Ayurveda

Question 1

What are the three doshas?

Answer 1

Vata Pitta Kapha

Question 2

What are the elements of Vata?

Answer 2

Air and space

Question 3

What elements are Pitta?

Answer 3

Fire and water

Question 4

What are the elements of Kapha?

Answer 4

Earth and water

Question 5

What are the characteristics of Vata?

Answer 5

• Vata is the driving force /like the wind
• Vata is the subtle energy associated with movement — composed of Space and Air.
• In balance, vata promotes creativity and flexibility. Out of balance, vata produces fear and anxiety.

Vata need rest and downtime

Question 6

What are the characteristics of Pitta?

Answer 6

• expresses as the body’s metabolic system — made up of Fire and Water.
• It governs digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism and body temperature.
• Those dominated by the pitta dosha are strong willed, determined and tend to have leadership qualities.
• If the pitta is imbalanced, it can lead to anger and agitation, and may even cause burning disorders such as ulcers and inflammation

Question 7

What are the characteristics of Kapha?

Answer 7

• 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.
• In balance, kapha is expressed as love, calmness and forgiveness.
• Out of balance, it leads to attachment, greed and envy.
• Kapha is connecting and nourishing /grounding/ Dosha

Question 8

What is Ayurveda?

Answer 8

A science that recognises that the body and mind has the capacity for self-healing and promotes a holistic approach to health and wellbeing

Ayurveda places great emphasis on prevention and encourages the maintenance of health through close attention to balance in one’s life, right thinking, diet, lifestyle and the use of herbs.

Question 9

What does the word ‘Prana’ mean?

Answer 9

Life force

Question 10

What is Prana?

Answer 10

Prana is the life force that is found in all beings and is the subtle energy that fuels all functions of the mind and body and is responsible for respiration, the five senses and the mind.

Question 11

What does the word ‘Agni’ mean?

Answer 11

Fire

Question 12

How do the three doshas appear in each person?

Answer 12

• The three doshas are balanced in every person at his birth.
• Very rarely the doshas are in three equal parts in this equilibrium – usually one or two are predominant in different ratios.
• The predominant energy determines the dosha type of the person.
• When the energies are in balance, one has good health and diseases do not occur.
• When one or more Doshas go out of balance, diseases occur. And each Dosha causes specific ailments.