For some people, there is something very satisfying when things get accomplished. These individuals often thrive on lists and are always on-the-go. Unfortunately, they also are more susceptible to burnout. Ayurveda, an ancient holistic Indian system of medicine, has an explanation on why people get burnout and how to balance it.
Being busy and living up to modern day expectations of ‘productivity’ comes with a price tag to our physical and mental health. ‘Busy’ creeps up on you and before you realise it, you are giving too much of yourself away to others and you are not leaving enough time for your body and mind to rest and recharge. Overtime, this can lead to burnout.
And that’s exactly what happened to me last week. For the past month, I took on too many responsibilities, looked after the emotions and needs of others and I forgot to look after myself. I slipped into survival mode, drank and ate poorly and didn’t get enough sleep. Needless to say my body and mind was out of balance and it showed up as eczema flare up, infected eye, irritability, leading to eventual burnout and couldn’t get out of bed over the weekend.
Burnout Through an Ayurvedic Lens
According to Ayurvedic medicine we can classify individuals by their innate dosha. In essence dosha types are energetic forces that govern the body & mind. The dosha types are Vata, Pitta and Kapha, and they are each associated with different physical and mental characteristics. Knowing our dosha can help us live a healthier, more balanced life.
Each dosha types have their own specific characteristics. Usually everyone has something from each dosha, but the predominant dosha represents a person’s characteristics and it will also be the first dosha to get out of balance. Your doshic constitution is neither good nor bad, it is simply your characteristics or your tendencies. Getting to know and appreciate your dosha, and dosha imbalances is key to knowing yourself.
Individuals who are on the go all the time are often pitta dosha dominant. Pitta dosha translates roughly as fire, fire are bright and high in energy. Common traits of Pitta dosha dominant individuals are:
Intelligent | Quick learners | Motivated |
Goal-oriented | Strong leadership qualities | Transformer |
Athletic | Firey - Quick/Sharp | Good appetite |
Pitta traits sounds pretty great right? But like everything in nature, when in balance we shine and when out of balance we suffer. Pitta dosha is the type most susceptible to burnout.
Ayurveda teaches us that imbalances are part of nature. The key is to notice the symptoms and adjust our diet and lifestyle accordingly and bring ourselves back to balance.
Signs and Symptoms of Pitta Imbalance
An imbalanced dosha is always the result of too much of that property. Pitta imbalance can show up as:
Red or irritated skin
Red, dry, or light-sensitive eyes
Heartburn or acid reflux
Increased hunger due to overactive metabolism
Nausea or discomfort upon missing meals
Digestive issues like diarrhea or loose stools
Hot flashes or an uncomfortable feeling of heat in the body
Feelings of frustration, anger, and irritability
Inflammation of the joints
Judgmental, impatience, critical and intolerant
Excessive perfectionist tendencies
How to Balance Pitta Imbalances
In general, a pitta lifestyle is all about cooling and slowing down. Pitta pacifying diet should consist of cooling foods. It should have very few fried, heavily salty, oily, or spicy foods as they all cause excess Pitta.
Pitta balancing diet include:
Avoid alcohol, excess spices, and other digestive irritants like coffee.
Sweet fruits like grapes, watermelon, coconuts, avocados, and mangoes. Avoid sour fruits like grapefruits.
Dairy products, however, sour, fermented products such as yogurt and sour cream, should be used sparingly.
Coconut water
Barley & oats
Mint
Leafy green vegetables
Cucumber, rhubarb, rocket, asparagus, broccoli
Sweet potatoes and pumpkin
Olive oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil
Flaxseeds, coconuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
Mild, soothing spices like coriander, fennel, saffron, and cardamom. Avoid hotter spices like ginger, cumin, chilli and black pepper.
Pitta balancing exercise and lifestyle include:
Opt for slow, mindful, cooling activities like yin yoga or a slow Hatha flow. If you already practice yoga, try replacing your sun salutations with moon salutations, as this sequence has a cooling effect rather than a heating one.
Grounding exercises such as swimming, hiking, and weightlifting help to increase the earth element and reduce the excess fire.
Inhale or diffuse cooling scents – Rose, peppermint, and lavender cool the body and help diminish feelings of anger and agitation.
Make a herbal face mask – If you experience skin inflammation, clogged pores, and acne, create a cooling face mask by mixing Triphala Powder with coconut oil. Triphala is an Ayurvedic herb and a rich source of antioxidants. It is highly beneficial for all three doshas and one herb that Ayurvedic practitioner swears by.
Meditate daily – Regular meditation can help reverse some mental and emotional symptoms of a Pitta imbalance, like anger and frustration.
Take regular breaks – Pitta types tend to be highly ambitious and stop at nothing to reach their goals. Unfortunately, this means they tend to overwork, which undoes all their efforts to balance Pitta. Therefore, it’s essential to take regular breaks away from your desk. Connecting to the earth is ideal, so go outside for a walk or sit under a tree and take a deep breath.
Our lives, environments, and health changes regularly. We recommend that you tune inwards and spot signs and symptoms of dosha imbalances as a way to restore balance in a way that is unique for you. Keeping in mind that it's possible to have more than one dosha out of balance at once.
In this ‘Introduction to Ayurveda’ 3-part series we will cover Vata and Kapha dosha types too. Connect with us on Instagram @createspacewellness for regular ayurvedic tips. Or get in touch with us via our website at www.createspacewellness.com or email createspacewellness@gmail.com and arrange for a 1:1 conversation to learn more.
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