THE PRACTICAL AYURVEDA(THE MEDICINE OF THE VEDAS)
Photos and video: Raul Sojo
Fifteen years ago nobody used to practice yoga. Today it is incredibly popular. We dare to foretell that the same will happen with Ayurvedic medicine, which teaches us that nature protects those who protect her. Ayurveda begins by helping people to understand themselves, their unique individual nature. Then it helps teach people how different natures affect their nature: food, climate, environment or career.
TRIDOSHA
The concept of Tridosha is of fundamental importance in the Ayurveda. The diagnosis and successful healing of the illness depends on its full comprehension.
According to Shamkya philosophy, the cosmos is the expression of the Supreme Being, in the transition from oneness to multiplicity. This transformation from One into many was caused by prakriti, the fundamental activating energy.
Prakriti has three attributes: the refining principle (satoguna) the activating principle (rajoguna) and the densifying principle (tamoguna). According to that philosophy, these three principles of Prakriti interact with the five basic elements (pancha mahabutha): ether, air, fire, water and earth, to form the subtle power principles called tridosha in the Ayurveda. Tridosha represents the particular nature of each person. Let’s see what the three doshas consist of: Vata, Pita and Kapha.
VataIs the dynamic energy of all movement, through the ten categories of vital air that circulate in the body (prana, apana, samana, udana, vyana, naga, kurma, krikara, devadutta and dhananaya). It can be defined as the subtle energy that governs biological movement. Vata being the biological principle of movement, it generates every subtle change in the metabolism. Vata manages breathing, blinking, muscle and tissue movements, the heartbeat, all expansion and contraction, the movements of the cytoplasm and the cellular membranes and all the impulses of the nervous cells. Vata also rules sensations and emotions: freshness, nervousness, fear, anxiety, tremors and spasms. The colon, pelvic cavity, bones, skin, the ears, and thighs are the organs of Vata. If the body develops an excess of Vata, it accumulates in these areas.
PittaIt is translated as fire, although the term doesn’t mean “fire” literally. The fire of a candle can be seen; however, the heat energy of the body, pitta dosha, which is expressed as the metabolism, is not visible to the eyes. Pitta governs digestion, absorption, assimilation, metabolism, body temperature, skin pigmentation, the brightness of the eyes, and also intelligence and comprehension. Psychologically, pitta is responsible for rage, hate and jealousy. The small intestine, stomach, sweat glands, blood, fat and the skin are pitta organs.
KaphaKapha translates as the “energy of biological particles.” This body principle consists of two elements: water and earth. Kapha is the mood or structural principle, as it gathers the elements in the body, providing the material for the physical structure. This dosha maintains the resistance of the body. Water is the most important component of Kapha. This body water is physiologically responsible for the strength and natural resistance of the tissues. Kapha lubricates the joints, moisturizes the skin, helps wounds to heal, and fills the spaces of the body; it gives strength, vitality and stability; it supports the persistence of memory; it gives energy to the heart and the lungs and keeps immunity; kapha is present in the chest, head, breasts, nose, mouth, stomach, joints, cytoplasm and the mucous secretions of the body. Psychologically, khapa regulates the emotions of attachment, greed and envy. It is also expressed in the tendency towards calm, forgiveness and love.
An internal balance of the tridosha is necessary for our health. For example the air principle (vata) ignites the body fire (pitta) but it needs water (kapha) to control it, otherwise it would burn the tissues of the body. Vata moves the khapa and the pitta, which are motionless by nature. As a whole, tridosha governs all metabolic activities: the anabolism (kapha), the catabolism (vata) and the metabolism (pitta). When the Vata is out of balance, the metabolism is inevitably disturbed, which results in an excess of catabolism, i.e., a deterioration and degeneration in the organism. When the anabolism predominates over the catabolism, there is acceleration in the growth and healing of the organs and tissues. The excess of pitta disturbs the metabolism, the excess of kapha breaks the balance of the anabolism and the excess of Vata results in organic deterioration.
During the childhood kapha and anabolism prevail, as this is the time of the greatest physical growth. During the adulthood pitta and metabolism predominate, being that in this stage the body is mature and stable. In the later stage of life Vata and catabolism prevail, since the body is in a process of deterioration
THE DIAGNOSIS
Multiple methods are used for the diagnosis. Especially important is the examination of the pulse (radial, time, carotid, brachial, etc.) and the state of the tongue, face, nails, eyes, etc. It also uses rare techniques for the examination of the urine, feces, blood and breath. Sometimes it also resorts to Hindu astrology. The signs and symptoms of the disease thus detected are classified as per three fundamental biological principles called tridosha: vata (air or the vital energy), pitta (fire or the metabolic energy), kapha (the energy of biological particles).
The diagnosis is complemented with studies and laboratory analysis, among other modern methods.
SELF MASSAGE AND MASSAGE
Self massage and massage are an important tool to clearing toxins for the musculoskeletal system. Oil massage loosens the joints and nourishes the bones, nerves and organs.
However, massage can never be sustitute for asana.
Combining Yoga and Ayurveda we open the secrets powers of the body, breath, senses, mind and chakras, helping us to unfold transformational methods to work on them through diet, herbs, asana, pranayama and meditation. The Ayurveda is a science, an art and a philosophy of life to help mankind.
We embrace it with the intention of aging graciously; and, of course, to spread it throughout the wonderful Wilmington and its sorroundings. Yoga and Ayurveda together form a complete appoach for optimal health, vitality, and higher awareness.
Paper of Yndiana's Worshop at STDC Conference at Cayman Islands in 2007, Ayurdeda and Tourism:
http://www.onecaribbean.org/content/files/CTOseminarIndianaMay07.pdfWellness in Wilmington is thankfull to producer Libia Villalobos, Ayurvedic Therapist Maria Leonidas, and pacients Carlos and Tati for its contribution in this picture session taken by Raul Sojo in Caracas, Venezuela.
