The primary goal of Ayurveda is to preserve health.
The second goal is to restore health if there is disease or imbalance.
To understand what a disease or imbalance is, we need to understand what our reference point is: health.
Ayurveda defines a healthy person as having all of the following qualities:
Balanced functional energy (doshas)
Balanced agni
Balanced tissues
Balanced elimination of waste
A calm, peaceful mind
Sharp, well-functioning sense organs
Clear, focused thoughts
Sense of being fulfilled and established within their unique constitution (prakriti)
Balanced functional energy (doshas)
Balanced agni
Balanced tissues
Balanced elimination of waste
A calm, peaceful mind
Sharp, well-functioning sense organs
Clear, focused thoughts
Sense of being fulfilled and established within their unique constitution (prakriti)
Any deviation from that list, either in excess or deficiency, means “imbalance” in Ayurveda language. An example of a minor imbalance is feeling hungry or thirsty. We all experience these alert messages from our body letting us know what it is needing in that moment – these are healthy, natural imbalances. When we eat or drink water, balance is restored.
Imbalance a little further along the spectrum could include skin irritation, constipation, anxiety, excess saliva, really stinky sweat, allergies, insomnia, etc. I’m sure we’ve all experienced some of these at one point or another. Again, these are messages from our body that there is something a little out of whack.
Progressing further, imbalances lead to diseases – arthritis, anemia, diabetes, acid reflex, recurrent UTI’s, sciatica, asthma, migraines, etc. The most severe expression of imbalance would be auto-immune disorders or cancer.
The spectrum of imbalance begins with hunger or thirst and progresses to cancer – pretty vast, right? Ayurveda understands that the more symptoms and the higher the severity of the symptoms indicates the degree of imbalance and has different ways of identifying and addressing the severity and the stage of disease.
Imbalance a little further along the spectrum could include skin irritation, constipation, anxiety, excess saliva, really stinky sweat, allergies, insomnia, etc. I’m sure we’ve all experienced some of these at one point or another. Again, these are messages from our body that there is something a little out of whack.
Progressing further, imbalances lead to diseases – arthritis, anemia, diabetes, acid reflex, recurrent UTI’s, sciatica, asthma, migraines, etc. The most severe expression of imbalance would be auto-immune disorders or cancer.
The spectrum of imbalance begins with hunger or thirst and progresses to cancer – pretty vast, right? Ayurveda understands that the more symptoms and the higher the severity of the symptoms indicates the degree of imbalance and has different ways of identifying and addressing the severity and the stage of disease.
Throughout this last month, my perspective of health has shifted from
TO
For example: heart rate is a normal function of the body. There’s a range where it’s “normal” or it can be too fast, or too slow. Cholesterol or blood pressure can be too high, or too low.
An imbalance is a healthy function that has gone beyond the rage of normal for YOU. Each person has a unique normal – their prakriti, or constitution. What is normal for me is not necessarily normal for you. Ayurveda uses this lens as a primary understanding of what is healthy for each person.
An imbalance is a healthy function that has gone beyond the rage of normal for YOU. Each person has a unique normal – their prakriti, or constitution. What is normal for me is not necessarily normal for you. Ayurveda uses this lens as a primary understanding of what is healthy for each person.
Another essential viewpoint of Ayurveda is the importance and influence of elements. This theory is embedded in every aspect of Ayurveda. Here’s the jist…
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Space is always clear and expanding.
Air is always light and drying. Fire is always hot and sharp. Water is always wet and soft. Earth is always heavy and dense. |
It holds everything else.
It moves things. It transforms things. It binds things. It stabilizes things. |
Our environment is made up of these elements in various combinations.
We are a part of that environment, as such, we are of the same elements.
The innate qualities of these powerful forces and energies create, sustain, transform, nurture, grow, and support every single piece of life, including us.
The elements are constantly in flux which we can perceive through the changing of seasons and the cycle of day and night. We are active during the day when the energizing sun is at its peak, we are restful at night when the restoring moon is at its peak. This is a simple example of how connected we are to the rhythms of nature and their influence on our internal system.
The changes of elements in the external environment are reflected in our internal environment. In the spring, the frozen water is melting, the earth is thawing – we can experience congestion, an expression of channels opening, and excess water being removed from the body. In the fall or winter, the air becomes dryer, there is more wind – we can experience dryness in our sinuses or skin, a message that we need earth and water to bring moisture to our body.
What is happening outside gets reflected inside; what’s happening inside gets reflected outside. It is a constant flow, exchange, and transformation of energy. Any shift that happens externally in the elements also happens within us. Likewise, any shift that happens within us, like a shift in our mindset, becomes perceivable in our physical, material lives.
We are a part of that environment, as such, we are of the same elements.
The innate qualities of these powerful forces and energies create, sustain, transform, nurture, grow, and support every single piece of life, including us.
The elements are constantly in flux which we can perceive through the changing of seasons and the cycle of day and night. We are active during the day when the energizing sun is at its peak, we are restful at night when the restoring moon is at its peak. This is a simple example of how connected we are to the rhythms of nature and their influence on our internal system.
