Ayurveda

Ayurvedic Skin Care
Healthy internal radiance is regarded by Ayurveda as the true definition of beauty. The skin is seen as the mirror of inner health. The external body is simply the manifestation of everything that happens inside, including our emotions. By addressing the components of our life, we can control our skin's health.
At the heart of Ayurveda is a detailed system of diagnosis according to constitutional types (dosha). In the aesthetics of Ayurveda, we notice stress shown on the skin in different ways. Our skin may be dehydrated, oily, acne prone, or subjected to occasional or frequent rashes, depending on our constitutional type. As we age, most of us are aware that our skin just doesn't look as good as it could-doesn't have a glow to it.
In Ayurvedic aesthetics, healing mixtures of pure herbs are often mixed from literally hundreds of possible combinations according to the condition and constitution of the client, then a therapeutic facial massage follows. Ayurvedic facials consist of varying combinations of marma points or lymphatic massage, breathing techniques, hydrotherapy, and aromatherapy. In general given the right support, cleansing and nourishing, skin can naturally bring itself into harmony.
Kapha, EARTH type of Skin
People with Kapha type of skin are Earth predominant and also have a strong water element. The characteristics of Kapha are oily, cold, heavy, soft, slow, dense, dull and lubricating. The skin imbalances can be identified by the following characteristics, cool, fair, oily and thick skin, large pores with proneness to cystic acne, and deep wrinkles.
Vata, AIR type of skin
These people are born with predominantly Vata, air and ether elements. The charactersics of Vata are light, dry, cold, rough, and mobile. Vata type of skin imbalance is seen as thin, dry, rough and cold, prone to premature aging. A lack of sebum occurs because the sebaceous glands are low in number and are sluggish. The small pores charactersitc of this type of skin lose water quickly. The loss of water leads to tiny superficial wrinkles. Signs of aging, therefore appear much faster for Vata constitutions than with other types of skin.
Pitta, FIRE type of skin
People with Pitta type of skin are Fire predominant and also have a strong Water element. The characteristics of Pitta are slightly oily, hot, light, mobile, sour-smelling, sharp fluid, and pungent. Pitta skin imbalance is usually warm, reddish, sensitive, with blotchy red patches, medium pores with large pores in the T-zone, and proness to blackheads and allergic reactions.
Founding Principles of Ayurveda
Ayurveda (Ah-yur-vay-dah) literally means science of life. The ancient science of Ayurveda has been the traditional medicine of India for over 5000 years. The primary focus of Ayurveda is to ensure longevity (Ayur) by maintaining and promoting health.
Ayurveda asserts that we are all born into an unchanging constitution known as dosha. The main doshas are based on a combination of the five universal elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth. These elements combine to form three basic constitutions or doshas: Vata (ether and air), Pitta (fire and water), Kapha (water and earth).
A person is characterized by his or her proportion of doshas present in the body. These doshas are influenced by diet, environment, state of mind, etc. Each dosha can go out of balance and Ayurveda states that by following a diet and lifestyle that corresponds to our body's inherent makeup, we can stave of illness. Restoring and maintaining a level of balance is the key to healing and managing health.
Ayurveda attempts to balance or restore these doshas through understanding each person's unique combination of elements (doshas). This is achieved through questioning, pulse and tongue diagnosis, and a physical exam. To restore balance, Ayurveda relies on dietary guidelines, herbal preparation, lifestyle, meditation and yoga.
Ayurveda is not viewed as an alternative to or substitute for western medicine. Ayurveda seeks to prevent disease by detecting the imbalances and correcting them. It can be used in combination with western medicine and western herbs. The role of Ayurveda is to rebuild tissues, strengthen the immune system and restore balance to the whole person.
As Pratima puts it: "When we follow the laws of nature, we have balance and harmony. Internal harmony brings happiness, and happiness brings health and beauty."