In this episode, we discuss how sometimes feeling "off" is because you are.

There will be days when things just don't "feel right." This is an indicator that we have an imbalance somewhere. Imbalances occur often and stem from an activity or thought that has surfaced, or is gnawing at you. This tends to happen when we have a bit of guilt, hang on to a grudge, have been hurt in some way, or simply "woke up like this."

Knowing both your Ayurvedic constitution and your current state of balance is incredibly helpful. This knowledge will allow you to adjust the most basic components of your day—like how you exercise or when you eat—to better support your overall well-being. However, there are key differences between the doshas that comprise your constitutional makeup and the doshas that can be imbalanced within you.

Doshas provide more information than we realize. They help us get to the root of the matter and it is up to the human to remove themselves to attachment of the outcome. Most of the time, the imbalance originates from being attached to the outcome or expectation. Therefore, the undercurrent of the outcome hinders the abundance of the circumstance. Not even giving it a chance. When we put up barriers along our path, we create blockages within our physiology and in turn, prevent growth, balance, and natural law to flow.

Here we discuss how the different imbalances of each dosha affect our daily balance.

Understanding Constitutions

As mentioned before, your constitution, Prakriti or Ayurvedic body type, is established within you at conception and remains constant throughout your lifetime. It represents your natural state of equilibrium and your blueprint for perfect health.

Ayurveda recognizes seven basic constitutional types:

1. Vata-Type: A greater amount of Vata, lesser amounts of pitta and Kapha.

2. Pitta-Type: A greater amount of pitta, lesser amounts of vata and Kapha.

3. Kapha-Type: A greater amount of Kapha, lesser amounts of Vata and pitta.

4. Vata-Pitta-Type (or Pitta-Vata): Greater amounts of both Vata and pitta, a lesser amount of Kapha.

5. Pitta-Kapha (or Kapha-Pitta): Greater amounts of both pitta and Kapha, a lesser amount of Vata.

6. Kapha-Vata (or Vata-Kapha): Greater amounts of both Vata and Kapha, a lesser amount of pitta.

7. Tridoshic (or Vata-Pitta-Kapha-Type): Equal amounts of all three doshas within the body.

Your constitution influences your physiology, your likes and dislikes, your tendencies and habits, your mental and emotional character, and your vulnerabilities toward imbalance and disease. Therefore, learning how to manage your constitution can be truly enlightening.

Our gut microbiome has a dramatic influence on our brain, state of mind, and susceptibility to disease. It connects with our nervous, enteric nervous, endocrine, enteric endocrine, and immune systems to form the Gut-Brain axis. According to Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, “All disease begins in the gut” (Wallace, 2020) - Christian Parker Boles, STC MIU 2021

Understanding Imbalances

Discovering your current state of balance will show you the present level of the doshas in your system. In contrast to one’s constitution, the current state of balance can and does change over time as we move through different climates, different seasons, and the various stages of life.

A Vata imbalance occurs when Vata is in excess. This can cause fear, anxiety, physical and emotional constriction, ungroundedness, poor circulation, constipation, dry skin, cracking joints, emaciation, insomnia, twitches, tremors, and other abnormal movements.

A Pitta imbalance occurs when pitta is in excess. This can cause anger, jealousy, inflammation, excessive heat, heartburn, loose stools, migraines, rashes, bruising, bleeding disorders, sharp hunger, an overactive metabolism, and difficulty sleeping.

A Kapha imbalance occurs when Kapha is in excess. This can cause attachment, greed, resistance to change, lack of motivation, heaviness in the mind and body, excessive sleep, depression, a sluggish metabolism, congestion, water retention, hardening of the arteries, and the formation of masses and tumors.

It is also possible for more than one dosha to be out of balance at a given time, or for all three dosha to be imbalanced. As mentioned earlier, Ayurveda teaches that like increases like and that opposites balance. (see the 20 Gunas above)

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Imbalances in the doshas are generally caused by unsupportive diet and lifestyle choices, as well as stress or emotional trauma. These disturbances tend to upset the natural state of internal equilibrium represented by one’s constitution. When the doshas become aggravated, each of them disrupts the body in its own unique way. Therefore, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are each associated with a particular set of health challenges and tendencies toward disease.

While we are all susceptible to excess in any of the three doshas, we also tend to be somewhat predisposed to imbalances in our predominant doshas. In other words, Vata-pitta predominant individuals will usually tend toward Vata and pitta imbalances before Kapha imbalances. If you are just becoming familiar with how the doshas affect your day-to-day life, this awareness can be very helpful.

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Integrate your knowledge

Let’s say your pitta is aggravated. You’ve had a short temper lately, are overly judgmental, and have some acidity in your digestive tract. Which qualities should you be interacting with to find balance?

A. Qualities that are hot, sharp, light, liquid, spreading, and oily.

B. Qualities that are cool, slow, heavy, dense, stable, and dry.

When we know which particular qualities are aggravated, we can be even more precise in our treatment strategies, finding specific practices to incorporate the necessary opposite qualities into our lives to find balance.

Which Dosha Should I Focus on Balancing?

Focusing on the Dosha that is imbalanced, by first understanding the root of the disease. The origin of the imbalance. Once that is determined, one begins the work of regaining balance. Doshas become imbalanced due to the intellect entertaining Pragya Aparadh.

When the doshas are out of balance, your constitution will tell you the entire story just by taking the time to come into consciousness.

Through the practice of TM, we are able to explore the unified field of consciousness which is known in Ayurveda as Samhita. Your entire physiology originates from this field of Being.

When a Dosha is imbalanced, one goes through the process of Darshan, observation or sight, Spartan, touch or palpitations, and Prashna, questioning. As one goes through these 3 methods of diagnosis, one also is becoming aware of the responses, sensations, and expressions experienced throughout each one. Through these methods, along with pulse reading, proper diet, exercise, rest, and routine, one is able to balance the Doshas and live an optimal life.

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Experts will be joining us along the way to discuss the scientifically proven methods for improving the balance of one's constitution and life, along with sharing a variety of methods, herbs, oils, aromas, foods, doshas, circadian rhythms, asanas, meditations, and so much more.

Each month we focus on a different topic, and invite guests to share their knowledge and expertise on the show. If you would like to be on the Podcast, comment or send us an email, and we will contact you.

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