Ayurvedic Clock: Stages of Life
Just as the time of day and season of year is influenced by the doshas, so is the stage of life. At each stage of life we will be influenced by the gunas (qualities of the dosha) and even exhibit more of those qualities ourselves. This is just another way that Ayuveda brings us into deep relationship with ourselves in our quest for harmony and balance. In the same way that we employ opposite action when treating a physical or mental imbalance, we can use opposite action throughout specific life phases to help us maintain equilibrium.
KAPHA: Childhood, from birth until puberty, is the kapha phase of life. Kapha dosha has a building quality to it, and this phase of life is all about growth. In all phases of life kapha dosha is responsible for growith, but in the years from birth to puberty our primary aim is developing our adult bodies and a tremendous amount of kapha is needed for that to happen. Children need this extra kapha to grow, and the adults in their lives need to help them balance their extra kapha by encouraging them to be physically active every day, maintain a regular sleep and wake routine, and provide them with a diet of kapha balancing foods like astringent greens and legumes. Kapha is also responsible for our production of mucous - it’s no wonder why kids always have snotty noses, it’s just kapha doing it’s job. Avoiding kapha provoking sweets and dairy will go a long way drying up some of that extra mucus.
PITTA: Adulthood is governed by pitta dosha. Ayurveda generally demarcates this stage with the ages 16 to 50, but in general, in women it’s the childbearing years. One of fiery pitta’s primary jobs is digestion, and this is the stage of life when we are taking in our environment and working to make sense of it all, forming an identity, and developing our skills and talents - in other words, digesting life. Pitta stage of life is when we are deep into child rearing, career and relationship, and in these pursuits we are more achievement oriented. In the pitta stage of life we are more prone toward irritability, and without care can become too driven and goal oriented. During the pitta phase of life we have to balance these qualities with plenty of time for calming activities like yoga, hiking, painting, or gardening. During pitta phase of life we want to avoid too much caffeine and include more sweet foods (whole grains, fresh fruits, etc) so we don’t forget in our intensity to taste the sweetness of life.
VATA: Vata stage of life spans from mid-life (around age 50) through death. Vata qualities are dry, cool, mobile, and irregular. The dry qualities can accumulate during this phase of life, resulting in dry skin, brittle bones, and achy joints. The digestive fire begins to cool during this phase, making us more sensitive to foods that we could once handle just fine. And have you ever searched and searched for those missing readying glasses only to find them resting on top of your head? That’s vata’s etheric, irregular quality. Vata also has a cold quality and it’s important during our vata years to avoid getting chilled, and make sure to keep the head and neck covered when it’s cold and blustery out. Slowing down and taking time for deep nourishment is one of the most supportive things we can do for ourselves during this vata phase of life.
If you’d like to know more about incorporating diet, lifestyle, and self care practices specific to your dosha as well as your stage of life consider scheduling an Ayurvedic Consult with me and learn more about how to support yourself as you go through these natural transitions of life.
