Ayurveda, meaning "science of life", is a vast body of knowledge brought into this world by the ancient seers, or rishis, of India. The wisdom expressed by Ayurveda has maintained its truth and integrity as it has been passed down through the ages, and is as relevant and useful today as it was thousands of years ago.
Within the human being is a reflection of the universe; the elements which weave together to support life in the outer natural world also sustain life within our being. By the mere fact of being alive, we are engaging in a moment-to-moment dance with the five elements of air, fire, water, earth, and ether. Ayurveda teaches us that three subtle forces of energy, or doshas, are in a dynamic relationship in our bodies, and that balancing these energies in accordance with our unique and individual constitution (prakruti) is the key to health and vitality.
The doshas are a combination of elements and are as follows: vata is a combination of the air and ether elements and relates to all movements of the body and mind; pitta is a combination of the fire and water elements and relates to the metabolic processes of the physical body; and kapha is a combination of the earth and water elements and relates to the physical structure and hydration of the body.
As a sidenote, priya of Priya Ayurveda is a business name only, not indicative of the type of ayurvedic services offered. Priya is a sanskrit word meaning "beloved" or "dear" and is also a type of arabian jasmine flower. Jasmine is used as an essential oil by Ayurvedic practitioner, Linda Dobranowski, in her skin and body care service, a life work truly dear and beloved to her. At Priya Ayurveda Skin & Body Care, located in downtown Sacramento, CA, all applications to the skin are completely natural, organic, chemical-free and preservative-free, matched to the individual client's constitution and skin type.
For more detailed information on Ayruveda, and in order to determine your own prakruti, please refer to the resource link.
