Ayurveda Blog Series - Intro and Blog 1

🌿 Ayurveda Blog Series

Intro Have you ever noticed how some people are always cold while others overheat easily? Or how some thrive on a routine while others love constant change?
According to Ayurveda — one of the world’s main systems of holistic healthcare and a sister science to yoga — it’s because we all have a unique mind-body type: our dosha.

💫 My Journey with Ayurveda I discovered Ayurveda in my late teens, around the same time I began studying yoga. Over the years, I’ve studied formal Ayurvedic courses, engaged in over eight Ayurvedic retreats in India, and worked with a company called Ayurveda4All.

What I loved most about Ayurveda is that it offered a practical, empowering tool to better understand myself — both psychologically and physiologically. It helped me notice tendencies in my body, mind, and behaviours, and offered gentle, supportive ways to manage them rather than get frustrated or confused by them.
Best of all, it showed me how pointless social comparison is, because what’s good for one person can be detrimental to another. And how ridiculous the one-size-fits-all approach to health and wellness is. Ayurveda has helped me honour rather than judge my uniqueness, understand my ‘weaknesses’, and play to my ‘strengths’ — and I’d love to help you do the same.

Because it’s such a vast subject, I’ll be breaking it down into a series of short, practical blogs you can dip into and apply to your own life. 

Blog 1: Understanding the Doshas and Your Unique Mind-Body Type

🌿 What Are Doshas? In Ayurveda, the three doshas — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha — are the energies that govern how we function. Everything in existence (including us) is made up of these three in different combinations.

🌀 Vata (Air + Space) – Energy of Movement Mind-body traits: Creative, energetic, quick-thinking, but can be anxious or scattered when imbalanced. Body type: Slender, can be very tall or short, long limbs or bones, dry skin, cold hands and feet, thin hair. Problems with excess Vata: Anxiety, insomnia, IBS, constipation, tinnitus, nervousness, exhaustion, overwhelm, scattered mind, osteoporosis, osteopenia, lower back pain, dry skin and hair, brittle nails. Factors that increase Vata: Travelling, irregular routine, rushing, multitasking, cold dry windy weather, old age (Vata increases in everyone after the age of 50–60).

🔥 Pitta (Fire + Water) – Energy of Transformation Mind-body traits: Focused, ambitious, passionate, sharp intellect, excellent leader, competitive, perfectionist — but can be intolerant, bossy, irritable, or critical when out of balance. Body type: Medium build, strong digestion, tends to feel warm, athletic, freckles, early greying or balding, gets "hangry". Problems with excess Pitta: Heartburn, inflammation, frustration, rosacea, eye issues, acid reflux, diarrhoea, addictive behaviours, OCD, aggression. Factors that increase Pitta: Competitive environments, hot climates, alcohol, heat-producing foods, summer months.

🌱 Kapha (Earth + Water) – Energy of Structure and Stability Mind-body traits: Grounded, calm, loyal, reliable, stable, steady, strong, loving, supportive, sweet, great stamina — but can be sluggish, overly sentimental, stuck, or resistant to change when imbalanced. Body type: Larger frame, cool body temperature, clammy moist skin, oily thick hair, good skin, large eyes, large teeth and lips, slower digestion, finds fasting and endurance activities easier than other types. Problems with excess Kapha: Sluggishness, lethargy, congestion, depression, stuffed head, glue ear, obesity, type 2 diabetes, emotional stagnation, stubbornness.
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Most people are a combination of the three doshas rather than just one. In Blog 2, I’ll walk you through the 10 possible Ayurvedic mind-body types (Prakriti) and how to start identifying your own.