Masters of Health Magazine October 2017 | Page 93

Ayurveda:

Just a Taste of a vast subject

Prakruti what a wonderful word. The Sanskrit prefix “pra” means original and “kruti” means creation. According to the principles of Ayurveda we are each a beautiful unique creation. Our Prakruti is the matrix supporting who we are in our physical, mental and spiritual nature. Our Prakruti is determined at conception and in that moment our physio and psychological predispositions become our doshic foundation. In Ayurveda, this is our “constitution.”

Knowing the elements that dominate our Prakruti yields valuable information. Each of us has a unique combination of earth, water, fire, air and space. These 5 elements make up our Dosha profile. The word dosh means “that which changes”. The doshas are in a constant dynamic balance with each other. Doshas are a part of everything! According to Ayurveda, doshas are the governing principle and encompasses all of life. The three doshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Doshas are made of the five basic elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. Our constitution consists of a blend of these three doshas. What gives us all our distinct constitution is how they are combined. We are predominantly one or two of these three. It is important to remember that all the doshas influence our makeup. The combination of doshas directly impact our spiritual, mental and physical health. How amazing, no two people are ever completely alike.

Prakruti was established at the time of our fertilization and is fixed. There are seven constitutional types – vata, pitta, kapha and combinations of the three. To determine ones prakruti an evaluation is necessary. After answering a questioner, having a pulse reading and a physical examination your prakruti is defined with a series of numbers reflecting the blend of the three doshas. Interestingly, our body structure reveals many of these traits.

Vrikruti, literally means “after creation.” The environment, lifestyle and outside competing forces throw our doshas out of balance. The constant force and struggle to balance our doshas is reflected in our vrikruti. Our vrikruti reflect this imbalance and can also be shown as a numerical value. Our Vrikruti is most likely to go out of balance with the seasons.

For better or worse my pakruti is {V3-P2-K1}. This makes my constitution predominately Vata, with a dash of pitta and a pinch of kapha thrown in for good measure. If my vrikruti were {V-3.5- P2-K1} then my vata would be elevated and I would need to follow a vata reducing routine. When the three doshas are in balance we can celebrate our good health!

According to our constitution the Prakruti we inherit from our parents yields important understanding about who we are. Prakruti is our permanent nature. Maintaining a balance brings great health benefits. To know ourselves through keen observation, clear contemplation and deep compassion takes time and commitment. To know a person’s constitution is to know their predispositions and their path to complete wellness. Ayurveda is not a one size fit all practice. A remedy for one may be a calamity for another. As Paul Simone wrote, “One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor.”

This knowledge of Prakruti, helps us have a deeper understanding of each other in a less judgmental way and be more kind and accepting of our inherent differences. On a personal level, knowing our constitution becomes a basis for a multitude of daily choices. These range from our food, exercise, daily habits, vocations and environment to name a few. Seeing someone we love losing their temper and becoming hot headed, we recognize their fire element needs to be soothed with loving kindness. Never fight fire with fire no one will win. Just ask my pitta fiancée.

Understanding the Qualities of each doshas plays a significant role in supporting a balanced constitution. Each dosha type has a propensity towards certain disorders because of their related qualities. A popular saying in Ayurveda is “like increases like”. One way a dosha can go out of balance is to increase its already abundant quality.