AYURVEDA
Living in Harmony with Your True Nature
Ayurveda, often translated as “the science of life”, is a traditional system of health and wellbeing that developed in India thousands of years ago. Closely connected with the traditions from which Yoga emerged, Ayurveda offers a holistic and highly individual approach to understanding the body, mind, lifestyle and our relationship with the world around us.
At the heart of Ayurveda is the understanding that we are part of nature, rather than separate from it. The same elements, qualities and rhythms that we observe in the natural world can also be recognised within ourselves.
Ayurveda therefore does not offer one way of living that is right for everyone. Instead, it invites us to become curious about our own individual nature: How do I digest? How do I sleep? How do I respond to stress? What gives me energy?
What depletes me? How do the seasons affect me?
Through developing this awareness, we can begin to make conscious choices around food, daily routine, movement, Yoga, breathwork, rest and self-care that support greater balance.
Rather than waiting until we feel completely out of balance, Ayurveda encourages us to notice the smaller signs and changes within ourselves and respond accordingly.
The Foundation of Ayurveda
Ayurvedic philosophy is rooted in an understanding of the relationship between Purusha and Prakriti.
Purusha can be understood as pure consciousness or awareness — the quiet, observing presence.
Prakriti is nature — the ever-changing material world from which the body, mind and everything around us arises.
This relationship reminds us that although there is an aspect of awareness that observes our experience, our physical and mental state is constantly responding to nature, environment, food, activity, relationships, stress, age and the seasons.
Ayurveda encourages us to develop greater awareness of these influences so that we can recognise when our natural balance is beginning to shift.
The Gunas – Qualities of the Mind
All of nature, including the mind, is influenced by the three qualities known as the Gunas:
Ayurveda describes qualities within the physical body, it also recognises qualities within the mind. These are known as the three Gunas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.
All three are necessary and are constantly interacting.
Sattva represents clarity, harmony, balance, contentment and awareness. A Sattvic state may feel calm, spacious and clear.
Rajas represents movement, stimulation, activity, ambition and change. We need Rajas to take action, work, create and move forward. When excessive, however, it may be experienced as restlessness, agitation or difficulty slowing down.
Tamas represents heaviness, stability, inertia and rest. Tamas allows us to stop, sleep and restore. In excess it may contribute to feelings of lethargy, dullness or resistance to change.
The aim is not to remove Rajas or Tamas. Both have an important role. Instead, Yoga and Ayurveda encourage us to recognise these qualities and cultivate greater Sattva — clarity, balance and conscious awareness.
Our food, environment, relationships, daily activities, sleep, movement and even the information we consume can all influence the qualities of the mind.
Understanding Prakriti and Vikriti
Ayurveda understands the natural world through five fundamental elements:
Ether or Space (Akasha) – openness, expansion and the space in which things can exist.
Air (Vayu) – movement, lightness and mobility.
Fire (Agni/Tejas) – heat, transformation and change.
Water (Jala) – fluidity, cohesion and lubrication.
Earth (Prithvi) – structure, stability and solidity.
These should not simply be thought of as physical substances. They represent qualities and principles that can be observed throughout nature and within the body.
For example, we can recognise space within the cavities of the body, air within movement and breath, fire within digestion and transformation, water within bodily fluids and earth within our physical structure.
The five elements combine in different proportions to form the three Doshas — Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
The Three Doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha
The Doshas are three organising principles used within Ayurveda to understand patterns within the body and mind.
We all contain Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Ayurveda is not about putting ourselves into one fixed category. Instead, each person has their own individual relationship between all three Doshas.
Understanding their qualities can help us recognise what supports us and what may move us away from balance.
Vata (Air & Ether)
Vata is primarily associated with movement.
It is connected with breathing, circulation, movement through the digestive system, communication, sensory activity and movement of thoughts.
Its qualities are traditionally described as light, dry, cold, subtle, mobile and irregular.
When Vata is balanced, we may experience creativity, enthusiasm, flexibility and adaptability.
When Vata becomes excessive, we may notice increased restlessness, irregularity, dryness, feeling scattered or difficulty settling.
Vata is generally supported by the opposite qualities: warmth, nourishment, grounding, steadiness and regularity.
Pitta (Fire & Water)
Pitta is associated with transformation.
It is particularly connected with digestion, metabolism, temperature and our ability to process both food and experiences.
