The Path of Ayurveda Leads to Self-Love

Ayurveda helps you seek the deep peace and love that exists within you.  It is a journey to find your perfect self - what you truly are! Its goal is to connect our little self (jiva-atman) to our true self (paramatman).

Here’s how it helps. Ayurveda helps us identify our true self through the doshas or the elementals qualities: Vata (air, ether), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (earth, water). Every person is born with a unique mix of these doshas. These doshas defines the shape and size of our body, our mental and emotional tendencies, likes and dislikes, and our overall personality. Discovering our natural mind-body constitution (Prakruti), helps us know who we are, and that we were born to exist in the world uniquely, leads to self-acceptance. It makes you realize your wholeness.

Once we know our Ayurvedic Prakruti, we can identify our imbalances (Vikruti), which are manifested in the body as diseases. For example, obesity, laziness and dullness are all symptoms of Kapha imbalance. Similarly, jealousy, anger, and acne are symptoms of Pitta imbalance; and inability to focus, constipation, and joint pain are all symptoms of Vata imbalance.

Once we completely understand our mind-body constitution and the symptoms of imbalance, Ayurveda explains that our imbalances are not inherent flaws, but they are here just because of our unhealthy lifestyle choices or the environment around us. It lays out for us step-by-step plan, where we can start taking the necessary action towards healing.

Self-Love is Self-Care

Ayurveda provides us with actionable insights into practicing self-care. This includes creating a simple daily routine and a lifestyle that revolves around self-love. If you plan on working towards balance and health, here are some tips that can help you:

  • Mind-body constitution - specific diet

  • Maintain a strict and consistent sleep schedule

  • 30-60 minutes daily yoga routine

  • A few minutes of meditation everyday

  • Daily self-massage with oil

  • Walks in nature

  • Include herbal medicines to pacify excess doshas

Most importantly, practice gratitude, kindness, and ahimsa (no harm), especially towards yourself. Find and understand something that brings you joy and gives you pleasure — every day. The more you love yourself, the more you can give to others.

Ayurveda guides us back to the foundational belief that we are wonderfully worthy, completely perfect, and entirely lovable, exactly as we are.

Feel free to reach out to me for customized daily routines that suit you and get you on the path of betterment.

Ayurveda can be your gateway to self-love!

Dr. Ranjana Chawla