So my husband and I are embarking on this trip to India and I’m finally getting excited about it. After attending a wedding in Mumbai, we’ll travel to the foothills of the Himalaya to participate in the yoga program at Ananda Spa.
Since I’ve been practicing yoga for years, I’m not too concerned about the physical stuff ahead. I’m super-curious, however, about the ayurvedic treatments and cuisine we’ll be experiencing. Beyond the few books I’ve read on alternative medicine, I know little about ayurveda. Basically it’s an ancient health system that’s still used in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Translated into English, ayurveda loosely means “science of life,” and its goal is to keep you in physical, mental, and spiritual harmony.
The ayurvedic menu at Ananda Spa has been designed to balance the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The doshas are roughly similar to our ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph body types, but they’re even more detailed, taking into consideration the shape of the face, skin type, hair, eyes, and temperament. Everyone is a mix of the three, but one dosha is predominant. If the doshas are balanced, you’ll enjoy good health, if not, you’re basically screwed.
I took a quick look at the list of characteristics of all three doshas. Yes, I’m ambitious like Pitta, and stubborn like Kapha, but I appear to be mostly Vata: I have pale skin, I eat small quantities of food frequently, I’m anxious, and I’m also very active. Madonna, reportedly a devout ayurvedic follower, just got back from a trip to India; I wonder if her doshas are in balance.
Once you know which dosha you align with, your ayurvedic practitioner will help you get in harmony through your food choices. To balance a Vata dosha, for example, you’re apparently supposed to eat mostly warm foods, such as soups, stews, warm milk, warm cereals, and baked bread (cream and butter are on the list too). And Vatas are advised to avoid cold foods, such as salads, iced drinks, and raw vegetables and greens. Hmm … doesn’t sound ideal for someone who is lactose-intolerant and loves her veggies.
As a dietitian trained in the art and science of moderation and the theory that all foods can fit, ruling out entire food groups is contradictory to my beliefs. But I’ll try to be less Kapha and more Pitta and roll with it. If it’s at all possible for me to look like Madge when I’m close to 50, I’m down with it.
Comments (0)