Why Ayurveda?
Essence of Ayurveda
Ayurveda, the science of life and longevity, is one of the world’s oldest complete holistic system of healthcare. Rooted in the universal laws of nature, it offers a natural and deeply individual approach to health, seeking to bring balance between to body, mind and spirit.
As we are inseparable part of nature, living in harmony with its rhythms and cycles is one of the simplest ways to support our wellbeing. Health is a conscious choice, and an ongoing journey, not one-pill-fits-all solution or a quick fix.
Ayurveda focuses on prevention as much as treatment, looking beyond symptoms to understand the underlying causes of imbalance. Through a combination of massage, diet, herbal remedies, meditation, physical activity and daily routines, it offers a holistic approach to caring for ourselves - one that recognises the true wellbeing begins with understanding what our own body and mind need.
"Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” Arthur Ashe
Principles of Ayurveda
At the heart of Ayurveda is the relationship between the five elements – Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth – which make up the universe and everything with in, including ourselves. Each element represents particular qualities and forms of energy: Space is expansive, Air represents movement, Fire transformation, Water fluidity and Earth stability and structure.
Together, these five elements give rise to three bio-energies, known as Doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. In Ayurvedic philosophy, these energies govern the body's physical processes as well as influencing our mental and emotional tendencies.
All five elements are present in each Dosha, but in different proportions. Space and Air predominate in Vata, the principle of movement. Fire and Water predominate in Pitta, the energy of transformation. Water and Earth predominate in Kapha, the principle of structure, stability and growth.
Each of us has a unique proportion of these three energies, shaping our individual nature — from our physical characteristics and behaviour to our emotional responses, sleep patterns, communication and food preferences.
Predominance of one or more of these forces at the time of your conception establishes your individual constitution, called Prakriti. It is your true nature, your innate balance composition, which never changes.
Ayurveda describes seven commonly recognised constitutional types, based on the predominance of one, two or all three Doshas:
Single-Dosha constitutions
Vata
Pitta
Kapha
Dual-Dosha constitutions
Vata–Pitta
Vata–Kapha
Pitta–Kapha
Tridoshic constitution
Vata–Pitta–Kapha, where all three Doshas are considered to be present in relatively balanced proportions.
Understanding your Prakriti can offer a fascinating starting point for exploring your individual needs and how to support your wellbeing in a way that feels right for you.
Discover your basic constitution based on Ayurveda
Health & Disease
Imbalanced diet, wrong health choices, seasonal changes, stress, etc. can all influence our doshic balance and, in turn, our health and wellbeing. From an Ayurvedic perspective, when we live out of step with nature's rhythms, we may create the conditions for imbalance to develop.
The aim of Ayurveda is to help us understand our natural constitution, Prakriti, and support a return to our individual state of balance. Understanding both your basic constitution and any current imbalances is an important first step towards a more personalised approach to Ayurvedic care.