Introduction to Ayurveda / / In search of my "dosha"

No yoga training this weekend, so I took the opportunity to review my notes before weekend, during which we have followed including an introduction to Ayurveda. I was curious to learn more about this alternative medicine considered the "sister science" of yoga. A few years ago, I had an ayurvedic massage, which I have a strong memory and oily. It is a teacher of yoga center "Kripalu" in western Massachusetts, who came to give us an afternoon of going about it. It was an enthusiasm and a contagious joy. His theoretical presentations were full of illustrated examples, interspersed with breathing exercises. Here is an outline of what we saw during the long afternoon ...

What is Ayurveda?

Originally from India, where it has been practiced for over 5000 years, Ayurveda, the science of life in Sanskrit, is as a lifestyle or a preventive medicine, in harmony with nature and the seasons, including through diet and daily routine. The watchword of Ayurveda is balance - imbalance is a source of physical and mental illness. The goal of Ayurveda is to teach people how to be healthy by understanding their own nature in relation to their environment.

Tell me who you are, I'll tell you what your dosha ...

The universe in Ayurvedic design would consist of five elements: space, air, fire, water and earth. In combination, they form three "  doshas  "or constitutions, or essential physical qualities. Before you begin to follow the principles of ayurveda, we must determine what is the dosha . Everyone has one dose of each of these three doshas, ​​but one of them is supposed to be dominant. In a few words their main characteristics:

• Vata is the temperament of the movement of the wind. People who are "vata" are enthusiastic, sensitive and very creative.
• Pitta: this is the temperament of the transformation. People who are "pitta" are determined, organized, accurate, intelligent.
• Kapha: this is the temperament of stability. People who are "kapha" are generous, kind, responsible, loyal, calm.

Questionnaires to determine their dosha, which is based on the mental and physical, are also found online if you want to try ( questionnaire in English  or French ).

Adopt a daily routine wellness

Once we have determined what his "dosha" must learn to balance it, so that there is no lack or excess.For example too much vata , the characteristic of the movement can create insomnia, nervousness and even indecision. Or too much pitta will create arrogance or too competitive temperament. In short, we forget the slogan balance! Every type of person, every time of year, we must find the means, power , routine hygiene , and activities physical balance everything. For example, if it is kapha , or someone strong, solid, strong, if we eat too heavy, it will "aggravate" our case, in the same way as if it was a way of life too quiet, it will pull us down.

I like discovering new systems of thoughts, it's like telling me a story about an alternative way of seeing the world, and I had to ask myself what I can get interesting ? Although some concepts may seem esoteric, the central idea of ​​balance is common sense, and I think is important: eat light in the summer, do not exercise too hard when it's too cold or too hot, etc.. And it is often the things we tend to forget, probably because of an accumulation of habits more or less harmful. Anyway, I have yet to determine what my "dosha" - every time I took the test, it was different that emerged ... and I could follow a roadmap wellness specially devoted to my " dosha. " To be continued!