What's is a Dosha, how do I find out mine, and how can this help me?

[Chandler Stephon Armstrong]

I've learned a very little bit about what ayurveda teaches about the five elements in nature: air, space, fire, water and earth, and how each dosha is a combination of these elements. Vata is air and space. Pitta is fire and water. Kapha is water and earth. Since we have all 5 elements, I understand that these three doshas exist in each of us, as is as unique as our finger print! How can A find out mine? Does it change or remain the same throughout my life? I undertstand that living in harmony with my dosha is important, how can I do this.

[Tova]

hi Chandler,
you can find out what your dosha is by doing the following:
visit this basic site, it will give you a very generalized view of what your doshas look like today: www.whatsyourdosha.com or you can visit: http://doshaquiz.chopra.com/

A dosha literally means stain or that which goes out of balance. It is important to know that we are all created at birth with our very own constitution or Prakriti. This however, does change as we grow, due to the effects of our diet, daily routines and lifestyle...this will result in a very different picture of what your doshas are doing in your body, which presents you with your vikriti. Your vikriti is basically your constitution out of balance. every person is created with all doshas affecting the body. each season of the year will have a "doshic predominance" and it will affect your body. there are certain hours of the day that are also "doshic predominant" ...what's important to understand is that we have to listen to what our bodies are telling us every day, and address that "symptom" or "dosha" accordingly.

I hope I could be some help! if you want to know more, I would love to share!

[Chandler Stephon Armstrong]

That was very helpful, I'll look at the site to learn more. I'm also interested in the various Pranayama Breathing Techniques, I took some training on learning the cycles of the elements or Tattvas about 20 years ago, and how different breaths could used, but didn't keep up the practice. It was very effective, and I still use some of the very basic technqiues, but would love to learn more.

Tova said:

hi Chandler,
you can find out what your dosha is by doing the following:
visit this basic site, it will give you a very generalized view of what your doshas look like today: www.whatsyourdosha.com or you can visit: http://doshaquiz.chopra.com/

A dosha literally means stain or that which goes out of balance. It is important to know that we are all created at birth with our very own constitution or Prakriti. This however, does change as we grow, due to the effects of our diet, daily routines and lifestyle...this will result in a very different picture of what your doshas are doing in your body, which presents you with your vikriti. Your vikriti is basically your constitution out of balance. every person is created with all doshas affecting the body. each season of the year will have a "doshic predominance" and it will affect your body. there are certain hours of the day that are also "doshic predominant" ...what's important to understand is that we have to listen to what our bodies are telling us every day, and address that "symptom" or "dosha" accordingly.

I hope I could be some help! if you want to know more, I would love to share!

[Tova]

I don't know about the pranayama breathing techniques in relation to the tattvas, however i'm sure you'd be able to find out more about pranayama breathing from a yoga teacher. I learned a lot of what I know from going to courses on Ayurveda. There might be a school or teacher in your area, and I do know that my teacher does remote classes for those interested in learning more.

[Brenda Feuerstein]

Hi Chandler,

In regards to finding out what your dosha is, I would highly recommend the foremost leader in the field of Ayurveda which is Vasant Lad. He has an amazing site and under resources you will find numerous articles of interest. http://www.ayurveda.com/index.html

Additionally, I would like to add that it is best to study pranayama with a Yoga teacher or an Ayurvedic doctor or educator to be sure the technique you are using is correct. There are a couple of very good books on pranayama that I recommend to students which might be of interest to you since it seems like it may be a matter of refreshing your bodily memory from your past studies.


Love and Light,
Brenda Feuerstein
http://www.traditionalyogastudies.com

Chandler Stephon Armstrong said:

That was very helpful, I'll look at the site to learn more. I'm also interested in the various Pranayama Breathing Techniques, I took some training on learning the cycles of the elements or Tattvas about 20 years ago, and how different breaths could used, but didn't keep up the practice. It was very effective, and I still use some of the very basic technqiues, but would love to learn more.

Tova said:

hi Chandler,
you can find out what your dosha is by doing the following:
visit this basic site, it will give you a very generalized view of what your doshas look like today: www.whatsyourdosha.com or you can visit: http://doshaquiz.chopra.com/

A dosha literally means stain or that which goes out of balance. It is important to know that we are all created at birth with our very own constitution or Prakriti. This however, does change as we grow, due to the effects of our diet, daily routines and lifestyle...this will result in a very different picture of what your doshas are doing in your body, which presents you with your vikriti. Your vikriti is basically your constitution out of balance. every person is created with all doshas affecting the body. each season of the year will have a "doshic predominance" and it will affect your body. there are certain hours of the day that are also "doshic predominant" ...what's important to understand is that we have to listen to what our bodies are telling us every day, and address that "symptom" or "dosha" accordingly.

I hope I could be some help! if you want to know more, I would love to share!