Judith H. Morrison, who graduated from the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, wrote this handbook on this ancient Eastern Indian holistic health system.
Ayurveda, as a holistic health system, began to be developed about 5,000 years ago.
Morrison describes the Ayurvedic philosophy of manifestation. To summarize, pure existence desires to experience itself, which leads to the creation of primordial physical energy.
Creation has a subjective world (mind and potential of sense organs) and an objective world (experienced through our five senses).
The Three Vital Energies are an important concept in Ayurveda. People tend toward one of these energies, also known as doshas. The doshas are vata, pitta and kapha. The vata dosha is light, cold and dry; the pitta is light, hot and oily; whereas kapha is heavy, cold and oily. Note, each dosha has additional qualities.
To live healthily, people determine their main dosha type. They will then eat foods that support their type. As an example, a person with a kapha dosha will want to eat apples, cherries and peaches, while avoiding bananas, grapes and oranges.
Specific leisure activities are also suggested for each dosha. Vatta types will benefit from creative, gentle and calm pursuits such as painting. Those with a pitta dosha should avoid one-on-one competition, and those with a kapha dosha need to partake of mentally and physically stimulating activities.
Many other factors influence the well-being of each dosha type. Living in accordance with your dosha type will enhance your health in mind, body and spirit.
