Āyurveda

Introduction and founding principles

The word āyurveda, of Sanskrit origin, translates literally as « the science of life » or « the knowledge of longevity » (āyus meaning life or longevity, and veda science or knowledge). Born in India, this holistic system of traditional medicine rests on a textual and practical tradition several thousand years old.

Its founding aim is to preserve, or to restore, the balance between body and mind. Āyurveda rests on the interplay of the five elements of nature: Ether (space), Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Present in varying proportions in each individual, these elements combine to form three vital energies, or biological forces, called doṣas: Vāta, Pitta and Kapha.

The three Doṣas

They arise from the combination of the five great elements: Ether (space), Air, Fire, Water and Earth.

1. Vāta (air and ether / space)

• Principle: the energy of movement.
• Role: it governs breathing, the circulation of the blood, the nervous system and thought.
• Characteristics: people in whom Vāta predominates are often slender, quick, creative and full of enthusiasm, but prone to anxiety and to dryness when out of balance.

2. Pitta (fire and water)

• Principle: the energy of transformation and of metabolism.
• Role: it handles digestion, the assimilation of food, the temperature of the body and the intellect.
• Characteristics: Pitta types show good leadership, courage, strong ambition and quick digestion, but may become quick-tempered or suffer inflammation when out of balance.

3. Kapha (earth and water)

• Principle: the energy of structure, cohesion and stability.
• Role: it forms the tissues of the body, lubricates the joints and maintains immunity.
• Characteristics: Kapha types are marked by calm, compassion, solid physical strength and soft skin, but risk lethargy or weight gain in excess.

The therapeutic pillars of Indian medicine

To maintain this balance, the tradition draws on a set of complementary practices:

• Āyurvedic diet: foods are classified precisely by their taste (rasa), their thermal energy (vīrya) and their post-digestive effect (vipāka).
• Herbal medicine and aromatherapy: the therapeutic use of plants and oils is determined by their correspondence with the five states of matter.
• Āyurvedic massage: these bodily treatments are individual, adapted to a person’s constitution and to the predominance of their doṣas.
• Sound therapies: music inspired by nature, or the chanting of mantras (sacred phrases), seeks to reharmonise a person’s vibrations and energetic frequencies.
• Crystal therapy: crystals and precious stones applied to specific energy points are held to regulate the subtle currents and rebalance the doṣas.

These therapies are commonly completed by other major Vedic disciplines: the postural practice of Haṭha Yoga, the mastery of breath through Prāṇāyāma, and deep meditation (Dhyāna).

The purifying role of water, and the handling of toxins

In the āyurvedic view, boiled water drunk while still warm is considered a powerful carrier of prāṇa, the subtle energy of life. It plays an essential therapeutic role in mobilising and clearing āma (आम). This Sanskrit word means literally what is « undigested », « uncooked » or « raw ». Āma stands for the metabolic residues and toxins gathered in the organism through unsuitable food, stress or environmental strain.

What is the relation between āyurveda and Ashtanga Yoga?

The relation between āyurveda and Ashtanga Yoga rests on the ideas of Dinacaryā (the daily routine) and Ṛtucaryā (the seasonal routine). These two sister disciplines, both born of the Vedas, work together to balance the doṣas through movement, timing and nourishment.  

1. Rhythm: the hour of practice

Ashtanga Yoga is traditionally practised at sunrise, during the Vāta hours of the morning (2 a.m. to 6 a.m.) or at the very start of the Kapha hours (6 a.m. to 10 a.m.).

• Drawing on Vāta: practising before six in the morning uses the lightness and clarity of Vāta to ease waking and concentration.
• Countering Kapha: the dynamic, intense nature of the first series of Ashtanga (Yoga Cikitsā) clears the heaviness, lethargy and mucus gathered during the night — all characteristic of Kapha.

2. Season: adapting the intensity

Ashtanga is a fixed practice, but its intensity should follow the seasons so as not to aggravate the doṣas.

• In winter and spring (Kapha season, cold Vāta): practise fluidly and dynamically, to warm the body, stimulate the metabolism and clear stagnation.
• In summer (Pitta season): the fire (Agni) is already high. To avoid overheating and irritation, moderate the effort, slow the rhythm of the vinyāsa and give attention to the ujjāyī breath.

3. Food: supporting the digestive fire (Agni)

A rigorous Ashtanga practice asks for an efficient digestive system and a light body.

• Practising on an empty stomach: Ashtanga must be practised with an empty stomach, so that the energy of blood and muscle can gather in the postures without disturbing digestion.
• A sattvic diet: āyurveda recommends that yoga practitioners eat vegetarian, fresh and organic food. It nourishes the deep tissues (dhātu) without creating toxins (āma).
• Balancing the doṣas: an Ashtanga practitioner purifies the body through sweat, which activates Pitta. Afterwards this should be balanced with hydrating, restoring foods — organic ghee, or warm almond milk with gentle spices.

International recognition by the WHO

The World Health Organization officially recognises āyurveda as a complete system of traditional Indian medicine. This international standing was built through several key stages:

• 1982: the WHO first formally recognises āyurveda as a traditional health system to be developed, valued and studied.
• 2010: the WHO publishes the first standardised global guidelines for training and teaching in āyurveda.
• 2022: India inaugurates the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine at Jamnagar, Gujarat, sealing the alliance between ancestral knowledge and modern scientific research.