Instead of “catching something”, like a cold, a disease, or mental state, Ayurveda sees illness, as a manifestation of imbalance. Rather than immediately using medicine to treat the problem, Ayureda moves deeper in, addressing the root causes, not only the symptoms; whether it be physical, energetic or emotional. The treatments often consist of working with lifestyle choices, body therapies and inner energies to create health. You may have heard of your Ayurvedic Type, or Dosha, a combination of elements that are found in all things. Ayurvedic belief is that each of us has a unique constitution, yet underneath we are all connected. This unique constitution leads us each to have a different way of creating balance, and healing in our lives. The 3 dosha’s are Vata (air/space), Pitta (fire/water) and Kapha (water/earth). A person, with more vata, energy may be thinner, very talkative, anxious, or “airy”. A person with lots of Pitta energy may be very athletic, goal oriented, fiery and generous. Kapha energy is more soft, and slow, exhibiting itself as sweet, easy going, heavier, and sometimes lazy. It is important to remember that in the west we often exhibit imbalances, so what Dosha we think we are, may in actuality be an imbalance that we have created over years of patterning, and living a certain way. These dosha’s are connected to everything, from seasons, to times of day, from the emotional body, to the physical. To discover your Dosha, and what your imbalances may be, visit an Ayurvedic Practitioner, who will take your pulse, look at your tongue, and even your natal birth chart. They may prescribe you any number of things, from shifts in diet, to some yoga asana’s; starting small, to make big changes in your health and your happiness. Ayurveda relates to all things, affecting us on all different levels. Bringing balance as we create space in our lives and beings for peace, routine, and energy to discover who it is we are and what it is we need.