Let’s take
a walk through this ancient Indian wellness science and learn how to apply
Ayurvedic practices in daily life, highlighting the positive benefits of this
timeless wisdom.
The Ayurvedic Concept of Doshas
Central
to Ayurveda is the concept of doshas, which are energies that govern our
mind and body processes. Everyone has all three doshas or energies—Vata,
Pitta, and Kapha—
that control how we feel and function, but one or two of these doshas usually dominate in
each person. Understanding your dosha helps you maintain balance and prevent
illnesses. When
these energies are in balance, we remain healthy and happy. By eating right,
following daily routines, and living in harmony with nature according to one's dosha, we
can prevent sickness and enjoy a better life. These doshas are
·
Vata is the energy of movement and creativity.
People having vata energy are
creative,
energetic, and flexible, but prone to anxiety, dryness, and digestive
irregularities.
·
Pitta is energy of transformation linked with
digestion and energy, and people with pitta energy are focused, ambitious, intelligent,
but prone to acidity, inflammation, and irritability.
·
Kapha is the energy of strength and stability. People with kapha energy are calm, strong, grounded but prone to weight gain,
lethargy, and congestion.
When
these three are in balance, we stay healthy, but when they get disturbed, we
may fall sick.
Prakriti and vikriti
In
Ayurveda, there are two states of doshas- prakriti and vikriti.
·
Prakriti is your natural
body type or constitution, which you are born with and remains the same
throughout life. It is the unique combination of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha that
defines your physical traits, digestion, energy, and personality.
·
Vikriti, on the other
hand, refers to your current state of imbalance caused by lifestyle, diet,
stress, or environment.
While
Prakriti shows your natural blueprint, Vikriti shows what has gone out of
balance. Understanding both helps in choosing the right diet, lifestyle, and
remedies to restore harmony.
Example
of Pittta Prakriti and Vikriti
Imagine
a person with a natural Pitta
Prakriti—they are usually energetic, focused, and have strong
digestion. This is their inborn constitution. However, due to working long
hours in the sun, eating too much spicy food, and facing stress, they start
experiencing acidity, skin rashes, and irritability. These new issues are not
their natural state but their Vikriti—an
imbalance of excess Pitta. By adjusting their diet to cooling foods, practising
calming routines, and avoiding heat, they can bring their Vikriti back into
balance and return to their healthy Prakriti state.
Example
of Vata Prakriti and Vikriti
A woman with a natural Vata Prakriti is usually slim, creative, and full
of ideas. But after several sleepless nights, irregular meals, and too much
travel, she begins to feel anxious, forgetful, and suffers from constipation.
These new problems show her Vikriti—an aggravated Vata imbalance. By
following a grounding routine with warm, nourishing meals, regular sleep, and
calming practices like meditation, she can restore balance.
Example
of Kapha Prakriti and Vikriti
A man with a natural Kapha Prakriti is strong, calm, and dependable. But
after months of overeating heavy, oily foods and not exercising, he starts
gaining weight, feels sluggish, and becomes unmotivated. This is his Vikriti,
an aggravated Kapha imbalance. By eating lighter meals, adding more movement to
his day, and using stimulating spices like ginger and black pepper, he can
return to his balanced Kapha nature.
Easy-to-adapt lifestyle changes according to
Ayurveda 🌿:
Many times, life goes out of balance, and we struggle and
suffer due to lifestyle imbalances, but the principles of Ayurveda have some
clear instructions about how to keep your mind and body in harmony with nature.
Let’s learn about the easy-to-adapt lifestyle changes described in our ancient science.
🌅 Wake up early (around
sunrise) to align with nature’s rhythm.
Ayurveda recommends waking up at Brahma Muhurta (about
45 minutes before sunrise), as this is the most peaceful and sattvic (pure) time of
the day. The air is fresh, the mind is calm, and the body is naturally ready to
release toxins and start afresh. Rising early has its own benefits, as it helps
align your body’s rhythm with nature, boosts energy, sharpens focus, and sets a
positive tone for the whole day. People who wake up at this time often
experience better digestion, clearer thinking, and a more balanced mood
throughout the day.