Its qualities include hot, sharp, light, spreading and slightly oily.
When balanced, Pitta may support focus, clarity, motivation, courage and good discrimination.
When excessive, those same qualities may become too intense and show themselves as overheating, irritability, frustration or an overly driven approach.
Pitta is generally supported by coolness, moderation, softness, spaciousness and adequate rest.
Kapha (Earth & Water)
Kapha is associated with structure, stability and cohesion.
It provides physical substance, lubrication, strength, endurance and steadiness.
Its qualities include heavy, slow, cool, smooth, stable and dense.
When balanced, Kapha may be experienced as calmness, patience, strength, compassion and stability.
When excessive, these qualities may become heaviness, sluggishness, stagnation or resistance to change.
Kapha is generally supported by movement, warmth, stimulation, lightness and variety.
The Five Elements
At the heart of Ayurveda is the understanding that everything in nature, including ourselves, is made up of five elements, known as the Pancha Mahabhutas.
These are Ether (Space), Air, Fire, Water and Earth.
The elements are not simply the physical substances we associate with their names. They represent different qualities, actions and energies that can be observed throughout the natural world and within our own body and mind.
Ether / Space – Akasha
Ether represents space, openness and expansion. It is the space that allows everything else to exist and move.
Within the body, we can think of space within the mouth, nostrils, digestive tract, lungs and other cavities, as well as the space that exists between structures and tissues.
On a more subtle level, space allows us room to pause, listen, reflect and simply be.
Air – Vayu
Air represents movement, lightness and change.
We see it in nature through the movement of wind, and within ourselves through breathing, circulation, movement of the body, movement through the digestive system and the continual movement of thoughts and information.
Air cannot move without space, so Air and Ether naturally work together.
Fire – Agni / Tejas
Fire represents heat, transformation and change.
In nature, fire transforms one substance into another. Within us, the qualities of fire are associated with digestion, metabolism, body temperature and our ability to transform and process what we take in.
Fire can also be understood through our mental qualities of focus, clarity, understanding and discernment.
Water – Jala
Water represents fluidity, moisture, cohesion and nourishment.
The body contains a significant amount of fluid, and the water element can be recognised within blood, lymph, digestive secretions and other bodily fluids.
Water provides lubrication and softness and helps things to come together. Its qualities can also be associated with our capacity to flow, connect and adapt.
Earth – Prithvi
Earth represents structure, solidity, stability and form.
Within the body, Earth can be recognised in the more solid structures such as bones, muscles, tissues, teeth and nails. It gives us physical substance, strength and support.
Its grounding qualities are also associated with steadiness, stability and feeling rooted.
From the Five Elements to the Doshas
The five elements do not exist independently. They are constantly interacting and combine in different proportions to create the three Doshas — Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Vata is predominantly Ether and Air — creating the principle of movement.
Pitta is predominantly Fire and Water — creating the principle of transformation.
Kapha is predominantly Water and Earth — creating the principle of structure, stability and cohesion.
All five elements, and therefore all three Doshas, are present within every one of us. What differs is their individual proportion and expression.
This is an important part of understanding Ayurveda. We are not simply “a Vata”, “a Pitta” or “a Kapha”. We are a unique combination of all five elements and all three Doshas.
These qualities are also continually influenced by our food, environment, lifestyle, age, activity, emotions and the changing seasons. By learning to recognise the qualities that are becoming more or less prominent, Ayurveda gives us a framework for understanding what may help us return towards balance.
Understanding Prakriti and Vikriti
One of the most important principles within Ayurveda is the difference between Prakriti and Vikriti.
Prakriti describes your underlying constitution — your individual balance of Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Vikriti describes your current state and how this may have shifted from your natural constitution.
Your current balance can be influenced by many things: the food you eat, your daily routine, sleep, work, stress, exercise, environment, age and the season.
This is why an Ayurvedic approach is individual. Two people experiencing something similar may require very different support because their constitution, lifestyle and the factors contributing to their imbalance may be different.
The aim is not necessarily to make all three Doshas equal. Instead, we look at your individual nature and what is happening for you now.
Like Increases Like – Opposites Create Balance
One of the simplest ways to begin understanding Ayurveda is through the principle that like increases like, while opposite qualities can help restore balance.
