"When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need."
β Ayurvedic proverb
Hey lovely,
A while back, I asked for suggestions about what you might like to read in one of these Yogi Notes, and Vivek gave me a lovely suggestion about vegetarianism. Now, I've not eaten red meat since I was 14, and then quite a few years back I went completely vegetarian; then I brought fish back into my diet because I didn't fare quite as well when I cut out fish and chicken completely. I've very recently slipped the odd chicken in here and there too...so I guess I'm back to being a non-red-meat eater. But I do eat a lot less white meat than before; the chicken is just a rare thing, as sometimes it's the easiest and fastest way to up my protein intake. So I'm not here to preach to you about veganism or the merits of being a vegetarian or any of your food choices.
But, few topics stir the pot quite like what we eat. Vegan, vegetarian, plant-based, omnivore, keto, paleo... everyone seems to have an opinion, and somehow those opinions come with a surprising amount of passion. (You've seen the comments sections on social media. We definitely don't need to go there.)
So as mentioned, I'm not here to tell you what to eat or to wave any particular flag. What I am going to do is offer you something that might be more useful than any diet label: an ancient framework for understanding what your unique body actually needs. And it's been around for over 5,000 years.
Welcome to Ayurveda, yoga's sister science, and the concept of the doshas. Even if you've never heard the word before (although I'm pretty sure I've touched on them in a past Yogi Note), by the end of this Yogi Note you'll have a whole new lens through which to look at your plate. And possibly yourself. πΏ
WHAT ARE DOSHAS, EXACTLY?
Ayurveda, which translates as "the science of life", is a 5,000-year-old holistic health system that originated in India. At its heart is the idea that everything in the universe, including every human body, is made up of five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether (space).
These elements combine to form three energetic forces called doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each dosha governs different functions in the body and mind, and each of us is born with a unique combination of all three, with one or two usually dominant. This unique blueprint is called your Prakriti - your nature.
Understanding your dosha isn't about putting yourself in a box. It's about understanding your tendencies, your strengths, and yes, how you benefit from eating to suit your unique constitution.
THE THREE DOSHAS AT A GLANCE:
VATA - Air & Ether
Creative, quick, light, changeable, enthusiastic. Tends toward cold hands, dry skin, and irregular digestion.
PITTA - Fire & Water
Focused, driven, sharp, warm, intense. Tends toward a strong appetite, sensitivity to heat, and fiery emotions.
KAPHA - Earth & Water
Steady, nurturing, grounded, loyal, calm. Tends toward sluggish digestion, holding onto weight, and slow to anger but slow to shift.
Most of us are a blend of Vata-Pitta, perhaps, or Pitta-Kapha, but many people find one or two resonate strongly. (There are plenty of free dosha quizzes online if you want to explore further; it's genuinely fascinating.)
I am strong Vata closely followed by Pitta with very little Kapha.
SO WHERE DOES VEGAN VS. VEGETARIAN VS. OMNIVORE COME IN?
Here's the beautiful, slightly radical thing about Ayurveda: it doesn't actually prescribe a single way of eating for everyone. It prescribes eating for you. For your dosha. For your season. For your age, your climate, your current state of balance.
It is, in every sense, the original personalised nutrition. And it has some genuinely interesting things to say about how different constitutions thrive on different foods, including whether animal products might serve or hinder your particular balance.
A little context: Ayurveda traditionally leans toward a plant-rich diet for most people, with an emphasis on seasonal, fresh, and locally sourced foods. However, it also acknowledges that some constitutions, particularly Vata πββοΈ, may benefit from small amounts of certain animal products. It is not dogmatic. It is deeply, fundamentally individual.
EATING FOR YOUR DOSHA
Here's a gentle introduction to how each dosha relates to food. Think of this as a starting point for curiosity, not a strict prescription.
VATA - WARM, GROUNDING & NOURISHING
Air & Ether Β· light, dry, cold by nature
β Vata needs warmth, heaviness, and moisture to balance its naturally light, dry, cool energy
β Favour warm cooked foods: soups, stews, porridges, roasted root vegetables
β Healthy fats are your friend: ghee, avocado, olive oil, coconut
β Vata is the dosha most likely to benefit from some animal protein if needed: eggs, dairy, and occasionally fish can help ground an out-of-balance Vata
β Avoid raw, cold, and dry foods when feeling anxious, scattered, or depleted
β Plant-based Vatas can absolutely thrive; just prioritise warm, oily, well-seasoned whole foods
PITTA - COOLING, CALMING & LIGHTLY NOURISHING
Fire & Water Β· sharp, hot, intense by nature
β Pitta needs cooling, calming foods to soothe its naturally fiery, intense energy
β Favour fresh, slightly cool, and mildly flavoured foods: cucumber, coconut, leafy greens, sweet fruits
β A plant-forward or vegetarian diet often suits Pitta beautifully, less heat-generating than meat
β Red meat and spicy foods tend to inflame an already fiery Pitta; use sparingly
β Pittas often feel energised and balanced on a well-planned plant-based diet
β Avoid skipping meals; a hungry Pitta is a formidable thing
KAPHA - LIGHT, WARMING & STIMULATING
Earth & Water Β· heavy, slow, cool by nature
β Kapha needs lightness, warmth, and stimulation to balance its naturally heavy, slow, grounding energy
β Favour light, dry, warm, and well-spiced foods: lentils, beans, bitter greens, ginger, turmeric
β A plant-based or vegetarian diet tends to suit Kapha very well, lighter and easier to digest
β Heavy animal products, dairy, and excess oils can increase Kapha sluggishness
β Kapha benefits from variety, bold flavours, and avoiding emotional eating
β The one dosha that genuinely does better with smaller, lighter meals
THE BIGGER PICTURE
What Ayurveda reminds us, beautifully and consistently, is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to what we should eat. The perfect diet for one person can genuinely be the wrong diet for another, not because either person is wrong, but because they are different. Wonderfully, specifically, constitutionally different.
Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore, the Ayurvedic lens invites you to ask a slightly different question: not "is this diet right?" but "is this food right for me, right now?" And that shift from ideology to intuition, from rule to relationship, is where the real nourishment begins.
A FEW AYURVEDIC PRINCIPLES THAT APPLY TO ALL DOSHAS:
β Eat seasonally and locally wherever you can; food carries the energy of its environment
β Eat your largest meal at midday, when your digestive fire (Agni) is strongest
β Cook with love and intention. Ayurveda considers the cook's energy to be an ingredient
β Eat in a calm environment, without screens; your nervous system affects your digestion
β Leave a little space in your stomach; the old rule of eating to 75% capacity
β Spices are medicine: ginger, turmeric, cumin, and coriander support all doshas in different ways
The most important thing, whichever way you eat, is that you eat with awareness. That you notice how food makes you feel, not just in the moment, but an hour later, a day later. That you bring the same quality of presence to your plate that you bring to your mat.
Because in Ayurveda, eating is not just nutrition. It is a sacred act of self-knowing. And that, whoever you are, whatever you eat, is something we can all get behind. πΏ
What's Happening In The Pantry π§ββοΈ
Our next set of beginner courses don't start until August. If you know someone who's looking to get into yoga and doesn't know how or where to start, then now is the perfect time to start your campaign to get them into our awesome beginner courses. Our beginner Yoga course has been running for 12 years and is the best and most well-rounded around (If I do say so myself). With a good mix of philosophy, breathwork, and of course, physical postures, but what really sets us apart is the emphasis on finding ways to let the poses fit you rather than the other way around. Plus, you wonderful folks who make up our amazing community.
It's also a great course to brush up on your basics and get back into the swing of things if you've been away from your yoga practice for a while...ππ
For more information and to secure a coveted spot in this fantastic course, check out our website.β
There are a few fantastic workshops coming up over the next few months, yay!
Starting with our beloved Restorative Yoga session at the end of the month!
The Power of Rest is 2 hours of absolute bliss, surrendering your aching and tired body to the soft embrace of bolsters, blankets and blocks, plus some lovely poetry to help you sink into your own inner wisdom and intuition. Join Tash on Sunday, July 26 for this bi-monthly favourite.
βBook Here and bring a friend ππ
We've also got another SOUNDBATH happening on August 23rd
Full Moon Surrender - Letting Go And Reconnecting - Restorative Sound Journey
This is happening a couple of days after the actual full moon, but the moon's pull will still be strong, so I thought we might make an event of it π. Make sure you grab your ticket for this event before it slips your mind, because it will be here in a flash and it will be awesome!
βBook your spot in the session and bring your friends to share the full moon magic!
AND even more exciting!!! In September, we are going to explore releasing tension and stress through the MELT method of using a tennis ball to access trigger points in the body and coax the body to let go of deeply held tightness and tension; then we will follow that up with an hour of restorative yoga to soothe and soften any lingering tensions. You will achieve jellyfish/sloth status!
AND you'll also get a special tennis ball to take home for your continued home practice, yay!
βCheck out all the details for our Melt, Release, Restore Workshop - 2 hours to a new you!
Mark your calendar; this is not to be missed!
Head here to book all your regular yoga classes and maybe even try some new ones!
Remember, you can join us online from anywhere in the world, live or at a time that suits you, with our instant 14-day on-demand Zoom recording!
Don't forget you can also join us for a FREE meditation session every Saturday morning, and even if you can't, you can book in via Zoom and do the meditation later in the day, or every day, until the next session :)
Your YouTube Class Of The Week
Need some yoga before bed?
I got you :)
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With warmth, good food, and absolutely no judgment about what's on your plate πΏ
Tash & The Yoga Pantry team
See you on the mat π»
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Letβs spread the yoga love far and wide!
I see you, and I appreciate you. You are awesome...and don't you forget it ;) x
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