Healthy Living - Corfu Magazine - Vol. 4, No. 1, September 15, 2008
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AYURVEDIC PHILOSOPHIES
by Sue Cullen
A therapy that has been practised for over 4000 yrs by Hindus, who have passed it down through the family, so that they are all educated in the ways of ayurveda.
It is a science which shows us not only how to cure diseases but more importantly how to prevent it. Disease is caused by imbalances of the three 'doshas' - Pitta, Vatta and Kapha. The balance of the three is of vital importance to maintaining health of the mind body and spirit.
Identification of our body type (dosha) enables us to correct our health through exercise, diet and everyday stresses. Balancing our doshas comes with knowledge of how our body reacts to different foods, stresses and the environment we live in. The emphasis is on the whole. Practitioners will find out about the client's life habits and advise changes.
Identifying your dosha type in short - Doshas are likened to the Wind, Sun and Moon.
Pitta are medium built people who have a lot of energy and find it difficult to relax. They have reddish complexion and oily skins, often fair-haired. They have sharp small eyes often green or grey and their teeth tend to be yellowish. The voice is sharp and high-pitched but are usually highly intelligent and strong leaders. They tend to suffer from stress, headaches and are hot in temperament. This sign is compared to the sun and produces heat and energy. It governs digestion and all biochemical processes.
Vatta is compared to the wind and is the force behind body actions and sensations - it regulates thought processes, mental balance and comprehension. Vatta types tend to be thin, bony and rough skinned. Eyes are small and hair thin, large teeth prone to decay, voice weak and hoarse. Often creative, active and intelligent people.
Kapha is compared to the moon and controls balance of fluids, cell growth and structure. This sign provides support to the whole structure in both physical and psychological emotions. They are generally large built people who are laid back and do not rush around but instead are more sluggish in movement. They tend to be overweight with pale and smooth skin. Hair is usually thick dark and wavy. Large attractive eyes, often blue, and white teeth. The voice is clear and deep but well pitched. This type tends to learn more slowly but have good memories and their thoughts are logical and well considered.
MOST PEOPLE ARE A COMBINATION OF ALL THREE TYPES BUT OFTEN ONE DOMINATES.
Diet
Avoid foods that do not agree with you - learn to identify them.
Lifestyle
Change your working conditions or your home life to suit your constitution.
Medicines
Herbal preparations made by an ayuvedic physician will help to re-establish balance.
Massage
Restores energy pathways and helps expel waste products.
The benefits of the massage is tenfold
·
Removes toxins
Removes toxins·Helps with fatigue
Helps with fatigue·Removes excess wind
Removes excess wind·Strengthens the body
Strengthens the body·Induces sleep
Induces sleep·Strengthens the skin by becoming more pliable and less dry
Strengthens the skin by becoming more pliable and less dry·Soothes nerves
Soothes nerves·Aids immunity
Aids immunityThe practitioner will take all the factors into consideration and prescribe the corrections needed to be put into place, for example if you are not doing enough exercise in the day then it will have to be fitted into your day somewhere even if its a short walk. Ayurveda simply is a way of life that incorporates sensible eating, exercise, relaxation and massage.
Preventative care is the key to maintaining good health. Moderation in all things becomes more apparent as one gets older, but the young should be educated in the ways of ayurveda, which may save many people later in life from some of the more debilitating disorders.
Sue Cullen
