What is Ayurveda?

What is Ayurveda and what does it have to do with Thai massage?
Ayurveda developed in India over 5000 years ago. In Sanskrit the word “ayu” means life and “veda” means knowledge/science. Ayurvedic medicine uses a number of tools such as diet, behavior, lifestyle, herbs, massage and yoga. Like most holistic approaches, it focuses on balance as the key to healing and healthy living.

In Ayurveda there are three basic constitutions; Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Vata is air/space, Pitta is fire/water and Kapha is water/earth. Within each person there is a unique balance of these three energies. For some people it might be fairly even, others might lean much more toward one (or two) of the doshas. These elements are a part of us and affect everything - our personality, the way our body looks and feels, our likes and dislikes, the way we fit in with the world around us. Some of these qualities are inherent while others fluctuate and shift.

When I first learned about the doshas I was a little skeptical. It seemed overly simplified and I wanted to avoid stereotyping people, especially in terms of body types or characteristics. But as I started observing my family and friends and asking them questions, the principles of the doshas really rang true. I saw that I have a lot of fiery friends in my life...and I've noticed several of these people are also fire signs. I don't know a lot about astrology but the aspect of the elements was always what sounded the most interesting to me.

So what does Thai massage have to do with any of this? Though Thai massage has a long history in Thailand, its origins are actually in India and it is interconnected with Ayurvedic and yoga practices. If you have received a Thai massage, you know it is very physical and grounding. There is flowing movement, stretching and sometimes deep muscle compression. But it is also energy work. A learned Thai practitioner will connect with the energy in your body and help move it. This doesn’t mean just one thing. It is unique for everyone, and unique to each session. A practitioner might focus on moving energy where it is stuck, settling energy where it is overactive, bringing warmth where there is coldness, or a lightness where there is heaviness. Maybe the emotions are also touched in some way.

All of this relates to the theory of doshas and the presence of these elemental qualities - air, fire, water, earth. Just to give an example - if someone has a lot of fire in their body he/she might respond to conflict with anger, have a hearty appetite or be more susceptible to infections and inflammatory diseases. He/she might have a strong initiative or drive to get things done, which obviously has its pros but can also have its cons if it's on the excessive side. The concept of the doshas made me realize that nothing is essentially “bad”. How can you attach a value judgment to something like "warmth"? It all depends on the context. Of course if there is an excess of heat, things are thrown off balance and problems arise.

This is very different from the Western approach to health, which teaches us to see illness or a problem as the enemy, as an evil invasion that has nothing to do with ourselves. Even though there are many wonderful things about Western medicine and it certainly has its place, it seems to encourage us to overlook the great power of preventative care and focus instead on having a certain kind of strength used to attack and kill off the symptoms, ignoring the root of the issue. When it comes to Thai massage, Ayurveda, healing and good health, it’s all about finding balance.