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3:10 min. read
Stabilize and Heal
As a traditionally preventive medicine system, Ayurveda’s primary goal is to attain the highest balance possible with our own bodies and surroundings to positively avoid illness. So, what our bodies do naturally is to attract that which most resembles them, and it’s up to us to notice and counteract this phenomenon.
This article will guide you on how the most fundamental Ayurvedic principles can help you understand how to balance your Doshas. You will learn about the driving energies that are considered the Pairs of Opposites and how they can drive you to attain a better, healthier lifestyle. You will also discover how you can incorporate these teachings into your daily life, employing a few balancing techniques using the knowledge you will acquire.
What are the Ayurvedic Pairs of Opposites?
At its very core, Ayurveda states that all is energy and that all energy needs to be in balance to achieve wellbeing. This theory applies to absolutely everything, and it’s quite intuitive and self-explanatory.
According to this central theory of Ayurveda, everything around us has inherent qualities that can describe its energy and help us understand the world and have a healthier interaction with it and ourselves. We can find these qualities in each Dosha and in a very intuitive method of 10 pairs of opposites that Ayurveda has classified these attributes, or Gunas, into.
Like increases like and opposites cancel each other, which is the natural way for us to stay warm when it’s cold outside, dry when it’s raining, etc. This allows for the Gunas to serve as a mechanism for the fast identification and stabilization of unbalances that may lead to disease.
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Ayurvedic Ancient Wisdom
Following this ancient Ayurvedic advice, you just need to understand which Gunas counteract each other and apply this knowledge whenever you notice an imbalance. This can be done in a very intuitive way.
Intuition is actually a distinct type of intelligence that “refers to the brain’s process of interpreting and reaching conclusions about phenomena without resorting to conscious thought. And further, it’s usually assumed that this process draws on the mind’s vast storehouse of memories.” (Bonabeau, 2003)
So, when you grasp how adding an oily element to rough skin, for example, is an effective way to offset dryness and find balance, you will be ready to make adjustments in your life almost automatically.
Now, for an in-depth and professional assessment as to which of your Gunas are off-balance, you should always consult with a certified Ayurvedic doctor. Remember that it’s essential to know your Vikruti (or current Dosha imbalance), so you can adjust small matters in your life in an intuitive manner by following the Gunas.
The Gunas and their Specifics
Understanding the Gunas is the very basis of getting a grip of the foundation of Ayurveda, so you will be able to discern how they govern everything that happens in your body.
Heavy-Light
Heavy (Guru): Growth, sleep, nourishment, groundedness, stability, centered, dullness, slow digestion, stubbornness.
Light (Laghu): Alert, attentive, spaciness, ungrounded, insecurity, fear, anxiety, reduces bulk.
Cold-Hot
Cold (Sīta): Numbness, unconsciousness, contraction, stagnation, fear, insensitivity, mucus, slows digestion, reduces immunity, sore throat, congestion.
Hot (Uṣṇa): Gastric fire (or Agni), improves circulation, digestion, absorption, assimilation, cleansing, irritability, anger, ulcers, quickness to criticize, inflammation.
Oily-Dry
Oily (Snigdha): Relaxation, smoothness, moisture, lubrication, vigor, compassion, love, nourishing, manipulation.
Dry (Rūkṣa): Dehydration, constipation, stimulates fire, choking, constriction, spasm, pain, rough skin, fear, nervousness, loneliness, isolation, separation, rejection, independence.
Dull-Sharp
Dull (Manda): Sluggish, relaxation, calm, quiet, silence, rich & fatty foods, thoughtful.
Sharp (Tīkṣṇa): Spicy foods, fire, improves learning, concentration, understanding, appreciation, comprehension, ulcers, overthink, penetrates, loudness, keen intellect.
Smooth-Rough
Smooth (Slakṣṇa): Cheese, oils, avocado, Ghee, lubricates, flexible, prevents osteoporosis & arthritis, caring.
Rough (Khara): Dryness, absorption, constipation, raw vegetables, many beans, rigidity, cracking, carelessness.
Dense-Liquid
Dense (Sāndra): Meat, cheese, compactness, grounded, stability, solid, density, strength, firmness of healthy muscle, highly concentrated.
Liquid (Drava): Diluted, water, salivation, compassion, cohesiveness, water retention, flexibility.
Soft-Hard
Soft (Mṛdu): Delicacy, relaxation, tenderness, love, care, mucous.
Hard (Kaṭhina): Tumor, strength, rigidity, selfishness, callousness, insensitivity, callouses.
Static-Mobile
Static (Sthira): Stability, support, sitting quietly, healing, obstruction.
Mobile (Cala): Motion, shakiness, restlessness, thoughts, feelings, emotions, insecurity, jogging, jumping, physical activity, instability.
Subtle-Gross
Subtle (Sūkṣma): Herbs, spacey, alcohol, aspirin, emotional, penetrates subtle tissues.
Gross (Sthūla): obstruction, obesity, meat, cheese, excessiveness.
Clear-Cloudy
Clear (Viśada): Isolation, diversion, purification, too much cleansing, pacification.
Cloudy (Picchila): Cohesiveness, attachment, lack of perception, dairy, confusion.
Ayurvedika
We believe that ancient wisdom is a perfect match for today’s know-how and technology. If you are looking to further your Ayurvedic knowledge, keep on reading our blog. If you are interested in knowing your particular Dosha or improving your skin’s health by applying the Pairs of Opposites’ law by using our products, don’t hesitate to contact us so we can help you feel amazing in your own skin.