Life’s Balancing Act

Remembering Your Most Natural State of Being

Life is a balancing act, isn’t it? Between work, family, self-care, and the constant swirl of daily demands, it’s easy to feel like you’re always leaning too far in one direction. Ayurveda reminds us that this balancing act isn’t about perfection — it’s about noticing when we tip too far and finding our way back to center.

The doshas — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha — are expressions of the five elements of nature: air, space, fire, water, and earth. They’re not fixed or rigid; they’re in constant motion. The key is not to identify as one thing forever, but to notice: what’s showing up for me right now?

Prakruti and Vikruti: Your Blueprint and Your Detours

Ayurveda uses two beautiful Sanskrit terms to explain this: prakruti and vikruti.

• Prakruti is your natural state of being — your healthiest, most harmonious self. It’s the balance you were born with, your original blueprint.
• Vikruti is the imbalance that shows up when life pulls you away from that state. Stress, travel, diet, emotions, even the weather can nudge you off center.

So the journey isn’t about fixing yourself or striving toward some perfect version of health. It’s about noticing where you’ve wandered in life’s balancing act, and gently guiding yourself back home.

The Three Doshas in Everyday Life

So what do the doshas look like in daily living?

• Vata (air + space):
  Qualities: light, mobile, quick, creative.
  Balanced: inspired, adaptable, energized.
  Out of balance: anxious, restless, sleepless, forgetful.
• Pitta (fire + water):
  Qualities: sharp, hot, intense, focused.
  Balanced: clear-minded, driven, strong digestion.
  Out of balance: irritable, overheated, perfectionistic, critical.
• Kapha (earth + water):
  Qualities: stable, heavy, grounding, nurturing.
  Balanced: compassionate, calm, loyal.
  Out of balance: sluggish, resistant to change, prone to weight gain.

We all carry all three doshas within us, but usually one or two are more dominant. And they don’t stay static — they ebb and flow with the season of the year, the stage of life, and the circumstances we’re in.

Think of them less like rigid categories and more like different notes in a song. Together, they create your unique harmony.

Where Yoga Complements Ayurveda

Here’s where the magic happens: Ayurveda gives us awareness, and yoga gives us tools.

• If Vata is high and you’re feeling scattered, yoga offers grounding practices — slow, steady asana, deep breathing, long savasana, and the reminder to pause.
• If Pitta is flaring and you’re irritable or overheated, yoga cools you down — forward folds, gentle twists, meditation, and breathwork like sheetali or alternate nostril breathing.
• If Kapha is heavy and you’re stuck in sluggishness, yoga sparks movement — energizing flows, backbends, invigorating breathwork like kapalabhati, and practices that invite lightness.

Yoga helps us participate in life’s balancing act more gracefully — grounding us when we’re scattered, cooling us when we’re overheated, and energizing us when we’re stuck

Remembering, Not Achieving

Here’s the most important part: Ayurveda and yoga aren’t about achieving a perfect version of yourself. They’re about remembering.

Remembering that you already hold a natural, healthy, balanced state within you. Remembering that imbalance is part of being human — and you have practices to guide you back when life pulls you away.
Remembering that wellness is less about perfection, and more about presence, rhythm, and alignment with your truest self.

So the next time you notice yourself feeling scattered, fiery, or sluggish, pause and ask: What’s my body trying to tell me? Ayurveda gives you the language. Yoga gives you the tools. And together, they support you in life’s ongoing balancing act.