Constitution Work
I was drawn to Ayurveda, primarily because homegirl loves a quiz/personality assessment. Always have. Enter the doshas. The doshas are essentially the most digestable Ayurvedic concept for our society. Maybe it’s validation, or being seen. Whatever it is…it just makes sense and feels good. If you haven’t heard of the doshas- click here- for my attempt at doshic spark notes… But having this idea of who we actually are- that’s the benefit of understanding the doshas. To be able to draw connections between the five basic elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether) and how you are comprised of all of them within a unique ratio is pure knowledge gold. To know who you are, how you are and why you are is the foundation you need to actually make sustainable, aligned change.
I remember being at Costco with my mom when I was a teenager and seeing the Mediteranean Diet cook book. I begged her to buy it for me. And as we were leaving I also begged her for a piece of pizza. Talk about an internal conflict… Yes, already obsessing over diets, but also having ZERO self control in regards to diet. I could do a whole deep dive on this, but for another day. The point is, beyond the wrecking ball that was body image issues of the 90’s, I wanted to change. I wanted to make changes, we were told we should change. But I was just absorbing all of the ways to change, the fad diet of the week, but without any understanding of who I was and what I actually needed.
I had no concept that I have a super high metabolism, which often spins verrrry hot and causes me to be very susceptible to a bout of.. rage. I didn’t know my ability to work for hours on end non-stop, without any nourishment or breaks also leads to… my rage. Hangry. Duh. And it would also make sense that I make quick, gut decisions, while everyone tells me to slow down and think it all through.. nah! That’s not how I operate. I’m also comfy with mistakes and redoing, or giving up. But ..that’s literally..just me!
The knowledge of your constitution, or your prakruti (your elemental makeup at birth) is the foundation to answering my favorite questions… How am I doing and what do I need? It’s my way of regulating. Meeting my own needs. Mindfulness if you will. Whether the answer is as simple as drinking enough WATER. Why do I actually suck at hydration?? (I can answer this question now because of Ayurevda.. I have a VERY pitta mind. Pitta’s will feel hungry or thirsty, but will be so lazer focused they couldn’t possibly stop to even sip water.. Here it is-the duality of good and bad qualities and manifestations of the dosha. Meanwhile vata would be so distracted they wouldn’t even realize how hungry they are, and kapha minds would NEVER forget to eat). The point is… know thyself. Who you are, why you are, and how you are. So that you can make choices that fit YOU.
Knowing your constitution that energetically, physically, emotionally, and historically makes up who you are, is like not having just the keys to the vehicle, but the manual, and the car facts if you will . And I don’t know about you, but that really wasn’t important or valued for this 80’s born child of the 90’s. My studies of the doshas and Ayurveda allowed me to understand just how it all works How I work. Ayurveda is literally a science. And your constitution is your personal data! Your job is to experiment, change up variables, see what happens.
And for me, with my Ayurveda, the constitution is more than body shape, and a diet. Or diagnosing and prescribing yoga or breath work and green juice. It’s an awareness that I am the way I am, and my medicine may be your poison. There is no one size fits all. Yes, green juice is healthy.. but also REALLY hard to digest especially if cold, and even worse in the chilly fall or winter days. Am I drinking one right now, November 8th? Yes. There are the hard and fast rules, but there is also you, now... And now. And now. And the choices we make moment to moment literally comprise our health. But maybe more importantly, how we actually FEEL about our choices, and who we are.. that is the alchemy that creates our quality of life.
The point is.. in order to make changes in your life- sustainable changes, impactful in the positive direction changes.-you have to know where you are starting from. And what direction is supportive, not just well groomed. And I promise it’s actually very, very fun. Choose your own adventure style, but with your actual life. Aho.
