Ayurveda for Athletes

Ayurveda is a science of natural health. It stems from India and is believed to be over 5,000 years old. It is emerging in the Western world, due to a desire for cleaner, more organic methods of self-care. Now how does this apply to athletes and gym junkies? Ayurveda is preventative medicine. So if we learn how to take care of our bodies properly before we begin to feel the aches and pains of working out, our bodies are more likely to last us longer...say maybe, 100 years.

Ayurveda works by restoring balance in both the body and mind. When we are balanced in all aspects of our lives, our bodies are able to function at our highest level of performance.

First, we must learn to recognize the symptoms of imbalance. Self-awareness is key. When we are able to feel any type of imbalance in our body, or our personality, we can correct it before it affects our performance in the gym, or the court, track, or field.

Ayurveda separates body and personality types into 3 categories, referred to as doshas. We are all a unique blend of the 3 doshas. Much like a finger print is unique to every person on the planet, the percentage of each dosha is different for each person as well.

The three doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. When 1 or more of these doshas is out of balance, our bodies and minds react. If ignored, injury and disease will eventually take form.

When an athlete is physically or emotionally imbalanced, he or she is not going to perform at his or her best. When an athlete's out of sync, his or her timing is off, and he or she just can't seem to get "in the zone" it's most likely due to a doshic imbalance.

There are a number of things that can cause us to get out of balance. This can be anything from diet, to sleep patterns, to lifestyle habits, and even our surroundings can cause our doshas to either increase our decrease.

How do we know when we are out of balance? There are certain symptoms to look for in each dosha. You can be imbalanced in more than one dosha, or even in all three doshas.

A Vata imbalance includes nervousness, anxiety, feeling dizzy or light-headed. If you are suffering from constipation or insomnia, you most likely have a Vata imbalance. Often times we don't recognize these symptoms in ourselves.Once again, self-awareness is essential in our ability to stay healthy and strong.

A Pitta imbalance will exhibit symptoms such as, anger, being overly critical, and judgmental. An athlete with a Pitta imbalance may suffer from perfectionism. Physically, Pitta vitiated people may have inflammation, red eyes and skin, any type of red rash, or diarrhea. It's important to note that many athletes are naturally high Pitta people. As Pitta represents heat, fire, and passion, all of the characteristics that make a good athlete, it is not uncommon for athletes to have an original doshic make-up consisting of a high percentage of Pitta. This coupled with the competitive environment of sports, it is not uncommon for athletes to get out of balance and have way too much Pitta in them.

Kaphas on the other hand, tend to be more grounded. Natural Kaphas have strong, solid, often times larger frames. They are usually the most consistent in terms of performance. They are nurturing and compassionate. They are usually the glue that holds the team together. When out of balance, they become depressed and lethargic. It can be hard for them to let go of the past. A Kapha imbalance can make an athlete feel heavy and sluggish, causing an athlete to not want to train.

If left alone, these imbalances can create physical problems. For example, Vata in the joints will eventually lead to arthritis. But first it will create dry painful joints. You might even hear a popping sound in the joints when you move them. Pitta in the joints leads to inflammation, and hot burning pain. Where as Kapha in the joints will lead to stiffness and swelling.

The best way to prevent these symptoms is to keep the body, and the doshas, in balance. You can do this with diet and digestion, meditation, herbs, and lifestyle changes. What we expose ourselves to has a tremendous effect on our health.

But the most important method of prevention is diet. What you put into your body will effect how it performs. Also, how you eat effects the absorption of nutrients.

Eat clean, minimally processed foods. But also know that certain foods can contribute to or alleviate an imbalance of our doshas.

Ayurveda is an amazing science of natural health. It provides many tools that can be used in daily life to help prevent illness and maintain health. A specialized diet and ayurveda practices can help athletes continue to use their bodies at full performance and max out an athletes game.

For more information on how ayurveda can help you, please contact me at ayurvedacoach.org or find a certified ayurveda practitioner near you. You can also join us on November 19 for an Ayurveda for Athletes workshop. Contact me for more info.