If life already feels fast, busy, irregular and changeable — qualities associated with Vata — adding more rushing and irregularity may increase those qualities. Creating warmth, routine, nourishment and time to slow down may provide balance.
During very hot weather, adding excessive heat, intensity and stimulation may increase Pitta. Cooling foods, gentler movement and creating more space may be more appropriate.
During a cold, damp and heavy period, where Kapha qualities are naturally stronger, warmth, movement and stimulation can provide an opposing influence.
This simple principle allows Ayurveda to become something practical that we can begin applying in everyday life.
Agni – Our Digestive Fire
A central concept within Ayurveda is Agni, often described as our digestive fire.
Agni relates not only to our ability to digest food but, within traditional Ayurvedic thinking, to our wider capacity for transformation and assimilation.
Ayurveda therefore places great importance on how we digest, rather than considering food only in terms of what we eat.
Regular appetite, comfortable digestion and elimination are traditionally regarded as signs of well-functioning Agni.
Our Agni can be influenced by what we eat, how much we eat, when we eat, our emotional state, activity, sleep and the seasons.
This is one reason why Ayurvedic food guidance is individual. A food may have wonderful nutritional qualities, but we also need to consider whether it is appropriate for the person, season and digestive capacity at that particular time.
Ama – When We Do Not Fully Process
Ayurveda uses the term Ama to describe the residue traditionally understood to arise when digestion and assimilation are incomplete.
Rather than becoming overly focused on strict cleansing or restriction, an Ayurvedic lifestyle encourages us to support the body's natural processes through appropriate food, regular meals, movement, hydration, rest and daily routines.
Learning to observe appetite, digestion, energy and elimination can help us become much more aware of how our everyday choices affect us.
Living in Rhythm with Nature
One of the aspects of Ayurveda that I particularly love is its recognition that our needs are not static.
We change throughout the day, throughout the seasons and throughout our lives.
Ayurveda encourages us to observe these natural rhythms and adapt rather than expecting our body and mind to function in exactly the same way all year round.
The Seasons
Each season carries particular qualities that can influence us.
Autumn and early winter – Vata
Cooler temperatures, wind, dryness and change can increase Vata qualities. This can be a time to introduce greater warmth, nourishment, routine and grounding.
Late winter and spring – Kapha
Coolness, dampness and heaviness may predominate. As nature begins to emerge from winter, movement, warmth and lighter foods can help us transition into spring.
Summer – Pitta
Heat, intensity and longer days increase Pitta qualities. Cooling foods, appropriate hydration, moderation and less intense practices can help create balance.
Living seasonally does not mean following rigid rules. It means noticing what nature is doing and recognising that we may need to adjust with it.
Sometimes we need energy and stimulation. At other times, the most supportive thing we can do is slow down, rest and allow the body and mind to restore.
The Ayurvedic Clock
Ayurveda also observes changing qualities throughout each 24-hour cycle.
6am–10am and 6pm–10pm – Kapha time
The qualities are naturally slower, heavier and steadier. Morning movement can help us transition into the day, while the evening Kapha period can support slowing down in preparation for sleep.
10am–2pm and 10pm–2am – Pitta time
Pitta's transformative qualities are stronger. Traditionally, the middle of the day is considered an important time for digestion and is often recommended for the main meal.
2pm–6pm and 2am–6am – Vata time
The lighter, subtler qualities of Vata become more prominent. During the afternoon this can support creativity and communication, while the early morning is traditionally associated with quiet practice, reflection and meditation.
We do not need to organise every minute of our lives around the Ayurvedic clock. Instead, it gives us another way of understanding why when we do something can sometimes be as important as what we do.
The Life Cycle
Ayurveda also recognises different qualities across our lifespan.
Childhood – Kapha
A period associated with growth, building and development.
Adulthood – Pitta
Often associated with activity, responsibility, productivity and transformation.
Later life – Vata
A stage in which the qualities of Vata naturally become more prominent, making nourishment, routine, warmth, mobility and grounding increasingly important.
Again, these are not rigid categories but a way of recognising that our needs naturally change as we move through life.
Ayurveda in Practice
Ayurveda becomes most valuable when we can take these ancient principles and apply them simply and realistically to everyday life.
It does not need to mean completely changing how you live. Often, small and consistent changes can be the most supportive.
Yoga and Movement
Our Yoga and movement practice can change according to what we need.
