Holistic healing

Easy Guide to Ayurveda: Doshas, Diet and Massage

Discover the basic principles of an Ayurvedic lifestyle and how to make it work for you

Ayurveda is an ancient system of Indian medicine, created in India over 5,000 years ago. Rather than treatment of disease, Ayurvedic medicine is about prevention and focuses on holistic (whole-body) healing. It brings together every aspect of physical, spiritual and emotional health, and is based on the belief that ultimate wellbeing is a delicate balance of different types of energies in your body.

These energies are divided into three doshas: vata, pitta and kapha – or space and air, fire and water, and water and earth. For example, if you’re a vata body type, you’ll probably prefer hot weather to cold and, if you’re a kapha type, you’ll love spicy foods. Don’t know yours yet? Our easy dosha quiz will help you discover your dosha.

Because Ayurveda has a holistic approach, it’s thought that balancing your doshas can have a positive effect on your quality of life, and help anything from stress and anxiety to inflammatory conditions, recovery from injuries, weight loss and hormonal issues.

What are doshas?

People who practice Ayurveda believe everyone is made of five natural elements: space, air, fire, water and earth. These create three energies or life forces in your body, which are called doshas, and are often referred to as body types. The three doshas are:

Vata dosha: space and air
Pitta dosha: fire and water
Kapha dosha: water and earth

These three doshas are integral to maintaining the balance of body and mind. When they are balanced and in harmony, it results in complete wellbeing and overall health. Conversely, when the doshas are unbalanced they can cause both physical and emotional distress.

What is my dosha?

Most of us have a dominant dosha, which then reveals what lifestyle changes or Ayurvedic therapy we can follow to get ourselves back in balance. Maintaining a delicate balance of your doshas is the core of Ayurvedic medicine.

Below is an overview of the three doshas to help you identify yours, and we’ve also created a quick dosha quiz to make it even easier for you. You can also read our complete guide to Ayurveda doshas for advice on Ayurvedic treatment for your body type.

Vata dosha characteristics

“A person who is predominantly Vata is blessed with a quick mind, flexibility and creativity,” says Dr Kaimal BAMS MD, chief Ayurveda physician at Sanjeevanam Ayurveda Hospital. “Mentally, they grasp concepts easily but then forget them just as quickly. Alert, restless and very active, Vata people walk, talk and think quickly, but are easily fatigued. They tend to have less willpower, confidence, boldness and tolerance for fluctuation than other types, and often feel unstable as a result. A key lifestyle consideration for a Vata type is to stabilise motion: a strong, controlled routine is very useful in assisting this, and will help to effectively ground energy.”

Pitta dosha characteristics

“Pitta types have many of the qualities of fire,” says Dr Kaimal. “Fire is hot, penetrating, sharp and agitating. Similarly, Pitta people have warm bodies, are vocal with their ideas and are often intelligent. 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. 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. ”

Kapha dosha characteristics

“Kapha types are blessed with strength, endurance and stamina,” says Dr Kaimal. “In balance, they tend to have sweet, loving dispositions and be stable and grounded. In the external world, this can help them to earn and hold onto money. Physically, they have thick skin and their bodies and muscles are well developed. Their eyes are large and attractive with thick, long lashes and brows. Their skin is often oily and smooth. Kapha people may gain weight easily, have a slow metabolism and tend to not enjoy exercise as much.”

History of Ayurveda

The Ayurvedic approach is of the world’s oldest healing traditions, and translates from Sanskrit as ‘knowledge of life’ or ‘science of life’ – ‘ayur’ means life, and ‘veda’ means science or knowledge. It originated in India over 5,000 years ago and was first recorded within four sacred texts, called ‘The Vedas’. They include information on Ayurvedic preventative health care as well as treatments, including surgery.

Until the invasion of the British Empire, Ayurveda was practiced commonly across India. It wasn’t until India gained independence in the 20th Century that Ayurvedic medicine re-established itself as a core system of alternative medicine, and has gained popularity in the West.

Ayurvedic diet

Learn what to eat for your dosha body type to create inner balance, and for a more detailed approach, read our step-by-step how-to on following an Ayurvedic diet.

Eat for vata dosha

Eating little and often complements the busy Vata lifestyle to a tee, but you should always take the time to sit down and eat your meals without rushing or multitasking. Your schedule is usually hectic, so ensure that everything you eat holds a reasonable amount of nutrition. Sweet, sour and salty flavours are best for balancing this dosha, so opt for snacks like fresh fruit and sesame flapjacks. It’s important to remember that your constant ‘go’ attitude leaves little energy for digestion, so try foods like chickpeas and lentils that are easy on the system.

Eat for pitta dosha

When it comes to balancing a Pitta dosha, it’s all about cooling down the fire within. Cool or warm foods are best for this, so avoid eating meals when they’re steaming hot. In fact, the less cooking that the meal requires the better. Raw veg with cooled wholegrains is a great Pitta meal as are salads mixed with refreshing herbs such as mint and coriander. Beverages should always be served ice-cold, of course, and flavours should be bitter, sweet and astringent in order to calm that Pitta heat. Licorice, honey, yoghurt and rye are all great options. Stay clear of all spices, though, as these are considered too warming for Pittas.

Eat for kapha dosha

Ayurvedic teachings show us that pungent, bitter and astringent flavours are key to balancing out docile Kaphas. Try adding foods like garlic, celery, cabbage and ginger to your diet. “Hot, spicy foods can help also help to mobilise Kaphas,” says Dr Milind Jani MBBS FRCS, leading expert in Ayurvedic medicine. So be sure to top your meals with plenty of pepper, chilli and turmeric. You will need to ensure that all your meals are low in calories, however. Kaphas are notorious for gaining stubborn, hard-to-shift fat, so incorporate plenty of raw green vegetables, but avoid things like sweet potato and avocado. Sweet foods in general are best avoided – Kapha doshas are plenty sweet as it is.

Ayurvedic massage

Traditional Ayurvedic massage (abhyanga) focuses on the skin, not just the muscles, which is what sets it apart from other Ayurveda beauty treatments. In fact, in Ayurveda ‘Snehana’ means massage: Sneha is oil, and ana is to apply.

Better sleep, improved digestion and less stress are just some of the benefits of Ayurvedic massage therapy. “Oiling the body and performing massage increases circulation and helps to lubricate not only the tissues but joints and deeper into the tissues of the body for all round stability and health,” says Claire Pathitis, Ayurvedic consultant and founder of The Ayurvedic Coach. “It also encourages lymphatic draining and removal of toxins.”

Ayurveda rituals

Ayurvedic rituals are practices, or healthy habits, you can build into your daily (Dinchara) and seasonal routine that help support a happy, healthy life. They include moon bathing, tongue scraping, oil pulling, yoga and breathing techniques. You can also try Ayurvedic beauty treatments that are designed to remedy particular symptoms of imbalance, like dull skin and stress.