Ayurveda is an ancient art of staying in the best of health along with a daily regime of a balanced lifestyle. Established by Indian monks about 5,000-6,000 years back, it was discovered to teach people to preserve their health and make them physically, emotionally and spiritually strong. Ayurveda describes energy to be a building block of every individual and define it into three types; Vata, Kapha and Pitta Dosha.
Dosha’s are defined as the energy that a person possesses all three is different magnitude which determines their pattern of thinking, working and living. Ayurveda believes that each one of us has a different way of life and should understand our doshas and follow them rigorously for healthier and stabilized lifestyle. In this article, we will discuss about the people pursuing the kapha constitution of life, suitable diet for them and their favourable way of living.
Are you Kapha Dominant?
Kapha dosha has a quality which is reflected in the elements water and the earth. It is an energy which controls the growth of the body. It is the supplier of water throughout the body, resulting in moisturized skin and a well maintained immune system. People with a dominant kapha have heavy build physically along with oily skin type. They are easy going, stable and rational by nature and prefer warm and dry climates. When in balance, kapha gives rise to love and forgiveness emotionally.
In accordance with Ayurveda, increase in Kapha causes an increase in mucus build up, sluggish digestion, weight gain, water retention and procrastination with excessive sleep. An imbalanced kapha can lead to the sense of envy and insecurity in an individual. Thus, it is vital to keep a check on it and take proper care and precautions to keep Kapha in balanced level. Pacifying kapha can help you maintain a steady balance in your daily routine and there are techniques mentioned below that can help you attain so.
Kapha Diet Plan
You should avoid having a late breakfast and make sure that it is not heavy. Choose the ingredients that are light, spicy, warm and low fat diet. You can indulge in eating a number of boiled, steamed raw veggies. Have plenty of green vegetables on your menu. Grains such as oats, rye, millets, wheat bran and corn are advisable to consume as they are light and healthy. Spices are encouraged in the case of an out of balance kapha. Involve salt, garlic, black pepper, turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, basil, garlic, paprika and cloves in your diet for an increase in the intake of spices. Take butter free milk in the morning and replace the sugar with honey. Add a pinch of peppermint and cinnamon in your daily tea for further increased benefits. Avoid eating fish, sugarcane, coconut water, new rice, cold eatables and harmful habits such as overeating. To boost your internal metabolism, you can take 75 to 150 grams of Guggul in a day as it greatly helps to control kapha troubles.
Lifestyle Measures to Pacify Kapha
Ayurveda gives a properly aligned dietary regime for maintaining kapha. Poor circulation is a result of out of balance kapha. You can perform garshana, or dry body massage, which stimulates the body from within. To implement the massage correctly, raw silk gloves and loofah are used. This exercise improves the circulation in the body.
Physical exercise like jogging, hiking and biking does wonders to keep kapha in order. You can even learn a new form of martial art. Having an energetic lifestyle promotes lightening effect to your mind, body and soul altogether. Indulging into a habit of abhyanga or self-massaging with ½ or 1 cup of warm sesame oil, before taking a bath is also quite beneficial. Relaxation exercises such as yoga, meditation and listening to subtle music can steadily improve the state of kapha in your body.