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Ayurveda: The Science of Life and Longevity

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Ayurveda is a self-healing modality encompassing diet, herbal and tonic enhancements, exercise, meditation, beauty practices and ritual all based on your constitution or what is called your ‘Dosha’.

If you desire to live in more alignment with your body, mind and emotions this ancient medicine can offer practices to live your life with more vim and vigor.

There are three basic body types or personality types:

  • Vata – ‘changeable’
  • Pitta – ‘determined’
  • Kapha – ‘solid’

Learn Your Dosha with this Quiz

Your Frame is:

___ I am thin, lanky, and slender with prominent joints and thin muscles.

___ I have a medium, symmetrical build with good muscle development.

___ I have a large, round or stocky build. My frame is broad, stout or thick.

 

Your Weight is:

___A. Low; I may forget to eat or have a tendency to lose weight.

___B. Moderate; it is easy for me to gain or lose weight if I put my mind to it.

___C. Heavy; I gain weight easily and have difficulty losing it.

 

Your Eyes:

___A. My eyes are small and active.

___B. I have a penetrating gaze.

___C. I have large pleasant eyes.

 

Your Complexion:

___A. My skin is dry, rough or thin.

___B. My skin is warm, reddish in color and prone to irritation.

___C. My skin is thick, moist, and smooth.

 

Your Hair:

___A. My hair is dry, brittle or frizzy.

___B. My hair is fine with a tendency towards early thinning or graying.

___C. I have abundant, thick and oily hair.

 

Your Joints:

___A. My joints are thin and prominent and have a tendency to crack.

___B. My joints are loose and flexible.

___C. My joints are large, well knit and padded.

 

Your Sleep Pattern:

___A. I am a light sleeper with a tendency to awaken easily.

___B. I am a moderately sound sleeper, usually needing less than eight hours to feel rested.

___C.My sleep is deep and long. I tend to awaken slowly in the morning.

 

Your Body Temperature:

___A. My hands and feet are usually cold and I prefer warm environments.

___B. I am usually warm, regardless of the season, and prefer cooler environments.

___C. I am adaptable to most temperatures but do not like cold, wet days.

 

Your Temperament:

___A. I am lively and enthusiastic by nature. I like to change.

___B. I am purposeful and intense. I like to convince.

___C.I am easy going and accepting. I like to support.

 

When Under Stress:

___A. I become anxious and/or worried.

___B. I become irritable and/or aggressive.

___C.I become withdrawn and/or reclusive.

 

Tally up your A, B, C

Total A _______ Vata

Total B _______ Pitta

Total C _______ Kapha

The highest number represents your general Dosha, or personality type. Some people have one clearly dominant dosha, while others are a combination of two or all three.

 

Now That You Know Your Dosha – What Next?

You can start to incorporate routines and dietary recommendations for your personalized body type. I invite you to make a few alterations over the next week and see if you notice a change or any improvement in your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual body.

Here are a few simple recommendations for your type:

For Vata types:

  • Increase more warm cooked vegetables into your life and less raw veggies (or add a little extra healthy fats to your raw salads)
  • Add some ginger to your teas or meals to increase your digestive fire
  • Keep to a regular wakeup time and bedtime
  • Rub your body with sesame oil after bathing
  • Use lavender essential oil to calm your mind and emotions

For Pitta types:

  • Favor more raw leafy green salads and green juices to cool your naturally fiery temperament
  • Add some peppermint to your teas and meals
  • When exercising, focus on your own space and get out of the comparison game
  • Use coconut oil to soothe and calm your body
  • Rose essential oil can soften your heart if you are experiencing anger, frustration or jealousy

For Kapha types:

  • Favor more veggies and less sweets or heavy fats in your diet (which you might more naturally crave)
  • Add some cayenne, ginger or turmeric to your meals to boost your metabolism and clear your mind
  • Focus on more rigorous forms of exercise that build heat in your body
  • Take mustard baths or massage your body with mustard oil or Banyan Botanical’s Trim Balm to move lymph and tone your body
  • Grapefruit and Wild Orange essential oil are wonderful to invigorate your mind, body and emotions

Do You Want to Learn More?

Would you like to learn more about how to personalize your day using Ayurveda’s techniques for the modern age?  Schedule an appointment to begin your journey to greater and wiser immune health care and inner/outer harmony.

Meg Dwyer is a certified Herbalist and Applied Clinical Nutritionist. She specializes in Ayurvedic Lifestyle Practices through David Frawley’s school of Ayurvedic Medicine.

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