The word Ayurveda literally means “the healing” or “life giving.” In Ayurveda, Dosha are basically the underlying principles of psychology and physiology. They are both the fundamental and prime determining factors of the body. They keep the physical body in perfect balance.
Each dosha is a part of the constitution of an individual human being. The ayurvedic formula for each dosha is utilized to match the physiological and psychological makeup of an individual. The dosha system is designed in such a way as to be used by everyone, regardless of his or her body type or personality. Therefore Ayurveda provides a treatment system for everyone.
Vata or the “boundaries” or “waters” of Ayurveda are referred to as the “ayurvedic boundary.” Vata in Sanskrit stands for life-force or vitality. Vata is present in all humans, including animals. It is believed that a human’s inner life-force runs through the veins or capillaries of our body, just as the blood itself flows through arteries. Vata, being a vital force within us, cannot be destroyed, although excessive heat, cold, or certain drugs may affect its proper functioning.
The three doshas or zones of Ayurveda are applicable in all people but have specific reference to the unique combination of constitution and lifestyle, which results in optimum health. The initial zone is called “prana” or the life-force, which is the energy that circulates through our entire system. The second dosha is the “bhrta,” or the intellect or the mind; and the final dish is “kshma” or the soul or the mind. It is considered that the yin is present in all three zones but in varying amounts according to our kundalini awakening.
According to Ayurveda, a person can attain the highest level of good health and well being by following four basic steps. First, it is believed that the first dose or the “prana” is responsible for our intelligence, emotional stability, spiritual development, and personal power. Accordingly, it is important to maintain a healthy diet, sleep well, meditate, watch and control stress, and avoid vices such as drinking alcohol, taking illegal drugs, and smoking. A balanced diet and lifestyle will help us achieve the maximum levels of prana in the body type for which we were created.
Next, according to Ayurveda philosophy, our bodies are classified into seven doses or levels. The first three doses are classified according to the muscle development within the body, whereas the last two doshas are further divided into two basic categories: rasas and pitta. Ras is the essence of gross materiality or matter while pitta is the essence of spirit or life. Therefore, our goal must be to develop our muscles, excrete waste products efficiently, eliminate unnecessary substances from our system, and attain optimal health.
In addition to these basic steps, Ayurveda also teaches its practitioners to develop the strengths and the resources in their own bodies according to their current knowledge and the desires of their soul or mind. Therefore, Ayurveda provides its patients with specific guidelines on what are needed to achieve optimum health and well being. However, there are three basic steps that Ayurveda takes in order to achieve the goals of a patient.
First, according to the original principles of Ayurveda, people are born free and are destined to remain so. Whatever may be our roots, we must always look out for the nadis or vedas that correspond to our innermost nature. These vedas are considered to be the soul of our individual selves and are symbolized in the three doshas of our body. Once we have mastered these three doshas, then we are considered to be of sound mind and soul and are able to use the forces of nature to our advantage. However, if we develop these three doshas beyond a level of ordinary man, then we become bound for a lifetime of struggle.