Ayurveda

Pitta
The Energy of Digestion and Metabolism

General Description


Pitta types have many of the qualities of fire. Fire is hot, penetrating, sharp and agitating. Similarly, pitta people have warm bodies, penetrating ideas and sharp intelligence. When out of balance, they can become very agitated and short-tempered. The pitta body type is one of medium height and build, with ruddy or coppery skin. They may have many moles and freckles. Their skin is warm and less wrinkled than vata skin. Their hair tends to be silky and they often experience premature graying or hair loss. Their eyes are of medium size and the conjunctiva is moist. The nose is sharp and the tip tends to be reddish.

Those with pitta-dominant constitutions have a strong metabolism, good digestion and strong appetites. They like plenty of food and liquids and tend to love hot spices and cold drinks. However, their constitution is balanced by sweet, bitter and astringent tastes. Pitta people’s sleep is sound and of medium duration. They produce large quantities of urine and feces, which tend to be yellowish, soft and plentiful. They perspire easily and their hands and feet stay warm. Pitta people have a lower tolerance for sunlight, heat and hard physical work.

Mentally, pitta types are alert and intelligent and have good powers of comprehension. However, they are easily agitated and aggressive and tend toward hate, anger and jealousy when imbalanced. In the external world, pitta people like to be leaders and planners and seek material prosperity. They like to exhibit their wealth and possessions. Pitta people tend to have diseases involving the fire principle such as fevers, inflammatory diseases and jaundice. Common symptoms include skin rashes, burning sensation, ulceration, fever, inflammations or irritations such as conjunctivitis, colitis or sore throats.

Since the attributes of pitta are oily, hot, light, mobile, dispersing and liquid, an excess of any of these qualities aggravates pitta. Summer is a time of heat, the pitta season. Sunburn, poison ivy, prickly heat and short tempers are common. These kinds of pitta disorders tend to calm down as the weather gets cooler. The diet and lifestyle changes emphasize coolness—cool foods, avoidance of chilies and spices (especially difficult for New Mexicans), and cool climates. People with excessive pitta need to exercise at the coolest part of the day.

General guidelines for balancing pitta:
Avoid excessive heat
Avoid excessive oil
Avoid excessive steam
Limit salt intake
Eat cooling, non-spicy foods
Exercise during the cooler part of the

Vata
The Energy of Movement

General Description


Vata provides the essential motion for all bodily processes and is extremely vital for health. On an annual basis, vāta is most prominent in the fall and at the change of seasons, and these are the most important times to be careful of diet and lifestyle. One purpose of lifestyle considerations is stabilize this motion. Routine is very useful in assisting the vata individual to effectively ground all this moving energy.

A person with vata predominant is blessed with a quick mind, flexibility and creativity. Mentally, they usually grasp concepts quickly but then forget them just as quickly. Alert, restless and very active, vata people walk, talk and think fast, but are easily fatigued. They tend to have less willpower, confidence, boldness and tolerance for fluctuation than other types and often feel unstable and ungrounded. When unbalanced, vata types may become fearful, nervous and anxious. In the external world, vata types tend to earn money quickly and spend it quickly. They are not good planners and as a consequence may suffer economic hardship.

Vata types have variable appetite and digestion. They are often attracted to astringent foods like salad and raw vegetables, but their constitution is balanced by warm, cooked foods and sweet, sour and salty tastes. With a tendency to produce little urine, their feces are often hard, dry and small in size and quantity.

Vata resides in the colon, as well as the brain, ears, bones, joints, skin and thighs. Vata people are more susceptible to diseases involving the air principle, such as emphysema, pneumonia and arthritis. Other common vata disorders include flatulence, tics, twitches, aching joints, dry skin and hair, nerve disorders, constipation, and mental confusion. Vata in the body tends to increase with age as is exhibited by the drying and wrinkling of the skin.

Since the attributes of vata are dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile and clear, any of these qualities in excess can cause imbalance. Frequent travel, especially by plane, loud noises, continual stimulation, drugs, sugar and alcohol all derange vata, as does exposure to cold and cold liquids and foods. Like the wind, vata types have a hard time becoming and staying grounded. Routine is difficult but essential if vata is to be lowered and controlled. It is best for vata types to go to bed by 10 PM as they need more rest than the other types. In general, people with excessive vata respond most rapidly to warm, moist, slightly oily, heavy foods. Steam baths, humidifiers and moisture in general are helpful. Daily oil massage before bath or shower is also recommended

General guidelines for balancing vata:
Keep warm
Keep calm
Avoid cold, frozen or raw foods
Avoid extreme cold
Eat warm foods and spices
Keep a regular routine
Get plenty of rest

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Your menstrual cycle and the doshas:

we have a better understanding of the different phases of our cycle through these doshas, we might learn to live in a deeper harmony with our body working with the cycle of nature, rather than against it.

So let's get rolling.