💧 Drink warm water in the
morning to flush out toxins.
Starting your day with a glass of warm water is one of
the simplest yet most powerful Ayurvedic habits. Warm water helps stimulate
digestion, hydrates the body after a night’s rest, and supports the natural
cleansing process by flushing out toxins (ama) from the system. Unlike cold
water, which can slow down metabolism, warm water gently wakes up your
digestive fire (Agni), making it easier for the body to process food throughout
the day. This small practice keeps your skin glowing, improves bowel movements,
and sets the foundation for overall health.
Vata people often have irregular digestion and dryness. Add a pinch of fennel seeds or a slice of fresh
ginger to your warm water. This helps soothe the stomach, improve circulation,
and keep digestion regular.
Pitta people tend to feel hot, get acidity, or inflammation easily. Add
a few fresh mint leaves or a slice
of cucumber to slightly cooled warm water. This balances excess heat, keeps the
body calm, and supports liver health.
Kapha people usually face sluggish digestion, heaviness, and mucus
buildup. Add a dash of ginger, black
pepper, or a squeeze of lemon to your warm water. This kickstarts
metabolism, clears mucus, and boosts energy in the morning.
🪥 Scrape your tongue
daily to remove ama (toxins) and improve digestion.
According to Ayurveda, a white or yellow coating on the
tongue is a sign of ama
(undigested food and toxins) built up in the body. Using a tongue scraper every
morning helps remove this layer, refreshes the mouth, and improves the sense of
taste. It also prevents bad breath, reduces bacterial growth, and gently
stimulates digestive organs, preparing your body for the first meal of the day.
A copper or stainless-steel scraper is ideal, as these metals have natural
cleansing properties. Just a few seconds of tongue scraping daily can greatly
support oral hygiene and overall health.
🪔 Do self-massage
(Abhyanga) with warm oil before bath to relax and strengthen the body.
Abhyanga is the Ayurvedic practice of self-massage
with warm oil. It is a deeply nourishing ritual that calms the nervous system
and strengthens the body's overall well-being. Massaging the skin with oil improves circulation,
lubricates your joints, tones the muscles, and helps remove toxins through the
pores. It also reduces stress, promotes better sleep, and leaves the skin soft
and glowing. The choice of oil depends on your dosha—sesame oil for Vata, coconut oil for Pitta, and mustard or sesame oil for Kapha. Performing Abhyanga for 10–15 minutes before a warm bath is an easy and rejuvenating way to
restore balance and energy to your body.
🧘 Practice yoga &
pranayama for at least 15–20 minutes daily.
Ayurveda and yoga go hand in hand, as both focus on
balance between body, mind, and breath. Just 15–20 minutes of daily practice
can improve flexibility, strengthen muscles, boost immunity, and calm the
nervous system. Yoga postures are the best way to help release stiffness and
energise the body, while pranayama (breathing exercises) like Anulom Vilom or
Bhramari regulate the flow of prana (life energy), reduce stress, and sharpen
mental focus. Even a short, consistent routine every morning is enough to
enhance digestion, increase vitality, and bring a sense of peace throughout the
day.
🍲 Eat fresh, warm,
home-cooked meals instead of processed or reheated food.
Ayurveda emphasises that freshly prepared, warm meals
are easier to digest and more nourishing than processed or leftover foods.
Warm, home-cooked meals support digestive fire (Agni), improve nutrient absorption, and
reduce the accumulation of toxins (ama) in
the body. Processed or reheated foods can slow digestion, cause bloating, and
lead to an imbalance in the doshas over time. By choosing fresh ingredients and
cooking simple meals at home, you can maintain energy levels, strengthen
immunity, and support overall health naturally.
🕰️ Follow regular meal
times and avoid skipping meals.
Ayurveda teaches that maintaining a consistent eating
schedule is key to good digestion and overall health. Eating at regular times
helps regulate the body’s natural digestive fire (Agni), ensuring that nutrients are
properly absorbed and toxins are minimised. Skipping meals or eating at
irregular hours can weaken digestion, create imbalances in the doshas, and lead
to fatigue, acidity, or overeating later. By planning meals at consistent times
and honouring your body’s hunger signals, you support energy levels, metabolism,
and long-term wellness naturally.