For someone experiencing increased Vata qualities, practice may become slower, steadier and more grounding.
For increased Pitta, we might reduce intensity and introduce a more spacious, cooling and non-competitive approach.
For Kapha, we may introduce more movement, warmth and stimulation.
This is why I believe our Yoga practice does not need to look the same every day. We can learn to practise with the body we have today rather than the body we think we should have.
Breathwork (Pranayama)
The breath provides another powerful way of observing our current state.
Before changing the breath, we can first learn to notice it. Is it fast or slow? Shallow or spacious? Smooth or irregular? Where do we feel the movement of breath within the body?
Different pranayama practices can then be selected according to the individual and what is needed at that time.
A calming, steady practice may support Vata qualities.
Cooling practices can be appropriate when Pitta and heat are predominant.
More stimulating practices may help when Kapha qualities of heaviness and lethargy are present.
Pranayama is therefore not simply about learning different breathing techniques. It is about developing awareness and understanding how and when to use them appropriately.
Self-Care and Daily Rituals
Ayurveda places considerable importance on Dinacharya — daily routine.
Simple rituals create points of stability within the day and encourage us to regularly check in with ourselves.
These might include waking and sleeping at consistent times, tongue cleaning, appropriate hydration, self-massage or Abhyanga, movement, Yoga, pranayama, meditation, quiet reflection and creating space to wind down before sleep.
Not every practice needs to be completed every day. The intention is to create a routine that is realistic, nourishing and appropriate for you.
Food and Digestion
Food is an important part of Ayurveda, but Ayurvedic eating is not simply a list of foods that are “good” or “bad”.
We consider the person, their constitution, current balance, digestive capacity, the qualities of the food, how it is prepared, the season and sometimes even the time of day.
Warm, nourishing and grounding foods may support Vata.
Cooling and less intensely spiced foods may support Pitta.
Lighter, warming and stimulating foods may support Kapha.
Ayurveda also encourages us to consider how we eat — sitting down, allowing time for the meal, eating with awareness and noticing how we feel afterwards.
The aim is to develop a more intuitive relationship with food and digestion rather than following a restrictive diet.
The Importance of Routine
Routine provides the body and mind with rhythm.
Consistent times for waking, eating, movement and sleep can be particularly supportive when life feels busy or unpredictable.
However, Ayurveda is not about creating another set of rules that we feel we have failed if we cannot follow perfectly.
Routine should support life rather than control it.
The aim is to establish enough consistency to provide stability while retaining the flexibility to respond to changing circumstances, seasons and individual needs.
Bringing Yoga and Ayurveda Together
Yoga and Ayurveda complement one another beautifully.
Ayurveda helps us to understand what may be influencing our current state, while Yoga provides practical tools through movement, breath, concentration and awareness.
Together they encourage us to become active participants in our own wellbeing.
Instead of automatically repeating the same practice, eating the same foods or following the same routine throughout the year, we can begin to ask:
What do I need today?
Do I need grounding or movement?
Warmth or cooling?
Stimulation or rest?
Structure or space?
This awareness is at the heart of my approach to both Yoga and Ayurveda.
Benefits of Ayurveda
Introducing Ayurvedic principles into everyday life can help develop greater awareness of the relationship between our lifestyle and how we feel.
People may use Ayurveda to support areas such as:
Daily and seasonal routines
Food choices and digestive wellbeing
Sleep and rest
Energy and vitality
Movement and Yoga practice
Breath awareness and pranayama
Stress management and relaxation
Self-care
Greater awareness of individual needs
Ayurveda is not about achieving a perfect state of balance. Life is constantly changing and therefore balance is something we continually respond to and work with.
Begin Your Journey
Ayurveda invites us to become curious about ourselves.
By understanding your Prakriti — your natural constitution — and Vikriti — what may be happening for you now, we can begin to explore which foods, routines, movement, breath practices and self-care approaches may be most supportive.
Small changes can often make a meaningful difference. The intention is not restriction or perfection, but to develop greater awareness and learn how to respond to your body and mind with more understanding.
Ultimately, Ayurveda is about living with greater awareness of who you are, what you need and how you relate to the natural world around you.
To find out more or book an Ayurvedic Lifestyle and Diet Consultation with Sammy-Jo, please email sammyjoyoga@gmail.com