The qualities of someone who "changes": The importance of understanding doshas, as seen by THE HUNDRED.
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Why is it that even with the same ailment, the way to restore balance differs from person to person? At THE HUNDRED, we view dosha not merely as a diagnosis of constitution, but as a way to understand one's own state and return to one's natural rhythm. We will introduce its essence from the perspective of Ayurveda.
Even with the same physical ailment, the underlying causes can vary greatly. That's why we need to listen to our bodies.
The term "fatigue" encompasses a wide range of experiences. For example, the feeling of fatigue can vary greatly; some may feel heavy and lacking in energy, while others may be deeply exhausted, accompanied by dizziness and impaired thinking. In Ayurveda, these differences are considered significant.
The same applies to insomnia, lethargy, and fatigue. The way these ailments manifest and how they are treated differs depending on whether they are caused by a Vata, Pitta, or Kapha imbalance, so it is important to determine what is happening in the background. Also, as mentioned in the previous chapter, "Instead of looking at the symptoms of discomfort, unravel the 'process of imbalance'," the degree of fatigue also changes depending on where the accumulation of ama (undigested matter) is occurring.
That's why at THE HUNDRED WELLNESS SALON, we place great importance on pre-treatment consultations. In addition to your constitutional tendencies, we carefully inquire about your physical and mental state on that day, including the quality of your sleep, your digestive system, your stress levels, and your daily energy levels. During the treatment, we physically touch your body to understand how you are feeling tension, your circulation, and your unique rhythm.
What we're looking at isn't just the symptoms themselves, such as "stiff shoulders" or "fatigue." We're looking at the nature of that discomfort, where it originated, and what the body needs right now.
Understanding this is the first step in tuning in Ayurveda.
The relationship between "constitution" and "disorder"
In Ayurveda, two perspectives, "Prakriti" and "Vikriti," are used to understand the body.
Prakriti refers to a person's inherent qualities. It's like a "blueprint for the body," encompassing innate physical tendencies, thought patterns, energy quality, digestive abilities, and emotional characteristics.
On the other hand, Vikriti refers to the "energy disturbance" that is currently occurring. What kind of lifestyle do you lead? What kind of food do you eat? How much information and stress are you exposed to? And how do the seasons affect you? Vikriti is the concept of "disturbance" that arises when you are temporarily out of your natural balance (Prakriti) due to the accumulation of these lifestyle habits and environmental factors.
Therefore, it's not as simple as saying, "Because you have a Vata constitution, you're unstable." Doshas are not labels to define personality or character. Rather, they are about identifying what is in excess and what is lacking in relation to a person's inherent nature. Identifying this is the starting point for balancing the body in Ayurveda.
Doshas are not meant to categorize you.
Understanding the concept of doshas is essential to understanding Prakriti. In Ayurveda, the human body is viewed as a balance of three life energies: Vata (wind/space), Pitta (fire/water), and Kapha (earth/water).
Vata governs movement, change, nerves, and thought, while Pitta is involved in digestion, transformation, and judgment. Kapha is the energy that supports stability, preservation, and nourishment.
Anyone who has ever encountered Ayurveda has likely experienced something like a "constitution type diagnosis" based on these doshas. Therefore, it's easy to misunderstand, but doshas are not simply a diagnosis of constitution or a classification of personality.
In fact, people are not made up of just one dosha; everyone possesses all of them. And the balance of these doshas is constantly changing depending on the season, environment, and lifestyle.
That's why at THE HUNDRED, we prioritize understanding "what's currently chaotic" over simply knowing "what type you are ."
Constitution isn't a fixed label, but rather a map that helps you understand how to improve your current state. It's this map that allows you to find the right approach to improving your constitution.
People who change understand their own rhythm.
In Ayurveda, knowledge is considered wisdom only when it is put into practice in daily life. The goal is not simply to know which dosha is dominant. What's important is translating that understanding into daily choices.
Do I need rest right now, or do I need a stimulus to break the stagnation? Should I warm myself up, or should I cool down? Such judgments are only possible when you understand your own state.
Nirmal Raj Gyawali, who oversees THE HUNDRED, states: "Knowledge only becomes wisdom when it is put into practice in daily life. Eating consciously, breathing with gratitude, and resting with trust—these small daily choices are the only way to bring you back to your natural rhythm."
Ultimately, our goal is not simply to provide temporary relief for the body. Through our treatments, we aim to decipher the body's signals and help you remember its natural rhythm. We also want you to bring that feeling back into your daily life and cultivate a state where you can regulate your own body.
Essential change is when the body remembers its natural state and becomes able to maintain that rhythm in daily life. A "person who changes" isn't someone with a special constitution; they are someone who understands what's happening in their own body and can adjust their lifestyle to match those changes.
What THE HUNDRED does is support each individual in returning to their own inherent life rhythm. To "be in balance" means to reactivate the intelligence that is already within the body.
Key points of this article
Even with the same ailment, the cause and treatment methods can differ from person to person.
Dosha is not a way to categorize people, but rather a way to understand one's own state.
In Ayurveda, it is important to distinguish between "constitution (prakriti)" and "current imbalance (vikriti)."
At THE HUNDRED, we believe that understanding your dosha and knowing your own body's rhythm is the first step towards fundamental change.
Terms used in this article
Prakriti :
Innate physical characteristics and traits; the basic blueprint of the body and mind.
Vikrity :
Current disturbances caused by lifestyle habits, seasons, environment, etc.
Dosha :
A collective term for the three life energies of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. An indicator for understanding the balance of mind and body.
Vata :
The dosha governs movement and change.
Pitta :
The doshas govern digestion, metabolism, and judgment.
Kapha :
The dosha governs stability, nourishment, and preservation.
Why not start by understanding your current situation?
At THE HUNDRED, we carefully assess each individual's physical and mental state and the influence of the season through pre-treatment consultations, and provide treatments tailored to each person.
>>In the next journal, we will share more details about THE HUNDRED's perspective on "eating" and "digestion."
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