy of stability, structure and coherence. It is the lubricator of the body, allowing us to be stable yet mobile. This energy helps us build up the body and is responsible for the formation of new cells or recovery. Kapha dosha is nestled within the stomach, mucous, plasma, lymph nodes, cells, fat, mouth, joints, and skeletal system.
What is a Unique Constitution?
You may be wondering which dosha you identify with the most at this point. Many of you will identify with multiple if not all of them and that is very common. Each of these doshas or energies are living within you, but one or all three may be most dominant based on your nature. For each person it will be just a bit different, for one being can ever be identical to another. This is called your prakriti, which means your birth constitution which essentially shaped who you become and the how you communicate to the environment that surrounds you. There are several factors that could define your prakriti including your genetics, your birth experience, and early childhood experiences. Many people are dominant in more than one dosha which is identifies as such; vata, pitta, kapha, vata-pitta, pitta-kapha, vata-kapha, vata-pitta-kapha. This can be identified by observing carefully or confiding in an Ayurvedic doctor.
Identifying Vata
Individuals that are vata dominant tend to have a slender build, narrow frames, and are generally tall or and stringy or very short and petite. They generally have prominent bones, dark hair, dry skin, hair and nails. Their body temperature tends to be cold, the skin is rough, and the eyes are dark or sunken. Vatas have a weak or inconsistent appetite, and their elimination is irregular, dry or even constipated. They often have a challenge keeping weight on due to their light and dry nature. Vata individuals learn quickly, and move quickly but they also have a hard time retaining information. Know to be very creative, vata types are excellent visionaries, and are highly alert. They also tire and burn out easily and often begin a new task before completing one they are working on. Vata doshas have trouble sticking to a set routine, however they can benefit greatly from a stable daily practice to help keep them grounded.
Identifying Pitta
Pitta dosha individuals tend to have a strong and muscular build, and aren’t thin nor thick. Their skin and body temperature is warm, thick, and red or flushed. Pitta types generally have a warm or fair complexion and their eyes are big, bright, and sharp. Their hair, nails and skin is soft and lighter in color. When pitta dosha is present in excess, their appetite can be insatiable, and they have a very strong and consistent digestion. They eliminate frequently and have loose or runny stools. They can gain or lose weight with much ease. Pitta types are known to be very intelligent, sharp, and quick learners. They have a charming charisma, focused discipline, and are very ambitious.
Identifying Kapha
Kapha types have a medium to broad frame, with heavy and strong skeletal structure and well proportioned bodies. They are sturdy, strong, and often have well lubricated joints. Kapha individuals have thick hair, skin and nails, often leaning towards oily, and soft. Their eyes are large and they often have thick lips and may carry excess weight. They have a regular appetite and generally slow, sticky and sluggish digestion and elimination. Kapha types can gain weight easy, if they don’t stay active and mobile. They have good stamina and strong long term memory. They are generally calm, grounded, and level-headed. They take their time learning new things, but are able to retain the information really well. They are very loving, caring, kind but can get very stubborn and attached when they are imbalanced.
Staying Present
As you familiarize yourself with the doshas, the constitution types, and Ayurvedic philosophy, you may feel connected to more than one of the doshas during the span of your life. Maybe you can relate to some physical characteristics of one and the emotional qualities of another. When this is the case, it can be tricky to identify your prakriti and is best to confide in a well seasoned teacher or practitioner. Over time, you will begin to understand and have deeper awareness of your tendencies, so you can be informed on how to find balance. Your prakriti is one of the most sacred and special things you can have, because it defines how you experience your internal and external environment. It is the leader of how you enjoy food, how you digest, what you crave, your seasonal influences, and your state of mind. It is uniquely yours, unlike anyone else’s.
Before you label yourself as one of the three doshas, take a moment to remember all constitutions are alive in every living organism. We use these identification tools called doshas to help understand our imbalances and to inform us on how to take action and balance our state of being. This is a constantly changing and ever-evolving energy, so staying present is the only way to know how you are and how to be.
