Ayurveda is a science of nature. We are part of Mother Nature so clearly the energies which govern the changes in nature influence our physiological systems as well.
Ayurveda goes beyond the physical body and provides knowledge to unfold the reality that transcends the physical realm and achieves harmony of Body-Mind-Spirit.
The goal of Ayurveda is to preserve the health of a healthy person. Health is more than "an absence of disease". True health comes from a balance of the physiological systems, emotional state and thoughts. Ayurveda offers practical and natural solutions to prevent most diseases.
If you want to know the most important concept Ayurveda offers, it is Prakriti - Body Constitution - It distinguishes Ayurveda from many other healing sciences. Everybody and everything is different and there is a meaning behind that difference. Once we know the meaning, we can literally change our life. Ayurveda respects each individual Prakriti and offers individually suited diet and lifestyle plans to restore balance. For this reason, Ayurvedic health plans are not "One size fits all". Recently modern research is recognizing this concept as genomic typing, which Ayurveda has been promoting for thousands of years.
When it comes to treating the disease, Ayurveda recommends treating the cause, not the symptom. Unless the cause is removed, the symptoms will never be cured. For example, if ten people have a headache, all will not have Ayurvedic Tylenol. Instead, a different mix of herbs will be indicated for each person, because the cause in each of them will be different.
This is an era of complementary medicine. Knowledge of Ayurveda is as essential as Conventional medicine. Modern medicine is a live saver in emergencies, or in life threatening conditions, but when it comes to prevention or treating chronic conditions, there is no alternative to Ayurveda
No wonder hundreds of thousands of people are riding the wave of Ayurveda. Why not you?
Observe Nature. The Sun, Moon and Wind are the three natural energies in the universe. The Sun represents the source of heat, the moon the source of water and the Wind the source of air. All three are present at all times in different proportions. For example, in the afternoon, though there is some breeze and humidity, heat is predominant. In the evening around sunset, it gets more breezy and cold than hot.
When we watch the weather channel, we hear about humidity - water content, temperature - heat content and wind chill - air content. The seasonal variations also depend on the predominance of one these energies. For example, in late winter and spring it snows or rains a lot. In summer, temperatures rise and it becomes very hot and when fall arrives the weather becomes very windy.
Because we are a part of Mother Nature, our bodies contain the same three energies or Doshas. The water force is called Kapha dosha. Heat is Pitta dosha and Wind is Vata Dosha. In fact Kapha, Pitta and Vata govern all the systems and functions in the body. While modern medicine is focused on the structure of the body, Ayurveda emphasizes functions of the body through the Doshas. Kapha energy is responsible for building new tissues, nourishing the cells and lubricating all the systems. Pitta governs metabolic reactions, digestion, conversion and maintaining body temperature. Vata is in charge of all the actions, movements, nerve impulses and transportation.
When these Doshas are in balance, we experience health, and when they are out of balance, they cause disease/s. Our goal is to restore the original balance of Doshas for individual wellness.
Prakriti is your unique genetic Body-Mind make up called Body Constitution. It is a blueprint of your personality.
 Look around you - Do you see any two people exactly alike, like the "Change of Guards" at Buckingham palace? Or do you notice that people are very different from each other? Observe Nature: Mountains, rivers, trees, birds, flowers - all have unique shapes and sizes. Even two leaves of the same tree are not alike. Two flowers of the same vine have different sizes and shapes. Nature is full of variety and we are no exception. We exhibit diversity both in appearance and personality. This diversity makes life beautiful.
This difference or uniqueness is because of the diverse proportion of Vata, Pitta and Kapha Doshas in each individual. Once we start seeing things through the glasses of Prakriti, we will start seeing and understanding the differences.
For example, your oval face, or slender body may be caused by the predominant Vata in your Prakriti. Prakriti makes one person gain weight very easily (Kapha predominant) while another may never gain weight even if they try! One of your friends may be very talkative and another may be a little shy. One may be a leader and the other may like to follow the leader. Such variation is all because of Prakriti.
With various combinations of Vata, Pitta and Kapha - 10 different types of Prakriti are described. When it comes to wellness, the first step is to know your own Prakriti.
It is always ideal to have a Prakriti evaluation by an Ayurvedic Practitioner rather than doing a self-check.
This is the key to your health. Once you find that key, you can reveal answers to all your questions, such as:
- What can I do to feel healthy?
- How can I make my Mind feel grounded?
- What routine should I follow?
- What should I eat?
- How can I prevent my allergies, or heart burn?
- What exercise is good for me?
- How can I improve my relationship with my family?
- What is the right career for me?
- What living environments will be best suited to me?
- How can I enjoy my life?
Don't you want to find the answers to such questions? Take the first step. . .
Don't you think you should know "thyself"? I am not talking about what is your name or what you do? But why you look a certain way, why you behave in certain ways, and why you feel differently than your friends? Prakriti introduces you to yourself all over again.
Read the following description and see where you fit best:
 VATA PREDOMINANT: Generally slim and slender, either short or tall with prominent bones and less muscle mass. Oval face, small eyes, dry skin, thin hair, small joints (may crack often), and long fingers are the special characteristics of Vata people. Their metabolism and sleep pattern is always variable. They talk a lot, walk a lot and complain a lot. Hand gestures, fidgety movements, rolling of the eyeballs are ingrained in Vata people. They are story tellers. They are good at attracting people with their talking and expressions. They are very intuitive, imaginative and artistic. They are good in writing poems, creating art, or dancing. They love to travel, or to be constantly on the go. The Vata mind is like a busy bee, constantly buzzing around, moving in circles. They are born worriers - worry about everything and anything. Often feel anxious, nervous and worried. Many times their mind is in the future, not enjoying the present moment. They are good at playing "what if" games. Vata's slogan is "Can I change my mind?"
 PITTA PREDOMINANT: Medium built and height, with strong muscles. Sharpness is the main characteristic of the Pitta personality - Sharp nose, sharp eyes and sharp chin and (unfortunately) sharp tongue. They tend to have a receding hairline or early graying or balding. Pitta people are good speakers. They speak to the point (no beating around the bush). They are very precise, goal seeking, orderly and tidy. Pitta people are list makers; they can't do anything unless planned. They are always "on time" machines. The Pitta mind is like a bull. Once set on the goal, it is difficult to change. Many times it is in the present, so Pitta people are generally witty. Many times they are also opinionated, criticizing others or telling people what is right and wrong (that is why they create enemies). Pittas get irritable or angry quickly, especially when things don't happen their way. Pitta's metabolism is very sharp. They are always hungry and angry. Their slogan is "Do it my way or the highway".
 KAPHA PREDOMINANT: Well built, full-bodied people. Their features are rounded - Round face, round big eyes, roundish nose, and sweet looks. They have long, thick hair. Kapha people are loving, nurturing, caring and are peacemakers. They want everybody to be happy. Their slogan is "Don't worry be happy." They have good endurance and strong immune systems. They are good listeners and speak very little. At times they tend to be shy. Kaphas tend to gain weight very easily and retain water, causing swelling. A bit lazy, Kaphas like to rely on others, and like to follow others. The Kapha mind tends to get heavier, stays in the past a lot - day dreaming about past incidences. Kapha people get attached quickly and have a hard time letting go.
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