The changes of elements in the external environment are reflected in our internal environment. In the spring, the frozen water is melting, the earth is thawing – we can experience congestion, an expression of channels opening, and excess water being removed from the body. In the fall or winter, the air becomes dryer, there is more wind – we can experience dryness in our sinuses or skin, a message that we need earth and water to bring moisture to our body.
What is happening outside gets reflected inside; what’s happening inside gets reflected outside. It is a constant flow, exchange, and transformation of energy. Any shift that happens externally in the elements also happens within us. Likewise, any shift that happens within us, like a shift in our mindset, becomes perceivable in our physical, material lives.
Let’s summarize so far.
And work our way to answering the question: How does it all work??
We have an understanding of what health is which allows us to know what imbalance is.
We briefly explained the influence of the elements on our health.
Okay, Now. What’s the point of the elements?
The importance of the elements is that they are used to restore health.
Whaaat? Elements restore health? How?
Maybe you’re thinking I’ve really lost it at this point but stick with me just a little bit longer. It’s a lot to explain in a summary! I needed to provide you with a reference point.
And work our way to answering the question: How does it all work??
We have an understanding of what health is which allows us to know what imbalance is.
We briefly explained the influence of the elements on our health.
Okay, Now. What’s the point of the elements?
The importance of the elements is that they are used to restore health.
Whaaat? Elements restore health? How?
Maybe you’re thinking I’ve really lost it at this point but stick with me just a little bit longer. It’s a lot to explain in a summary! I needed to provide you with a reference point.
The elements are important because their innate qualities (dry, hot, heavy, wet, etc.) are either responsible for creating an increase or excess in the body OR restoring balance.
Like increase like. Opposite brings balance.
If you have room temperature water, and you add boiling water, the water gets hotter.
If you have hot water, and you add ice, the water gets cooled down.
This is one of {the many} philosophies of Ayurveda integral to the GOAL of preserving health.
We use the elements to understand the nature of the imbalance by observing the qualities of the symptoms.
Woah. What does that mean? It means if there’s inflammation or acidity, that’s a symptom of fire (pitta). If there’s swelling or stagnation, that’s a symptom of water/earth (kapha). If there’s dryness or irregularity, that’s a symptom of air/space (vata).
If there’s too much fire, we use air and water to bring coolness. If there’s too much water or earth, we use fire and air to bring warmth for movement and clarity. If there’s too much air and space, we use earth and water to bring moisture and stability.
Starting to make sense?
Like increase like. Opposite brings balance.
If you have room temperature water, and you add boiling water, the water gets hotter.
If you have hot water, and you add ice, the water gets cooled down.
This is one of {the many} philosophies of Ayurveda integral to the GOAL of preserving health.
We use the elements to understand the nature of the imbalance by observing the qualities of the symptoms.
Woah. What does that mean? It means if there’s inflammation or acidity, that’s a symptom of fire (pitta). If there’s swelling or stagnation, that’s a symptom of water/earth (kapha). If there’s dryness or irregularity, that’s a symptom of air/space (vata).
If there’s too much fire, we use air and water to bring coolness. If there’s too much water or earth, we use fire and air to bring warmth for movement and clarity. If there’s too much air and space, we use earth and water to bring moisture and stability.
Starting to make sense?
Now that I have, albeit very briefly, explained the basic concepts behind Ayurveda, I have answered the question of how it works.
Ayurveda works by first understanding the individual, their uniqueness and specialness.Then it understands in what direction the imbalance has gone by identifying the qualities and location of symptoms an individual is experiencing. Then, using the laws of nature, introducing opposite qualities that will both support the natural balance of an individual while restoring the natural healthy function to your normal.
It works because the entire YOU is noticed, listened to, and considered. No leaf left unturned by an Ayurvedic practitioner. Your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing is of the utmost importance. Being “healthy” includes all of these facets and Ayurveda provides time-tested practices to navigate the shifts of your internal and external environments.
Your functional energy, your digestion and metabolism (physical and mental), the quality of your blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow, nervous system, and reproductive health is assessed. Your ability to eliminate waste effectively and efficiently, your ability to receive information through your sense organs, your state of mind and mental wellbeing is of great importance to an Ayurvedic practitioner.
It works because the entire YOU is noticed, listened to, and considered. No leaf left unturned by an Ayurvedic practitioner. Your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing is of the utmost importance. Being “healthy” includes all of these facets and Ayurveda provides time-tested practices to navigate the shifts of your internal and external environments.
Your functional energy, your digestion and metabolism (physical and mental), the quality of your blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow, nervous system, and reproductive health is assessed. Your ability to eliminate waste effectively and efficiently, your ability to receive information through your sense organs, your state of mind and mental wellbeing is of great importance to an Ayurvedic practitioner.
The goal is to guide you towards feeling whole and established within your special uniqueness. Even though we’re all made up of the same stuff, we’re still unique.
Ayurveda supports that in every way, shape, and form. Guiding you towards a life of peace, health, balance, and LONGEVITY!
Ayurveda supports that in every way, shape, and form. Guiding you towards a life of peace, health, balance, and LONGEVITY!
