Ayurveda is an ancient system of life and also the oldest surviving medical system in the world teaches us to follow the language of our bodies. In Sanskrit, “Svastha” means healthy; sva means self and stha means established: established in self. The interpretation of this term is that the “self” can be realised through a harmonious balance between body, mind and spirit.
While leading an insurmountable modern lifestyle, we all are stretching ourselves way beyond to our physical and mental limits post we believed we were ready to expand our wings to take the fleet on our own and create our mark in the ever challenging world. This lifestyle was actually not developed by in few years as we ponder; however, it is the cumulative product of our living patterns & psychological functioning’s, displayed in the form of various habits, behaviours, and dietary habits and so-on-so-forth. The imprints carved on our individuality by the experiences and trainings we sought right from the childhood and the kind of environment we lived in for years along with our immediate companions, we are gradually demanded to neglect our physical, mental, social and spiritual health and thus, manifesting symptoms such as burn-out, anxiety, loneliness, etc.
According to Ayurvedic philosophy the entire cosmos is an interplay of the energies of the five great elements—Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. A person’s prakruti is the inherent balance of the three doshas at the moment of their creation. Vata, pitta and kapha are combinations and permutations of these five elements that manifest as patterns present in all creation. The three doshas operate in the whole of nature, which we find also in our body and mind. In the physical body, vata is the subtle energy of movement, pitta the energy of digestion and metabolism, and kapha the energy that forms the body’s structure.
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Vata is the subtle energy associated with movement — composed of Space and Air. It governs breathing, blinking, muscle and tissue movement, pulsation of the heart, and all movements in the cytoplasm and cell membranes. In balance, vata promotes creativity and flexibility. Out of balance, vata produces fear and anxiety.
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Pitta expresses as the body’s metabolic system — made up of Fire and Water. It governs digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism and body temperature. In balance, pitta promotes understanding and intelligence. Out of balance, pitta arouses anger, hatred and jealousy.
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Kapha is the energy that forms the body’s structure — bones, muscles, tendons — and provides the “glue” that holds the cells together, formed from Earth and Water. Kapha supplies the water for all bodily parts and systems. It lubricates joints, moisturizes the skin, and maintains immunity. In balance, kapha is expressed as love, calmness and forgiveness. Out of balance, it leads to attachment, greed and envy.
Our current condition is called our “Vikruti”. Vikruti means “after creation.” The Sanskrit root “vi” means “after” and the root word “kruti” means “creation.” A person’s vikruti is the state of the three doshas after the moment of conception. Although it reflects our ability to adjust to the dynamic influences of life and is constantly changing it should match with our prakruti, or inborn constitution, as closely as possible. A healthy, peaceful person is totally satisfied and by being in this state of equilibrium (samya), experiences no strain or tension, they are healthy, feel good and the body radiates natural beauty and are able to move/live beyond the body. Quite naturally our body tries to maintain its balance of the interplay of the three doshas because this is the source of happiness, poise, energy, and beauty.
It’s often said that our skin is the mirror of our internal health and well-being. Any stress or dis-ease in the body first reflects over the skin or the external beauty that creating direct psychological impacts. Holistic and all-encompassing, the ayurvedic definition of beauty reads — "Roopam, Gunam, Vayastyag, iti shubhanga karanam", depicting three pillars of beauty. “Roopam” is outer beauty — personified by shining, healthy hair and a clear, radiant complexion. It does not specify a type of figure or the color of the skin or the length or style of the hair. Outer beauty, according to Ayurveda, is a reflection of good health — good digestion and healthy eating habits and lifestyle. The frame of the body is dependent on the type of structural components you were born with. Whether thin, medium, or big, each type of body structure can be beautiful as long as good health exists. “Gunam” refers to the inner beauty that shines from within, characterized by a warm, pleasing personality and innocence of mind and heart. And the third is “Vayastyag” which means lasting beauty — looking and feeling younger than your chronological age. Thus, Ayurveda does not focus only on cosmetics to achieve a state of true beauty but the holistic wellbeing.
Life presents us with many challenges and opportunities. Although there is much over which we have little control, we do have the power to decide about some things. The timeless knowledge of Ayurveda is a valuable tool to properly tune the symphony of the doshas for strengthening individual’s constitution of the body, mind and consciousness. Bare Rituals is an effort to assist the mankind to lead the pathway of the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.