Puja Patel, ALC

In Ayurveda, there are three essential aspects of nature that are present in all beings in the world. The three traits are rajas, tamas, and sattva. These gunas are present in the body and mind, thus explaining a person’s character or behavior. We will now delve into the three traits and how to apply them in our daily lives.

In Ayurveda, it is no secret that seasons affect our metabolism. What we see in the outside environment gives us a clue as to what is happening inside of our body. As we transition from winter to spring, the trees are starting to release sap that they have preserved throughout the winter to maintain heat. Similarly, our body has preserved secretions to maintain a healthy digestive fire in the winter.

According to Ayurvedic theory, each individual is born with varying combinations of the doshas (refer to intro to doshas), so every individual’s body size/type is different. Based on predominating doshas, some people are thin-framed and leaner, while others are thicker-boned and larger. Neither body type is right or wrong and in fact, Ayurveda proposes health at every size. Thus, there is no set routine to help you lose or gain weight. Instead, Ayurvedic medicine equips you with guidelines surrounding the types of foods and movements to incorporate according to your dosha. Following lifestyle prescriptions tailored to your body type will help you better approach your ideal weight – whether that’s through shedding some excess fat or adding some additional muscle. Once you know your dosha, check out our tips below to take one step closer balancing your body type.

Ayurveda has a distinct way of classifying the seasons based on the doshas. The seasons are categorized where the doshas are most prominent according to the environment.

As the winter continues and the weather becomes even colder, you may find yourself face to face with the common cold or flu. You may experience some sniffling or sneezing coupled with a runny nose or scratchy, tickling sensation in the back of your throat. When this happens, your natural instinct is to reach for your favorite over-the-counter medication to alleviate your symptoms. However, although the medication will make you temporarily feel better, it will neither shorten the duration of your illness nor cure it.