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When life feels demanding and the pace picks up, it’s easy to become “firey” or hot-headed. Between busy schedules and the constant flow of tasks, our nervous system can quickly become overwhelmed. One way to cool down—physically, emotionally, and mentally—is through Sitali Pranayama, the cooling breath.
According to Vedic science, when Spirit (Purusha in Sanskrit) takes form as life, it is called Prakriti. Prakriti is composed of five elements, known as the Maha Bhutas, which range from the finest to the grossest: space, air, fire, water, and earth. In Sanskrit, they are called Akash, Vayu, Agni, Jal, and Prithvi, respectively. Every individual is a microcosm of nature and, as such, contains all five elements. Let us explore each of them.
Pitta dosha is the mind-body constitution composed of the fire and water elements. These elements give Pitta individuals qualities such as intensity, sharpness, and responsiveness. People with a dominant Pitta dosha are often sociable, knowledgeable, and highly driven.
The doshas are the three primary mind-body constitutions in Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old sister science to yoga. Ayurveda teaches that everything in the universe is composed of five elements: earth, water, air, fire, and space (also called ether). These elements combine in different ways to form the three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha.