Maintaining Balance

by Alakananda Ma

After doing the work of getting back in balance, the next step is managing your constitution. And here it is good to remember that, although your predominant dosha is the one most likely to go out of balance, the other doshas can also be thrown off as well. To avoid disturbing the other doshas, stay away from extremes such as severe heat or cold, foods that are very salty, oily, pungent, or sour, consumption of large amounts of sweets or drinking too much alcohol.

If your constitution is vata, your best tastes are sweet, sour and salty. But this doesn’t mean that you can eat a lot of sugar. Grains and many vegetables fall under the sweet taste, and are much more balanced than cookies and candies. Try to avoid excess travelling and high impact exercise. Yoga, swimming, strolling and low impact forms of dance are ideal for you. Since vata is dry, remember to do self massage with a vata pacifying oil.

Next, let’s turn to pitta. You need to avoid hot, sharp, salty and oily foods, drinks and situations. Sweet, bitter and astringent tastes are best for you and summer season is your most challenging time. Eat plenty of bitter greens seasoned with turmeric, coriander and cumin and keep hydrated with cumin-coriander-fennel tea or hibiscus tea. Cool your head with coconut brahmi oil. Choose early mornings or evenings for exercise and walk in the moonlight whenever you can.

As for kapha, everything that is good for vata is bad for you! Your best tastes are bitter, pungent and astringent. Barley is your best grain if you tolerate gluten, while buckwheat or quinoa are alternatives. Start your day with a cup of spice tea including ginger, cardamom and cinnamon and take some brisk exercise before you start work. A sedentary lifestyle is your greatest enemy and simple things like using the stairs instead of the elevator can make a difference to your well-being.

Considering the tastes and lifestyle factors needed for your constitution can make a difference in how you feel on a daily basis, so plan your menus and daily activities accordingly!

Alakananda Ma is a British trained physician who was one of the first Western medical doctors to practice Ayurveda in the US. She is a renowned teacher, lecturer, writer of insightful articles on Ayurveda and also principal of Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula, a traditional gurukula, in Boulder, Colorado. For more information on Alakananda Ma and Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula please visit alandiashram.org