Denise Kelly - The Art of Healthy Living

The final law of the universe is far greater and more powerful than just you, but equally as important for achieving happiness. Understanding that we are all ‘One’ with each other and the entire universe is the foundation law. I am a believer in karma and living a good life that you are open about and proud of. Speaking your truth sets you free and trusting your own desires makes you who you are. The long and short of this is that every area of your life, including your health, your finances, and your relationships, is influenced by ‘like’ attracts ‘like’. Everything you may want or not want to experience is pure energy vibrating at different frequencies. The basic premise of the law of attraction is that energy attracts like energy. Whatever you are vibrating out there to the world, you get right back. Things that you long for or desire will not come to you until you are sending out the right vibrations for that to happen. So, don’t blame, simply change. Change your thoughts, your visions, your mindset, your negative chatter, your beliefs, your needs … and see what happens.

The more we, as human beings, understand about the way we work, what we need, and how things unbalance us the better equipped we are at really making a difference to our lives, our health, and our overall well‐being. Not only does this understanding have an impact on our own minds and bodies, it also helps us to understand and have more empathy for others.

Ayurvedic medicine (developed over 3000 years ago in India) is another favourite of mine that really helps a person to understand what they are and why. It shows clearly that if you slip out of balance your life can really spiral out of control. The theory behind Ayurvedic medicine is that good health exists when there is a balance between three fundamental bodily humours or doshas (the three energies that define a person’s make‐up). Each human body is different and the way Ayurvedic medicine explains this is that each person has a unique blend of physical, emotional, and mental characteristics. Because of our body type, each one of us has slightly predisposed weaknesses or strengths, and if we know and understand this and can feel ourselves getting out of balance, it is easier to correct. The three body types are vata, pitta and kapha. I am going to outline the main traits of each one, just so you have a basic understanding of what you need.

The vata‐type person is generally speedy. They are vibrant, quick‐thinking, creative, fast‐talking, dynamic, and slightly airy people, but they can also be very sensitive as well as spiritual and are often running late. (Stop shouting at the book, anyone that knows me! Yes, yes I have a lot of vata qualities!) Vata‐type people can be fidgety, forget to eat, and generally routine can feel awful, boring, and overwhelming to them. They are usually thin in appearance, with delicate bone structure, low body fat, and they often find it hard to gain weight. On the flip side when this person is out of balance, they can be indecisive, stressed and prone to what I call ‘burn out’, exhaustion, and fatigue. They can have thinning hair, lots of gas and bloating, and can be very unfocused and spacy. They can also have dry nails and skin and are the types that need to wrap up as can feel the cold easily. They suffer from sleeplessness, excessive worry, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

I think it’s useful to understand this concept because it gives you more empathy as to why some people act the way they do. Without doubt, it has helped me to understand my clients better and may help you to understand yourself and what your needs are in order to maintain balance. What a vata person needs is constant nourishment of the nervous system. They need to take extra special care of their digestive system, as well as looking after bone strength and protection. Vata types need to stay away from low fat foods and must be careful if vegetarian to stay grounded and nourished. They need warming, heavier foods to stay calm, good quality oils and good fats, and strengthening foods like mashed sweet potatoes, root vegetables, black and wild rice, lots of fish and eggs and heavier grains such as buckwheat. Vatas can get great results from exercise such as weight‐lifting, Pilates, and yoga.

The pitta body types on the other hand, tend to be very fiery, determined, confident, and can at times seem aggressive. When out of balance pittas can be dictatorial and easily angered. They have a medium body frame, are well‐proportioned and can be muscular; they tend to have good genes. They are compelled to accomplish things and can therefore be extremely focused and organized. You will not find a pitta type missing a meal, purely because they can actually be really cranky if food is skipped, and most pitta types will know this about themselves and try to avoid this situation. They can be workaholics, and don’t always do well in hotter humid climates. Emotionally they can create problems that don’t really exist, and sometimes even when they are feeling too balanced! They have the capacity to work until they drop, which is not advisable, as they then spend time and effort picking up the pieces. Pitta types are ridiculously organized, energized, enthusiastic, and sharper mentally than a vata. However, out of balance they are easily agitated, irritable, and desperately over‐competitive. Physically they can suffer with diarrhoea, skin rashes, burning eyes, increased appetite, perspiration, and have a greater need to nourish their livers, gall bladder, spleen, small intestines, and blood than the other body types.

Foods that will be beneficial to a pitta type are sweet tasting spices, cardamom, fennel, and proteins such as chicken and fish. They need lots of dark leafy greens, and peppermint tea. Fresh limes are particularly good for them, and they need to be careful and make sure to reduce excessive spices that are too heating. Heavier red meats are not great for them at all as they dampen their energy. They need calming and relaxing physical exercise such as yoga and Pilates, and from an emotional perspective, they need gentle relationships. This is very interesting if you are married to a pitta person. They won’t respond well to ranting!

The kapha types are generally larger bodies, not necessarily overweight, but they can have a tendency to gain weight easily. They are usually strong and robust characters and when in shape can be powerful and athletic. They are usually very grounded people, who are solid and stable and clear about the ways of the world. They are strong sexually and have a slower metabolism. They can miss a meal, unlike the pitta types. They are much more resistant to exercise and are generally slower moving, often trying to lighten up, both physically and emotionally. They are reliable types, dependable and calm and can be peacemakers, even‐tempered, loving, and affectionate. However, when they are not in balance, they can hold onto emotions, bear grudges, and feel depressed and despondent. They can sleep too much, lack enthusiasm, feel dull, sluggish, overweight, and congested and can be the least enthusiastic of the types if they allow themselves to live incorrectly.

The organs which most need to be nourished in this body type are the lungs, stomach, body fat, and lymphatic system. Heavy and high fat foods, dairy, gluten, red meats, and starchy vegetables are all a no‐no for this type of body. They are best suited to beans, quinoa, spinach, salads, cayenne pepper, ginger, and heating spices. They need positive affirmations daily and good amounts of cardiovascular exercise.

It’s interesting when you read this information for the first time, because in your head you are now categorizing everyone you know. I would just add that you are not necessarily going to be only one body type – it is very common for you to have a combination of two. For example, I am a classic combination of vata and pitta and have those exact traits if I go out of balance. What helps, though, is that when you understand a little bit more about the differences between us as human beings, it can make you look at people in a different light, with far more love and understanding for what they are and what they need.