When we hear the term Ayurveda, our mind automatically sways to spa, massages, body and facial treatments and essential oils… it is much more profound than that and it starts with NUTRITION! 

Ayurveda is one of the most ancient systems of medicine in the world, with its roots reaching back to the 9th century BC. For thousands of years, these teachings were transmitted orally, but were eventually recorded during the Vedic period of ancient India as Sanskrit poetry and compiled into the classic books known as the Four Vedas.

Ayurveda, translated as the “science of life,” is a system of holistic wellness that utilizes various therapies including diet, yoga and herbal preparations to restore harmony and balance within the body.

The principles of Ayurveda are based on the concept of tridosha, “three doshas”. The three doshas, known as Vata, Pitta and Kapha, are dynamic forces with distinct characteristics that shape all things in the universe. In humans, the doshas control all mental, emotional and physical functions and responses, and also determine the state of the soul. They produce natural urges and individual preferences in food. They govern the maintenance and destruction of bodily tissue and the elimination of waste products.

Each person is born with a unique constitution, called prakriti (Sanskrit for “essential nature”), which is composed of varying amounts of influence from each of the three doshas. Each person’s prakriti describes the unique harmony or balance between the doshas that is necessary for that person to experience perfect health.

In the Ayurvedic view, an imbalance between the doshas produces a condition called vikriti, a Sanskrit word that means “deviated from nature.” According to Ayurvedic principles, each individual’s diet should be suited to his or her prakriti. Continue reading →