The Anti-Aging Secrets of Pitta Stage in Ayurveda
Updated: Oct 5
Pitta stage is a long, demanding phase of life, and its important to attend to self-care during these decades. Dosha means that which accelerates aging. We can view Ayurveda, the knowledge of life, as the original holistic, anti-aging systems. Tips for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha in Pitta stage of life.
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The Anti-Aging Secrets of Pitta Stage in Ayurveda
Before jumping into dosha balancing routines, let's explore the basics of Ayurveda and the doshas. Ayurveda, the knowledge of life, describes the world as being made up of five elements, Aakash (space), Jala (water), Prithvi (earth), Teja (fire), and Vayu (air). These five elements come together to form 3 distinct humors referred to as Doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
Nature does not standardize. Just as there are no two leaves on a tree that are identical and there are not two humans who are the same. Everyone is a comprised of a one-of-a-kind mix of the Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas. The doshas give shape to the physical body, sleep, digestion, hair, voice, intellect and more.
Related Readings: The 3 Ayurvedic Doshas and Their Impact on Your Life What is Ayurveda? A Beginner's Guide and Beyond
Kapha governs protection and lubrication such as the immune system, synovial fluid in the joints, and the mucosal lining of the respiratory system. Pitta governs metabolism such as food, touch, and thinking. Vata governs movement inside and outside of us such as the wind outside your window, synaptic movement in the brain and bowel movement.
Simply put, to balance the doshas, opposite qualities are the treatment. Kapha needs invigoration for motivation. Pitta needs to chill out, relax, cool off and let go of intensity. Vata needs grounding and soothing to stabilize.
Now that the groundwork has been laid about the doshas, let's move into dosha balancing routines.
The way your skin looks on the outside is a reflection of what’s happening on the inside. When your doshas are balanced, your skin will appear well-nourished and vibrant regardless of your age.
In contrast, when the energy inside of you is imbalanced, your skin will appear dry, dull, and will show signs of aging.
In this article on dosha-specific routines to reduce signs of aging in your 30’s and 40’s, we’ll explore the best anti-aging routine for each dosha.
Vata Dosha Anti-Aging Ayurveda Routine
Vata dosha is comprised of space/ether and air. As such, its characteristics are cold, light, rough, brittle, mobile and subtle. Vata skin tends to be dryer, thinner and delicate. As such when it’s imbalanced the skin will appear dry, rough, dull, and flaky.
Here are 3 ways to balance Vata dosha to keep yourself looking and feeling vibrant:
Go to bed before 10 pm
Sleep deprivation is a leading cause of memory issues, weakened immunity, and mood disorders. According to the Cleveland Clinic, "Sleep deprivation has negative effects in multiple ways throughout your body." Click here for Ayurveda sleep tips. When you don’t get enough sleep, you look and feel exhausted. Plus, you won’t function at an optimal level in your daily life.
Wondering if you're sleep deprived? Learn more about effects of sleep deprivation, here. You may recognize signs in yourself or someone you care about.
According to the Ayurvedic clock, it’s best for the Vata Dosha to sleep before 10 p.m. in order to help the mind and body rejuvenate from the day.
Drink a glass of warm water upon waking
This might sound simple, but one of the best ways to reduce signs of aging is to stay hydrated. After all, if your skin is dry on the outside, just imagine how dry it is on the inside!
Start each day with a warm glass of water as soon as you wake up. This is a key step to keeping your skin hydrated in the short- and long-term. Vata type people tend to be constipated and drinking warm water upon waking, supports healthy elimination.
Here’s why it matters: When you sleep, you lose fluids and electrolytes. What’s more, toxins from the food and beverages you consumed build up in your body, waiting to be released.
Warm water helps flush your digestive system, and kick-start your bowel movements so you aren’t walking around with yesterday’s waste in your bowels.
Eat warm, moist foods
To keep the Vata dosha balanced, eat warm, home-cooked foods that are soft and therefore easy to digest. Some examples of foods that are especially healing for the Vata are oats, brown rice, eggs, cooked vegetables, ripe bananas, peaches, and berries.
By using food as medicine, and eating meals that serve your body — and dosha — you will look and feel youthful in your 30’s, 40’s and beyond!
The Anti-Aging Secrets of Pitta Stage in Ayurveda
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Pitta Dosha Anti-Aging Ayurveda Routine
Explore More: Hot List of Common Pitta Imbalances
Pitta dosha is comprised of fire and water. As such its characteristics are oily, sharp, hot, light, fleshy, spreading, and intense. Pitta skin is usually fair, sensitive, soft, warm, and somewhat thick.
When the Pitta is imbalanced, the skin will appear red or flare up with acne, rashes, rosacea, or sunspots. These skin conditions can cause your skin to lose its vibrance and appear older than it is.
Here are 3 ways to balance Pitta dosha and prevent unnecessary aging:
Perform a daily Abhyanga self-massage
As we age, the skin tends to tense up and lose elasticity. In order to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy and nourished as you age, perform a daily Abhyanga massage. For this massage, I recommend using one of our customized oils to meet your specific needs.
