If you've been on an Ayurveda Journey for any length of time, you've probably come across the term "dosha." Often I have found that even long-term students of Ayurveda have trouble defining what a dosha actually is. So what is a dosha?
According to Ayurveda, all matter is made up of five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space. Part of what makes each person unique is the varying proportions of these elements in their body.
While these five elements make up the structure of the body, the three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha) are organizing principles that describe the function of the elements in the body.
Your body is made up of all 5 elements, and the 3 doshas function to support your optimal balance of these elements.
When the doshas are functioning properly, we don’t notice them. It is only when they become imbalanced that we begin to pay attention to them—when we experience something that’s “not right” with our body.
Although these symptoms are uncomfortable and annoying, they serve a purpose: the doshas send you a signal when something isn't working for you.
When you learn to understand these signals, they give you the opportunity to adjust your diet and lifestyle in order to realign with your natural state of balance.
Swipe right to learn more about the concept of doshas.