Ayurveda is an ancient Indian method of healing. Ayuh is Sanskrit (an ancient Indian language that is no longer commonly used) for life, veda means knowledge. So together, Ayurveda means knowledge of life. The purpose of Ayurveda is to heal and maintain equilibrium within the body. That being said, I have found Ayurveda to be helpful in discovering the causes of imbalance within the body.

According to Ayurveda, there are 5 five elements present in every person: fire, air, water, earth, and ether. The degree of strength of each element within each individual is different, and will naturally vary throughout one’s lifetime. It’s this variation that contributes to our overall strengths and weaknesses, however, when one or two elements become too strong or weak, sickness can occur.

A brief explanation of the five elements is below:

Fire: Movement creates friction and friction creates heat. All transformation is ruled by the element of fire. Fire is responsible for the metabolic process (digestion) which converts the food you eat into energy and food for your cells to multiply and grow. Blood and plasma are the carriers or fire (heat) through your body. When everything is running status quo, no problems are evident. But problems arise when there is too much fire (heartburn) or too little fire (cold hands and feet, feeling of overall coldness).

Water: Water is associated with chemical energy because it rules all biochemical reactions within the body. Our bodies are comprised mainly of water, and water is responsible for maintaining the right balance of electrolytes within the blood. Blood plasma is 90% water. Water is responsible for carrying nutrients to cells. It’s very easy to become dehydrated. Dehydration causes headaches and cravings for food. Essentially, dehydration is in a sense, starving your cells. Your body causes you to crave food because it needs energy. This is one reason nutritionists recommend drinking a large glass of water and waiting 20 minutes for giving in to cravings.

The lymphatic system is also ruled by water. We have much more lymphatic fluid, almost twice as much, than blood. However, the lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump, like the blood has the heart, to move lymph around. Regular movement like walking or exercising is the best way to move lymph around the body. Dry skin brushing and massage are other ways. Many people experience edema – swelling of tissue in their legs, arms, etc. This is the result of stagnant lymph fluid.

Earth: Earth is the foundation for life. It is solid and dense. All solid formations are hard and firm. Within the body, those would be bones, teeth, nails, cartilage, etc. When the Earth element is in balance, one has strong bones, nails, teeth, etc. When these parts of the body become weak and brittle, imbalance is present, and has likely been present for awhile.

Ether: It has been said that ether is the first expression of Consciousness. It’s what all matter is born from. Ether is expansive and unrestricted, and is pure spiritual energy. In Ayurveda, without Ether, there is no love. Signs of Ether imbalance would be an individual who is closed off, and unable to love.

Air: Electrical energy, which is responsible for movement and keeps the body in constant motion is made possible by Air. In yoga, we talk a lot about Prana. Prana is your life force. Prana is necessary for all movements within cells, the various systems within the body, and the body itself as a whole. Think back to a time when you saw a very sick person. That person most likely had very low energy. Their prana/life force was low. Air also rules the involuntary movements of the body, things like heartbeat, respiration, peristalsis (the movement of food through the digestive system), blinking of the eyes, etc.

In Ayurveda, the five elements are constantly interacting together throughout the universe. In terms of human health, the five elements are grouped together into three principles, or doshas, which are found in everything. There are no English translations for the names of these principles and so they are named in original Sanskrit. The doshas are: vata, pitta, and kapha. The word dosha translates to “mistake” or “impurity”, but should really be approached as what can go wrong based on your Ayurvedic constitution, if your primary dosha is out of balance.

Vata: is a combination of Air and Ether. Vata rules movement, specifically, involuntary movement, such as breath, blinking of the eyes, the beating of the heart, peristalsis, your thoughts, etc. When vata is in balance one feels creative, flexible, and have good digestion. Out of balance, one feels anxiety, fear, and may experience nervous disorders .

Physical characteristics of the vata individual include: dry skin and hair, lightness and flexibility, feelings of being cold, large teeth, small deep-set eyes. They tend to be thin and find it hard to gain weight. They can suffer from low levels of energy. From a health perspective, they tend to be frail and may get sick often. Their appetite and thirst levels tend to be erratic, and they can suffer from digestive troubles and issues with nutrient absorption.

Individuals with vata tendencies tend to be very excitable. They are the classic daydreamers. They like change, and may often rearrange the furniture in their home, or move frequently. They are flexible and open to new ideas, but those ideas may not hold strong because they will find something else that holds their interest. They don’t do well sitting in one spot for long periods of time – they like action. Because they are active, they tend to make money, however, they tend to overspend and have trouble saving.

Pitta: is a combination of Fire and Water. Pitta rules fire in the body. It effects digestion, since food eaten must be “burned” and digested. Their bodies tend to be sensitive, with a medium frame, nice muscle tone and strength, and they never really gain or lose much weight. They tend to have bright eyes that are sensitive to light, and have very strong appetites and thirst. Pitta types also have a propensity for sweets.

Pitta people can be stubborn, but they make excellent students, as they have a high capacity for learning. They are very disciplined and make good leaders and have a lot of wisdom. Baldness seems to be prominent in Pitta men. Because Pitta types are fiery by nature, they may also be judgmental, critical of others, and can anger easily. They like the finer things in life and tend to do well in their careers.

Kapha: is a combination of Water and Earth and governs the cells, tissues, and organs. The qualities of water and earth are heavy, slow, cool, liquid, shiny, and dense. Because of this, people with kapha body types tend to have a strong and large body frame, and tend to be on the heavier side. They don’t particularly enjoy physical exercise. They have large eyes and healthy teeth. They may have smooth and oily skin. They also have a steady appetite and thirst, but a slow metabolism. Kapha people tend towards weight gain that they have a hard time losing.

Kapha types are good money-savers. When they believe in something, they are unwavering in those beliefs. They have a good memory and generally have a nice voice. When a kapha person is unbalanced, they can be greedy, lazy, and possessive. Of all the doshas, kaphas have the strongest constitution.

Do you see more of yourself in one of these categories? Maybe you see yourself in two categories? Most people have one that is dominant and other that isn’t far behind. I am vata-pitta. There are many quizzes online you can take to find out what your dosha is. Here is a link to the Chopra center where you can take a free online quiz*: http://store.chopra.com/dosha-survey.asp

Stay tuned for more articles about Ayurveda – eating, exercise, and stress relief for your dosha!

*Note: I have no association with the Chopra Institute.