Using the correct oil for your constitution, location season and stage of life will provide nourishing properties and will help keep your skin hydrated and it will provide overall mental and physical benefits.
Done on a daily basis, this self-massage will help keep your skin tissue and blood circulation healthy.
Avoid heating foods
By its very nature, the Pitta dosha is fiery and hot. As such, certain foods (such as spicy, fried, overly oily) and beverages (coffee, black tea, alcohol) cause it to flare up and become irritated.
As a result, the skin will suffer from breakouts or appear blotchy and unhealthy.
To keep this dosha cool and balanced, and your skin dewy and healthy, eat nourishing foods full of vitamins and antioxidants. Some of the best foods for the Pitta dosha include asparagus, cucumbers, and mangoes.
Protect your skin from the sun
While too much sun exposure is a known cause of aging for all skin types, it’s especially damaging for those with a dominant Pitta dosha. Excessive heat and ultraviolet light cause Pitta skin to become red, dull, and full of sunspots.
Before you spend time outside, especially during the summer months, lather your skin in organic sunscreen, and wear a hat that will provide additional shade.
Pitta skin thrives when it’s cool and nourished so make sure you keep your skin protected.
Related Reading: How to Get Rid of Sunburn Quicker with Ayurveda
Kapha Dosha Anti-Aging Ayurveda Routine
Kapha dosha is comprised of water and earth. The qualities of a Kapha dosha are cold, wet, heavy, dull, slow, sticky, smooth, slimy, soft, sweet, stagnant. While Kapha skin tends to show signs of aging slower than the other doshas, it’s often pale and dull when imbalanced. Those with Kapha dosha often struggle with acne breakouts, oily skin, and enlarged pores.
Here are 3 ways to pacify Kapha skin and keep it looking vibrant:
Empty bladder and bowels in the morning
Use a glass of warm water to flush your digestive system first thing in the morning. This will help hydrate your tissues and remove the toxins that build up overnight.
If you struggle to empty your bowels even after having a warm glass of water, take a morning walk outside. This will stimulate your digestive system and help prevent constipation.
Use a light, balancing moisturizer
While Kapha skin tends to maintain its elasticity even as we age, a light, balanced moisturizer can keep the skin looking dewy and refreshed.
Soft oils such as sunflower or mustard seed oil are ideal for Kapha skin. Simply add a few drops to your face and apply gently in a circular motion.
Favor light, warm foods
As opposed to dense, heavy, or oily foods, the Kapha dosha responds best to light, warm foods.
Some Kapha pacifying foods include baked fruits (such as apples or peaches), cooked vegetables, vegetable soup, red lentils, herbal tea, hot cereal, and fresh-squeezed juice.
Foods such as those listed above aid in digestion, help cleanse the liver and give the skin a radiant complexion.
How Do I Know If I Have a Dosha Imbalance?
Peruse these comprehensive and convenient lists of signs and symptoms of dosha imbalances.
Peruse these comprehensive and convenient lists of signs and symptoms of dosha imbalances. As we are comprised of all Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, there can be an imbalance in any of the doshas, or a combination of dosha imbalances. Read all three lists and see if anything looks familiar.
All doshas are balanced by guided daily meditation.
There is a saying, "The mind is more in the body, than the body is in the mind." The Saumya 3 Step Meditation Process shifts us from fight-flight-freeze mode, to rest-restore-relax mode. Give it a try for forty days and observe the changes. The more grounded and relaxed we are, the smoother life flows.
"The breath is the connection between the mind and body, so by training the breath, we become calm, focused, and grounded, we slow down the aging process by decreasing stress. These practices are so simple and easy to have as part of our daily life. We actually feel and look younger."
- Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
1. Learn Diaphragmatic Breathing and Change Your Life. When we re-learn to breath diaphragmatically, we move from the flight-fight-freeze mode, to rest, restore, relaxation mode from where we want and need to live.
2. Daily Guided Practices: 11 minutes in the morning and in the evening, as anchors of your daily Ayurveda routine.
3. Ayurveda Daily Routines: --Ayurvedic Morning Routine | 6 Rituals for a Calm and Centered Day
"Choose a couple of practices from the routines that provide you with the greatest support. Perform them while applying our two minute meditation technique and your mundane tasks, just transformed into a mellifluous meditation. This is meditation applied to daily life." - Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
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Explore More: Ayurveda Breathwork Pranayama
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I love the food plan she designed for me, and all the supporting practices (am/pm routines, breathing techniques, herbs, and spice mixes) are so enjoyable to incorporate into my day. I highly recommend Saumya Ayurveda if you want to feel better and have more vitality.”
-Molly Rossini, Minnesota
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Ultimately, Ayurveda is a person-specific approach to well-being. While this article offers general guidelines to follow to help reduce signs of aging in your 30’s and 40’s based on your primary dosha, it’s still important to consult an Ayurvedic professional to get a customized plan that’s right for you. "One of the most powerful things we can do for our skin, is to take care of our stress levels. What's happening on the inside, shows on the outside" -Veena
Pitta Stage of Life: Look and Feel Younger with Ayurveda. Pitta is a long and often demanding stage of life which often leads to burnout. When we regain and maintain balance of Pitta dosha, we can keep our cool.
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