🌿 Use spices like
turmeric, cumin, ginger, and black pepper to boost digestion and immunity.
In Ayurveda, spices are considered powerful medicine
that not only flavour food but also strengthen the body and mind. Turmeric has
anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties, ginger improves digestion and circulation, cumin aids metabolism and detoxification,
and black pepper enhances nutrient
absorption and digestive fire (Agni).
Including these simple spices in daily meals helps maintain digestive balance,
supports immunity, and prevents the buildup of toxins (ama), making them an easy and natural way to stay healthy
year-round.
📱 Reduce screen time, especially before bed, to improve sleep quality.
Ayurveda emphasises the importance of a calm mind for
overall health, and excessive screen time, especially before bedtime,can disturb
your natural rhythm. The blue light emitted by phones, tablets, and computers
suppresses melatonin, the sleep hormone, making it harder to fall asleep and
reducing sleep quality. Limiting screen use at least an hour before bed allows
the mind to relax, balances the doshas, and supports restorative sleep. This
simple habit improves energy, mental clarity, and emotional well-being the next
day.
😌 Practice mindfulness or
meditation to calm the mind and reduce stress.
Ayurveda teaches that a healthy mind is just as
important as a healthy body. Daily mindfulness or meditation practices help reduce
stress, anxiety, and mental clutter while improving focus, emotional balance,
and inner peace. Even a few minutes of deep breathing, guided meditation, or
simply observing thoughts without judgment can restore harmony to the nervous
system and balance the doshas. Over time, these practices strengthen
resilience, enhance clarity, and support overall physical and mental
well-being.
🌸 Stay in harmony with
seasons—eat light in summer, nourishing in winter, detox in spring.
Ayurveda teaches that our body responds to seasonal
changes, and adjusting diet and lifestyle with nature keeps us balanced and
disease-free. In summer,
the body overheats, so cooling, light foods like fruits, salads, and plenty of
water are best. In winter,
digestion is stronger, so nourishing soups, root vegetables, and warming spices
help build strength and immunity. In spring,
toxins accumulated over winter can cause heaviness or sluggishness, so light,
detoxifying foods like bitter greens, sprouts, and herbal teas are recommended.
Living in rhythm with the seasons keeps the doshas balanced and prevents
seasonal illnesses.
🛌 Sleep early and wake up
early (10 PM–6 AM) to support natural healing.
Ayurveda emphasises aligning sleep patterns with
nature to maintain health and vitality. Sleeping early, ideally by 10 PM,
allows the body to enter deep restorative sleep when the nervous system and
organs naturally repair and detoxify. Waking up early, around 6 AM, energises
the mind, supports digestion, and helps synchronise the body’s internal clock
with natural daylight. Consistently following this routine strengthens
immunity, improves mental clarity, reduces stress, and promotes overall
physical and emotional well-being.
🚶 Stay active daily—walk,
stretch, or do light exercise suited to your dosha.
The teachings of Ayurveda tell us that regular movement helps to maintain
balance, circulation, and overall health of our body. Daily activity, whether it is a brisk walk,
stretching, yoga, or any light exercise, keeps the body strong, aids digestion, and
prevents Kapha-related sluggishness or Vata-related stiffness. Choosing
exercises that suit your dosha enhances energy without causing any kind of stress to your system. Vata types benefit
from gentle, grounding movements, Pitta
types enjoy moderate, cooling activities, and Kapha types need more vigorous, stimulating workouts.
Staying active every day promotes vitality, maintains a healthy weight, and
supports long-term disease prevention.
Ayurveda
doesn’t demand a lifestyle overhaul. Instead, it asks you to start small and
stay consistent. A cup of warm water in the morning, a mindful meal, 10
minutes of yoga, or a few calming breaths—all these add up to big changes.
By living
in harmony with your dosha and nature’s rhythms, you can enjoy strong immunity,
better digestion, a stress-free mind, a healthy weight, and a disease-free and vibrant
life
✨ Ayurveda is not about restriction—it’s about balance. Start today,
and let small Ayurvedic habits guide you to lifelong health.
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