DAYS 1-4: VATA PHASE

CREATIVITY + INTROSPECTION
Period of menstruation. Hormones are low and iron levels in the body drop.
We tend to feel tired and slower - so you might have thought this was the Kapha phase. Makes sense. The phases however are defined not according to how you might feel, but the physiological process that's happening in the body. Vata is the force that regulates all downward movements in the body, pushing the menstruum down and out.

So what this means is that even if you might feel sluggish, this phase is actually great for creativity (a very Vata quality), as you're more sensitive and intuitive.

Activities:
Journaling, writing, art, marketing plans and creative brainstorms are perfect for this phase. Preference slow and gentle movement practices such as meditation, walking, yin yoga or pilates.

Food:
We adopt dishes and foods that will soothe the body:

1. "warming" such as soups, dishes in sauce, curries
2. anti-inflammatory food like oily fish, berries, ginger, turmeric to reduce cramps
3. foods rich in iron such as red meat, seafood, fish, lentils, spinach, broccoli.
Do not hesitate to combine foods rich in iron with those that contain vitamin C (peppers, berries, citrus fruits, aromatic plants), to help increase iron absorption.

Remember also: hydration is the name of the game.

Vikriti (imbalance):
If your vata is out of balance, it can manifest as bloating, constipation, excess fatigue, anxiety and insomnia indicating the need for some vata balancing practices.

DAYS 5-14: KAPHA PHASE

GLOW + ENERGY = YOU.
It's time to prepare for ovulation: your hormone and energy levels start to rise during this phase. Kapha governs the bodies structure and lubrication. So, the kapha stage of the cycle is all about building the endometrium and estrogen levels - restoring strength to the body and preparing it for conception.
You are more open and communicative in this phase, your confidence might feel higher than usual, so now is the time to take advantage: meet new people, take some risks, go for gold.

Activities:
Capitalise on all that energy and confidence inside you: plan your toughest work meetings or challenging conversations during this phase. Or ask your boss for a raise
For movement it's about cardio, HIIT, ashtanga, crossfit, roller-blading, boxing...

Food:
It's all about protein plus cruciferous veggies (green cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, B-brussels sprouts) to metabolise estrogen properly.
We also adopt foods rich in vitamin E such as green vegetables, sweet potatoes, olive oil and dried fruits (nuts, almonds, hazelnuts etc.) to boost your immune system.

Vikriti (imbalance):
If kapha is out of balance it will manifest as fluid retention, weight gain, breast tenderness, tiredness, and general heaviness.

DAYS 14-28: PITTA PHASE

Pitta the main dosha involved in the ovulation and luteal phases. The fire energy is transformative - so this is the stage where the body fires up and prepares itself for new life. When the egg is not fertilised, this then gives way to the phase of "rest".

Activities:
Pitta fire can make you emotional so try to temper heated situations.
We're into regular but less intensive physical activity, alternating between "cardio" sports and softer sports.

Food:
As your appetite increases, prepare balanced and comforting meals, reducing carbohydrates and putting the focus on fibre (beans, lentils, leeks, turnips) to satiate.
Magnesium is your ally to calm PMS and boost your mind: very dark chocolate (or our cacao 100%), oily fish, spinach, avocado, bananas...
If you need a small snack between meals, don't beat yourself up. If you don't eat enough, it can make you irritable and upset.

Vikriti (imbalance):
If there is extra heat in the system in this phase, it can lead to skin irritations, headaches, diarrhoea, irritability and emotional overload.

ULTIMATE SELF-CARE FOLLOWS ONE SIMPLE RULE

Tried all the hot new skincare products, sparkly face masks and detox juice cures, and still feel like you're running on 50% battery?

In Ayurveda, the ultimate act of self-care is to learn to follow the rhythms of nature. And in doing so, align mentally & physically with these cycles: the solar cycle, the lunar cycle and the cycle of the seasons.

Sounds simple enough but concretely what does this look like?

Ok so we are pretty used to following the solar cycle (we are active during daylight and go to bed at night), but with artificial lighting and constant digital stimulation, we've lost a lot of 'natural' connection to the sun. And most of us have completely forgotten about the poor old moon. Globalisation and the industrialisation of food as meant we don't all eat super seasonally either.

Ayurveda prescribes that if we truly realigned with nature, small acts of self-care will fall naturally into place.

Ideas

SOLAR SADHANA
Practices to align with the sun
⏰ Try waking up one morning a week with the sun
🧘 Short set of sun salutations (or movement) every morning
🍽️ Eat your largest meal of the day when the sun is at its highest (lunch) and your smallest when the sun is at its lowest (dinner). Breakfast is a medium affair
💡 After the sun goes down, dim down your lights at home. At least one hour before bed shut down your screen and pick up a book!

