Finding Balance in Chaos: The Ayurvedic Way
Learn how Ayurveda can empower you to embrace your unique self and create a foundation for long-term health and wellbeing. Join us on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and balance through the lens of Ayurveda.
Why Ayurveda and How It Can Benefit Us in Our Busy, Hustle-Bustle Life
To answer that question, let's first understand what Ayurveda is. Ayurveda, in the Indian Sanskrit language, translates to the science of life. "Ayur" means life, and "Veda" means wisdom. Ayurveda is unique from other medical sciences because it recognizes that each person has a unique body type and a unique psychological personality. It considers all levels of a person, including emotional, spiritual, intellectual, behavioral, physical, familial, social, environmental, and universal levels.
Today, with all the noise around us and the multitude of information floating around from new and old concepts, it becomes challenging to focus your energy on understanding what to follow and how to implement new practices into your day-to-day life. Each specialized science has a lot to offer, and it can be overwhelming.
Ayurveda, as one of the oldest medicinal systems that originated in the Indian subcontinent, has always focused on all aspects of life. This is why it is known for its holistic approach. It doesn’t just involve a type of food, herbs, teas, and formulations; it involves the willingness and faith of the individual. It’s a partnership between a practitioner and a Rogi (patient) that aims to provide the inner environment to enable the inner healer within every individual.
Since Ayurveda respects the uniqueness of each individual, it becomes more important than ever to get the right information from this science to gain real knowledge about its principles. Ayurveda not only offers ways to treat diseases and promote health, but it also emphasizes prevention. It empowers everyone to take responsibility for their wellbeing. If you learn how Ayurveda explains to live life in sync with the circadian rhythm of life, it can do wonders for your wellbeing.
Understanding Life Through the Lens of Ayurveda
To understand life from the lens of Ayurveda, one must first understand the building blocks of the physical form of life. Everything in the physical world is composed of five fundamental building blocks of nature called Mahabhutas. Everything in the universe is made up of different combinations of these Mahabhutas. The five Mahabhutas, also known as Panch Mahabhutas (five elements), are:
Akash (Space)
Vayu (Air)
Agni (Fire)
Jal (Water)
Prithvi (Earth)
Akash is the most subtle element, while Prithvi is the grossest element. The denser elements have subtler elements infused within them. All natural things consist of Panchamahabhutas, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, plants, herbs, sand, rocks, animals, and humans. These Mahabhutas with opposite qualities are used in treatment protocols to maintain or restore balance. For example, to lose weight (heaviness is a quality of the earth element), Ayurveda might recommend incorporating lighter foods, which could be predominantly composed of air elements. Conversely, to gain weight or muscle, it might suggest grounding, heavy foods such as nuts, seeds, or root vegetables.
The Tridoshas: Governing All Functions in the Body
Modern medicine is based on the structure of the body, while Ayurveda is mainly based on the energies behind that structure. The five Mahabhutas give rise to three doshas, or Tridoshas:
Vata - made of Air and Space (Vayu and Akash)
Pitta - made of Fire and Water (Agni and Jal)
Kapha - made of Water and Earth (Jal and Prithvi)
Each of us has a unique combination of these bioenergies, which govern our physical and mental characteristics. These three bioenergies form the unique constitution of an individual, determined by the specific combination of doshas they are born with, known as their Prakruti. When these doshas are in balance, we experience optimal health. However, when they go out of balance—due to stress, poor diet, lack of sleep, or environmental factors—disease and discomfort can manifest. Ayurveda treatments focus on restoring balance to these bioenergies when they become imbalanced and start manifesting disease conditions in the body. In my next blog, I will share more insights about the doshas and their role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of an individual.
The Importance of Ahara (Food) in Ayurveda
Ahara, or food, is one of the three pillars that maintain life according to Ayurveda. How, when, and what we eat are equally important. Ayurveda provides basic dietary guidelines for choosing the right food, combining foods, the cooking method, and the quality and quantity of food. Truly, food is your best medicine.
As we discussed earlier, everything in the universe is made up of permutations and combinations of the five elements. One should consume food according to their unique constitution.
Prakriti (The Nature of Food): Each food has definite, inherent qualities. Understanding these qualities, such as hot, cold, oily, sour, astringent, or dry, helps in selecting the right food that meets our body’s needs. For example, someone suffering from obesity or diabetes, conditions associated with more water and earth elements, should avoid heavy, oily, or gooey foods like cheese, dairy, sugar, or processed wheat products. A person experiencing gas or bloating should avoid foods that increase the air element, such as potatoes, peas, beans, and popcorn.
Desha (Habitat): Desha refers to the place where food is grown, and the quality of the food differs based on the soil and climate. Locally grown products are best suited for people living in that region. For example, in Kerala, coconut is locally grown, and coconut oil is the main oil used in cooking.
Kala (Time): To maintain health and benefit from fruits and vegetables, one should eat them in their natural season. Seasonal foods are digested better by the body. In summer, when the fire element (Pitta) increases, consuming sweet, cold, liquid foods like watermelon, melons, and buttermilk can be beneficial.
Samayoga (Combinations): Combining ingredients can result in new properties and chemical constituents. Ayurveda advises ensuring that all food ingredients are compatible with each other. For instance, turmeric and milk together can help with cold and cough, while milk and fish, having opposite qualities, should not be eaten together.
As we navigate the busy, modern world, Ayurveda offers timeless wisdom that helps us stay grounded, focused, and in harmony with ourselves. It teaches us to slow down and listen to our bodies, reminding us that true health isn’t just about how we look on the outside; it’s about how we feel on the inside—balanced, connected, and in tune with the rhythms of life.
If you're looking to bring more balance, peace, and vitality into your life, Ayurveda might just be the path you’ve been searching for. It’s not a quick fix or a fleeting trend—it’s a journey of self-discovery, healing, and empowerment that can lead to a deeper, more fulfilling life.

