Ayurveda is an ancient and natural health-care tradition originating in India over 5,000 years ago, gives us the knowledge of how to live in harmony with our bodies for a healthy, happy, stress-free life. It is based on knowledge of the five elements and three doshas which help to determine our unique constitution .Throughout our lives these five elements combine with each other to give rise to the three bio-physical forces (or Doshas) within the human body- Vata (air and space), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (water and earth). Together they are known as Tridosha and govern all the biological, physiological and psychological functions of the mind and body, both physical and emotional, as well as effecting how an individual interacts with everything around them.
Every individual has within them all three biophysical forces, but it is the dominance of any one or two or all three that makes up a person's individual constitution or Prakriti.
In the following pages the three doshas are explained in more detail, along with descriptions of a Vata type of person, a Pitta type and a Kapha type. Which one do you think you are? Many people are a dual type, yet to some degree we all have elements of all 3 be it in our physical body or nature of our minds. An Ayurvedic therapist can advise you on which dosha you should be treating.