What even is Ayurveda?

The Three Doshas and Their Elements

I’ve always been into self-help for both mind and body. Back before Google and wellness influencers, I would spend hours browsing the self-help section of bookstores—especially in health food stores and those mystical little metaphysical shops with too much incense. That’s where I first stumbled upon Ayurveda.

I picked up a book called A Life of Balance by Maya Tiwari, having no idea what Ayurveda was—let alone how to pronounce it. But as I flipped through the pages, I was fascinated. The book had the classic “this changed my life” intro, followed by a deep dive into the concepts, laid out in a way that actually made sense.

That book sparked something.

Fast forward nearly 30 years, and I’m still exploring Ayurveda—only now, I’m making it official. Last year, I enrolled in an Ayurvedic Counselor training program, which is both thrilling and a lot. It’s a dream come true, though, and I can’t wait to share what I’m learning. I’ll be documenting my journey here, including what it’s like to incorporate Ayurvedic practices into daily life. Because, my friends, Ayurveda is way more than just flossing.

In the meantime, let’s answer a big question that came up last weekend.

I was talking to a friend—dropping terms like “dosha” and “Vata imbalance” like it was common knowledge—when she stopped me and asked:

"Wait... what actually is Ayurveda?"

Good question. Let’s break it down.

Ayurveda: The Basics

Some people might think Ayurveda is a health trend, linked to yoga and crystal healing. But nothing could be further from the truth. Ayurveda is a holistic system of health and healing that’s been around for over 5,000 years. It originated in India and spread through cultural exchanges like the expansion of Buddhism into Tibet and China, and even Alexander the Great’s invasion of India.

At its core, Ayurveda is based on a simple but powerful idea: health isn’t just about fixing problems when they show up—it’s about living in a way that keeps your body, mind, and spirit balanced so that problems don’t show up in the first place.

Sounds logical, right? But here’s where it gets even cooler: Ayurveda recognizes that we’re all different. There’s no single “best” diet, morning routine, or workout. Instead, Ayurveda helps you figure out what works for your body based on your unique constitution—aka, your dosha.

What’s a Dosha?

In Ayurveda, everything—including you, me, and your friend who is always running late—is made up of three energies, or doshas:

• Vata (Air + Space) – Creative, energetic, spontaneous… but also prone to anxiety, cold hands, and forgetting to eat lunch.

• Pitta (Fire + Water) – Passionate, focused, driven… but also easily irritated, overheated, and the person most likely to send a strongly worded email.

• Kapha (Earth + Water) – Grounded, nurturing, calm… but also susceptible to sluggishness, emotional eating, and hitting snooze one too many times.

We all have a mix of all three doshas, but most of us have one or two dominant ones. When those get out of balance, so do we. Ayurveda helps bring things back into harmony through food, lifestyle habits, and daily routines that counteract the imbalance —like eating warm, grounding foods if you’re feeling scattered (Vata imbalance) or avoiding spicy food if you’re already running hot (Pitta overload).

But is Ayurveda Just About Food?

Nope. Food is important, but Ayurveda is really about how you live your life. It covers everything from sleep habits to self-care to the best time of day to exercise. It even has thoughts on pooping (yes, really—your digestion is kind of a big deal).

More importantly, Ayurveda isn’t about rigid rules or guilt-tripping yourself over eating a cupcake. It’s about awareness. If you eat something that makes you feel like garbage, Ayurveda doesn’t say, “Shame on you.” It says, “Huh. Interesting. What can we learn from that? How did that make you feel? Would you do it again?”

Haha, yes. Yes I would. But I might drink ginger tea with it to help aid digestion.

Why Should You Care?

If you’ve ever felt exhausted for no reason, bloated all the time, or like your body and mind just aren’t syncing up, Ayurveda can help. It’s about tuning into your body and actually listening to what it needs, instead of forcing it into someone else’s idea of “healthy.”

And the best part? You don’t have to be perfect. Ayurveda is a lifelong practice, not a quick fix. You can start small—maybe adding warm lemon water in the morning or noticing how different foods make you feel. Little by little, you’ll start to see patterns, and you’ll learn how to give your body what it actually needs.

So no, Ayurveda isn’t a trend. It’s ancient wisdom that’s been helping people feel their best for thousands of years. And the best way to see if it works?

Try it for yourself.

As I continue my Ayurvedic training, I’ll be sharing more on this blog about daily practices (dinacharya)—the little habits that can make a big difference in how we feel. I’m also creating an online community where we can come together to learn, experiment with Ayurveda, and yes, commiserate about the challenges of sticking to a routine. Change can be tough, but when we support each other, it gets a whole lot easier (and way more fun). Let’s build a life that feels balanced, nourishing, and actually enjoyable—together.

Stay tuned for the community launch coming soon!