LUNAR SADHANA
Practices to align with the moon
📱 Download a lunar cycles app (like My Moon Phase) so you know what phase the moon is in. Mere consciousness can cause a shift!
🎑 Try to look at the moon every night (moon gazing)
🚶‍♀️Even better: go outside and walk around under the moon (moon bathing)
📅 Women: google 'cycle hacking' and become aware of how you can optimise your life according to your monthly cycle
🌚 On a new moon: write down three new things you want to do in the coming month
🌝 On a full moon: celebrate!
Have a little ceremony, however small. Gather your favourite people and be grateful to have them in your life or sign up to a women's circle and see what they're all about, like Moon Sisters Paris.

SEASONAL SADHANA
Practices to align with the seasons
📍 Commit to eating seasonally (and locally)! Not only does it help your body naturally acclimatise to the seasons but its mucho bueno for the environment
🧹 Do a one-day cleanse at the beginning of each season. Include a neti pot (nasal cleansing) to clear out sinuses
🙋 Be aware of your Dosha to know how your particular dosha reacts to each season. Eg Pittas can get aggravated in summer, Vatas in early Winter and Kaphas in Spring.

Dochas in couples

Dochas dating guide

jebkinnisonforum.com/post/45089/

Dochas dating guide:

SIMILAR DOSHAS

Dating someone with the same dosha as you means you will have lots of similarities, which can create a beautiful harmony in the couple.
However, one of the fundamental principles in Ayurveda is that like attracts like, but opposites balance. Translation: you gravitate towards things that are similar to you / or the way you are already feeling, while in fact what you might need to achieve balance is the exact opposite.

So if you find yourself dating the same dosha as you - be careful not to aggravate your respective natures. We're not advising against it, the point is just to be aware of the tendencies of your Dosha in order to be able to preempt tension.

2 KAPHAS = faithful, tender, homebodies. It's necessary to motivate each other to bring about change in your routine which can eventually become stagnant.

2 PITTAS = passionate, driven, 'the couple that always fights'. You both switch to conflict mode easily so get ready for fireworks.

2 VATAS = romantic, spontaneous, indecisive. Might have trouble committing to each other. Help each other establish a routine and practice calming activities together so you dont wind yourselves up into an anxious frenzy.

Different dochas

Pitta + Kapha = the nature of Kapha will have a cooling effect on the Pitta partner, through their attentive and unfailing support. The Pitta will have an energizing effect on the Kapha, and if the Kapha is open to it, can take them out of their comfort zone (a good thing). Beware of the large energy gap between these 2 doshas and the difference in conflict management - a Pitta might be quick to forget hurtful things said, but a Kapha is not.

Vata + Kapha = the Kapha has a comforting effect on the Vata who is often juggling a thousand projects at a time. They bring stability and structure to the couple (Kaphas may prompt starting a family, or getting married). The Vata will bring spontaneity to the couple because they like change and surprises and they cannot stay still.

Vata + Pitta = a very dynamic couple who need movement. Pitta's organized nature will help calm Vata's scattered mind.
Vata brings creativity and a little lightness to Pitta's tightly controlled daily life. Vata's anxiety and Pitta's explosive nature can create high tension situations. Vata's tedency to skip meals can also lead to very hangry Pittas!

Vata:
Love language: Vatas express love in spontaneous and creative ways such as unexpected gifts, cute little notes and surprise dinners - showing their partner they are always thinking about them.

Conflict: Vatas avoid conflict - their tactic is to bottle their frustration up inside over time, which will inevitably explode at some point. This can make it seem that they are overacting to something - when it fact it's a result of unexpressed feelings and emotions over a long time.

Routine: Vatas are not followers of boring routines, they do not appreciate too much stability or controlling partners. They are looking to the future and always have many desires and projects in mind.

PITTA
Love language: Pittas are in the moment, in action. They express their feelings through passionate gestures, by planning romantic getaways and are very tactile people.

Conflict: Pittas are about confrontation, so tension can quickly set off a spark and arouse anger. They will show their nervousness or disappointment (even in themselves) by shouting but forget as quickly as the anger has risen. They know how to forgive and quickly move on.

Routine: Pittas love organising to maximise time and experiences. They're not really 'go with the flow' kind of people. They are super in the moment though so don't expect to talk long-term commitment too soon in the relationship.

KAPHA
Love language: Kaphas are loyal, gentle and communicative people. The expression of their feelings passes through sweet words, deep discussions and romantic declarations.

Conflict: they avoid conflict at all costs. If an argument arises, they will absorb the negative vibes and have a hard time shedding them later. Kaphas never forget what was said, and so have great difficulty forgiving.

Routine: Kaphas are all about commitment. They can stay with the same person for a very long time without getting bored because stable reassurance = happiness.

All doshas combinations go well together in love, there is no such thing as a "perfect" or "recommended" combinations like you might find in astrology.

The important thing to keep in mind is the difference between your dosha and that of your partner as it can really help you navigate your relationship. If you know that the reason why you respond to conflict differently is not because one person has the correct or incorrect approach, but because you are programmed differently, this can lead to much more awareness and acceptance in the couple.

Self warm Oil massage

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Foot massage

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