At Sunshine Ayurveda, we believe true wellness begins with self-awareness—of your body, mind, constitution, and how you’re affected by the world around you. Ayurveda, India’s ancient system of natural healing, offers the wisdom to understand your inner blueprint and achieve lasting health by aligning with nature.
This page will introduce you to the core principles of Ayurveda—what it is, how it works, and why it is so deeply personal and powerful.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda comes from Sanskrit:
Ayus = life
Veda = science or knowledge
Together, Ayurveda means “the science of life.”
It is a complete healing system that teaches us how to live in harmony with nature—preventing illness, promoting vitality, and treating disease by bringing the body, mind, and spirit into balance.
What Are the Objectives of Ayurveda?
The ancient Ayurvedic texts state:
“Swasthasya swasthya rakshanam, aturasya vikara prashamanam cha.”
– Charaka Samhita
Meaning:
To maintain the health of the healthy
To heal the illness of the sick
Ayurveda is both preventive and curative, focused on restoring your natural state—not just relieving symptoms.
What is the Principle of Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is based on the understanding that we are all made of nature’s elements—and each of us is unique in how we express them. The fundamental principles include:
The Five Great Elements (Pancha Mahabhutas)
The Three Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)
The Three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas)
Your Mind-Body Constitution (Prakriti)
The concept of Balance and Imbalance
Together, these form the foundation of your Ayurvedic journey.
The Five Elements – Pancha Mahabhutas
All of creation is made of five elements. They’re not literal substances, but energetic principles present in everything, including our bodies.
| Element | Sanskrit | Present In | Governs | Sense Organ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ether | Akasha | Body spaces, throat, chest | Communication, openness | Hearing (Ears) |
| Air | Vayu | Breath, motion, joints | Movement, flexibility | Touch (Skin) |
| Fire | Tejas | Digestion, eyes, metabolism | Heat, transformation | Vision (Eyes) |
| Water | Apas | Blood, lymph, saliva | Flow, cohesion | Taste (Tongue) |
| Earth | Prithvi | Bones, muscles, flesh | Stability, structure | Smell (Nose) |
Your unique balance of these elements shapes your body type, mental tendencies, and even how you respond to seasons, food, and emotions.
What Are Gunas? – The 20 Qualities of Nature
Gunas are pairs of opposing qualities present in everything—food, thoughts, weather, body, and disease.
| Guna Pair | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Heavy (Guru) / Light (Laghu) | Grounding vs Uplifting |
| Hot (Ushna) / Cold (Shita) | Stimulating vs Cooling |
| Oily (Snigdha) / Dry (Ruksha) | Nourishing vs Drying |
| Stable (Sthira) / Mobile (Sara) | Calm vs Restless |
| Soft (Mridu) / Hard (Kathina) | Gentle vs Rigid |
| Smooth (Shlakshna) / Rough (Khara) | Fluid vs Abrasive |
| Dull (Manda) / Sharp (Tikshna) | Slow vs Intense |
| Sticky (Picchila) / Clear (Vishada) | Congesting vs Clarifying |
| Subtle (Sukshma) / Gross (Sthula) | Penetrating vs Obvious |
| Dense (Sandra) / Liquid (Drava) | Solid vs Flowing |
Key Principle:
Like increases like. Opposites bring balance.
Understanding these qualities helps you balance your body and mind by adjusting your food, lifestyle, and environment.
What Are the Doshas?
The Doshas are energies formed by combinations of the five elements. They govern every biological and mental function in the body.
Vata (Air + Ether)
Governs movement, communication, nervous system
Qualities: Light, dry, cold, mobile
When imbalanced: Anxiety, constipation, insomnia
Pitta (Fire + Water)
Governs digestion, metabolism, heat
Qualities: Hot, sharp, oily
When imbalanced: Inflammation, anger, acidity
Kapha (Earth + Water)
Governs structure, lubrication, immunity
Qualities: Heavy, slow, cool, stable
When imbalanced: Lethargy, weight gain, congestion
Each person is born with a unique dosha combination, called Prakriti. This is your mind-body constitution—your Ayurvedic blueprint.
🧠 What Are the Gunas of the Mind? – The Trigunas
While doshas shape your body, Trigunas influence your mental state:
| Guna | Nature | Mental State |
|---|---|---|
| Sattva | Clarity, harmony | Wisdom, joy, peace |
| Rajas | Activity, drive | Restlessness, desire, ambition |
| Tamas | Inertia, darkness | Confusion, laziness, denial |
The goal in Ayurveda is to increase Sattva, while reducing excess Rajas and Tamas for a calm, healthy, and joyful mind.
Why Is Knowing Your Constitution Important?
Your constitution (Prakriti) helps you:
Understand your physical and emotional tendencies
Make food and lifestyle choices that support balance
Prevent disease by catching early signs of imbalance
Heal naturally through personalised guidance
Knowing your Prakriti is the first step to living in harmony with your nature.
What Is Imbalance?
When doshas go out of their natural proportion due to diet, stress, weather, or habits, imbalance (Vikriti) occurs.
This leads to early symptoms like fatigue, bloating, mood swings—or eventually, disease.
Health = Balance
Disease = Imbalance
Ayurvedic treatment is about identifying imbalances early, clearing toxins, and restoring natural function.
What Is an Ayurvedic Consultation?
An Ayurvedic consultation is your personalised roadmap to wellness.
Our expert Ayurvedic doctors assess:
Your Prakriti (natural constitution)
Your Vikriti (current imbalances)
Your lifestyle, diet, digestion, sleep, and emotional health
You’ll receive:
Personalised diet & lifestyle plan
Herbal and detox recommendations
Guidance on how to restore balance naturally
Find Your Dosha – Take the Quiz!
Want to know your dosha type?
Take our free online Dosha Quiz to get an idea of your constitution and any imbalances you may be experiencing.
👉 Click here to take the Dosha Quiz
Remember: while a quiz offers helpful insights, a professional consultation provides accurate diagnosis and tailored healing advice.
Begin Your Ayurvedic Journey Today
Understanding your five elements, gunas, doshas, and inner makeup is the first step in aligning with your natural state of health.
At Sunshine Ayurveda, we are here to support you with years of authentic clinical experience. Whether you’re just beginning or deepening your Ayurvedic lifestyle, we invite you to explore, ask questions, and begin your healing journey with us.
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