What’s Your Dosha?
As promised, this week we’re getting a little deeper into Ayurveda. I wrote about it for our GOOD series—but be sure to take the quiz and tells us what your dosha is! From the post:
Despite being the world’s oldest holistic healing system—predating even Chinese medicine—Ayurveda is only now gaining traction on this side of the globe. Hailing from India, where some 70 percent of the population ascribes to its philosophy, the tradition emphasizes daily rituals, nutrition, and lifestyle. The word itself translates loosely as “the knowledge or science of life.”‘
According to the tradition, there are three main types (called doshas)—Pitta, Vata, and Kapha—and each of us is some combination of these, with different doshas dominating the others. Figure out which you are (handy quiz here), and then follow the advice to keep yourself in balance—from getting enough sleep and sleeping better, to better skin, digestion, and performing better at the gym and at work. Simple as that!
There are no silver bullets with Ayurveda, precisely because it is based in the principle of whole body balance between the physical, the mental and the surrounding environment. Some Ayurvedic medicine has caused controversy, but we advocate focusing on lifestyle and nutrition as the best medicine—some of which is garnering scientific support for its effectiveness.
Are you open to Ayurveda? Click through the slideshow for its best tips.
Illustrations by Brianna Harden
I’ve read so so much about Ayurveda & the subject continues to interest me greatly! I’m a strong Vata with a rising Pitta while my husband is a very strong Pitta :)
i’m tri-dosha! does that mean i’m balanced?
Yes!
I’m bi-doshic, almost equally Vata and Pitta, a Vata-Pitta. I can say one thing though, since I hate, hate, hate to shop, I am definitely not a shopping Vata.
I am also “Tri”. So what does that mean, and how do I proceed with nothing standing out as a beacon to follow?
Ayurveda is the traditional health system in India and knowledge are over 5000 old. I have worked with Ayurveda for several years, what I see is that knowledge is just as relevant today
Being tri-doshic is really great but it also means just about anything can throw you off balance. You need a bit of everything but not too much of anything to maintain that equilibrium you were lucky to be born with. Moderation! Can be tricky for some…
i have an overall pitta dosha… but my mind is more pitta and my body is kapha… i tend to be lazy and easily angered… ! time to do some yoga!
None of the studies mentioned in the article you linked to even come close to being scientifically sound. And how about writing about the high levels of heavy metals in Ayurvedic medicines?