Mauli Rituals on Ayurveda

Ayurveda is an ancient healing system originating in India almost 5000 years ago. Translating as ‘The Science of Life’ Ayurveda encourages a proactive approach to wellbeing by placing an equal value on physical, emotional and spiritual health.

At the core of this belief system lays the knowledge that leads to harmonising or balancing an individual’s Dosha or constitution.

According to Ayurveda your Dosha is made of a combination of all five of the elemental forces. Through understanding your Dosha and learning how to keep it in balance you can free yourself from common disorders and grievances like mood swings, digestive problems, fatigue and general unease.

It’s important to note that Ayurveda is not a quick fix solution. By taking your time and understanding how to use the healing power of plants and herbs and through regular practice of yoga, meditation and breathing you can be sure these benefits will indeed last you a lifetime.

The first place to begin is by finding out which Dosha type you are. Each Dosha is a specific combination of the five elements: Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth and from these come the three vital energies known as Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

These three energies or Doshas enable us to see how our physical and emotional bodies respond to our surrounding environment. Believe it or not this affects everything from digestion to life choices, relationships, appearance and speech. Most of us will have a dominant Dosha and an opposing Sub-Dosha which varies according to our age, seasonal changes and life situations.

Vata is the most dynamic of the three Doshas and is associated with movement, including that of the fluid in our cells, our breath and heart. In general Vatas tend to be slender in build and small boned. They have dry skin and hair, are sharp, adaptable and walk, talk and think quickly. They are natural born multi-taskers who excel when in a creative environment.  

When Vata is not in balance this can cause physical symptoms like constipation, arthritis and abnormal blood pressure. Emotionally dips in energy, erratic behaviour, anxiety, fear, insecurity and forgetfulness are common. To shift the balance back eating sweet warm cooked foods at regular times and sipping warm water and herbal teas will help. Yoga, meditation and being outdoors combined with massage, detoxing salt baths can aid relaxing an over active Vata.

Pitta governs chemical transformation related to digestion, metabolism and assimilation on a physical and emotional level. Focused and intense, Pittas are intelligent, like to assert themselves, are unafraid to speak their truth and rise to any challenge. They have radiant skin, are freckled or have moles and are of medium build and height. They have excellent digestion and sleep well in short sharp bouts.

An unbalanced Pitta can be become jealous, impatient, angry and exhibit a dominant nature. Pittas should avoid exposure to direct sunlight as they need to keep cool to avoid rashes, sunburn, ulcers and high blood pressure. Eating fresh green salads and sipping cool water and mint tea will help reduce heat in Pitta as well as a regular yoga practice, breathing exercises, gardening and meditation.

Kapha is the most balanced of all Doshas and is a steady energy associated with body growth (fat, tissues, muscles) and a healthy immune system. Known to be loving, compassionate, easygoing and calm, Kaphas make for loyal friends, partners and co-workers. Their digestive system is strong and they enjoy healthy sleep patterns. When they speak they do so thoughtfully and are good at retaining information. Kaphas enjoy routine and a relaxed way of living.

When not in balance this can manifest itself in a number of ways. They can become resistant to change, hold onto past hurts and get stuck in patterns that no longer serve them. Physically this can affect their metabolism causing weight gain and fluid retention as well as a general feeling of fatigue. To help keep balanced they are encouraged to fast on a weekly basis, and indulge in invigorating and detoxifying masks as well as eating light warm and spicy food and partaking in endurance exercise like swimming, cycling and weight training to help get the endorphins kicking in.

As humans we need all three Doshas to reproduce, metabolise and maintain health. Psychologically we need the creation of new ideas (Vata), the ability to articulate them (Pitta) and then the resolve to realise them (Kapha). An understanding of your Dosha, will allow you to be mindful of imbalances, which can then be remedied through diet, herbs and purifying treatments so that life may flow with greater ease.

Independent British beauty brand Mauli Rituals uses Ayurvedic principles to create its wide range of luxury Ayurvedic products.