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Dive into Ayurvedic wisdom on Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas, exploring their characteristics, signs of imbalance, and practical tips for finding balance. Discover how these bodily humors influence your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
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Arthritis and the Doshas Steffany Moonaz, PhD, RYT-500
What is a Dosha? • Concept from Ayurveda • Three bodily humors that make up constitution • Health results from balance between 3 doshas • Individual constitution is unique combination of all 3, like a fingerprint • Usually one dominates • Set of physical, mental, emotional characteristics
Vata • Definition: wind, to move, flow, direct the processes of, or command • drying, cooling, light, agitating, and moving • Air and Ether (Space) • Vata governs movement in the body, the activities of the nervous system and the process of elimination.
Vata Characteristics • excitement • new experiences • quick to anger • Quick to forgive • energetic • Creative • take initiative • lively conversation • thin, light frame • excellent agility • energy comes in bursts • sudden bouts of fatigue • dry skin and hair • cold hands and feet • sleep lightly • digestion can be sensitive
Vata Imbalance • Generalized aches, sharp pains • Arthritis, stiff, painful joints • Agitated movement • Very sensitive to cold • Nail biting • Rough, flaky skin • Chapped lips • Fainting spells • Heart palpitations • Constipation • Intestinal bloating, gas • Belching, hiccups • Dry, sore throat • Dry eyes • Worried • Tired, yet can't relax • Fatigue, poor stamina • Nervous • Can't concentrate • Anxious, fearful • Agitated mind • Impatient • Antsy or hyperactive • Spaced out • Self-defeating • Shy, insecure • Restless • Cannot make decisions • Weight loss, under weight • Insomnia
Balancing Vata • Regular routine (ie. Eat and sleep) • Rest • Regulate impulses • Relaxed, moderate exercise • Meditation, deep relaxation • Associate with calm people
Pitta • Water and Fire • Transformation and balance (fire burns water, water puts out fire) • controls digestion, metabolism, and energy production • Those with a predominance of the Pitta principle have a fiery nature that manifests in both body and mind.
Pitta Characteristics • powerful intellect • strong ability to concentrate • good decision makers teachers, speakers • Precise • sharp-witted • Direct • outspoken • medium size, weight • excellent digestion • warm body temp • sleep soundly, short • strong sex drive • lustrous complexion • abundant energy • strong appetite
Pitta Imbalance • Acidity, heartburn • Stomach ulcer • Fitful sleep • Disturbing dreams • Diarrhea • Food allergies • Reckless • Frustrated • Willful • Fevers • Night sweats • Bad breath • Sour body odor • Sensitive to heat • Hot flashes • Skin rashes • Boils • Bloodshot eyes • Acne • Weakness due to low blood sugar • Angry • Irritable • Hostile • Enraged • Destructive • Impatient • Critical of self/others • Argumentative • Aggressive • Bossy, controlling
Balancing Pitta • Avoid alcohol, tobacco • Avoid overwork, overexertion, overheating • Pure and moderate lifestyle • Avoid conflicts • Cool emotions
Kapha • Water and Earth • Stirring force to keep water and earth from separating • governs the structure of the body • The primary function of Kapha is protection.
Kapha Characteristics • calm • thoughtful • loving • enjoy life • comfortable with routine • loyal • patient • Steady • supportive • strong build • excellent stamina • Thick hair • sleep soundly • regular digestion • weight gain • fluid retention
Kapha Imbalance • Sleeping too much • Tired in the morning • Drowsy during the day • Weight gain, obesity • Congestion in the chest/throat • Congestion in the nose/sinuses • Nausea • Diabetes • Hay fever • Pale, cool, clammy skin • Edema, water retention • Bloated feeling • Sluggish digestion, food "just sits" in the stomach • High cholesterol • Aching joints or heavy limbs • Sluggish thinking • Dull thinking • Groggy all day • Apathetic, no desire • Depressed • Sad • Sentimental • Slow to comprehend • Slow to react • Procrastinating • Lethargy • Clingy, hanging on to people/ideas • Greedy • Possessive • Materialistic
Balancing Kapha • Needs activity and stimulation • Daily exercise • Seek new experiences • Be receptive to useful change
Arthritis • Is arthritis strictly a vata condition? • What have you noticed? • Who are your students? • Does this change anything about your approach?