Element equation

It's almost two years since I last stood on a weighing scale, and it was no surprise that I am back to being 88kg. But it took more than a year to put on each of the 13kg that I'd lost in three months. I've never denied my extreme love for food that turns to total devotion when I'm under stress. The past few months haven't really been a cakewalk (though there have been plenty of cakes), and it's all showing now. So here I am, sitting at Balance Wellness Centre in Oasis Centre in consultation with Dr Chandy, the Ayurvedic lifestyle consultant. With his finger on my pulse, he has me pouring out my woes, as he tells me what's wrong with my body and mind. "During consultation, while reading the pulse, I evaluate the body type, which is the most important aspect," Chandy explains. "I try to deduce if it is an active body, if the client engages in regular exercise, check for body-fat accumulation, fat metabolism, water retention in the body, its digestive ability, approximation of its daily need for calories. My objective is to deduce my client's present state of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing by determining how the body has been deprived and how the healing process can replenish it." With a zero-exercise regime, I don't have much hope for myself. Diagnosing me a Kapha-Vata body type, Chandy is extremely sweet by calling me "moderately overweight". Ayurveda divides the human body into three categories — Vata, Pitta and Kapha — and each is governed by an element of nature or a combination of them, giving us an individual body metabolism. "Nature and the human body are governed by the five elements — earth, water, air, space and fire. The combination of these energies define the three major body types — Vata [space and air], Pitta [fire] and Kapha [earth and water]. Known as the tri doshas, these are often imbalanced due to physical and mental factors, leading to illness. However, this can be rectified through awareness of one's dosha and with lifestyle changes. "Your body is dominated by a combination of the elements earth, water and air," Chandy says. He also tells me I'm sleeping a little too much and that I'm not drinking enough water, and that though my body is well, my mental and emotional quotient is in disarray. However, I'm not alone. "People come with all kinds of problems. Many of them stem from a need to lose weight or to detox. If you want to have a healthy life, a good balance is needed in one's physical and mental wellbeing," he says. "It is common for emotional and mental issues to manifest themselves in physical problems. Ayurveda treats these by addressing the root cause of the problem." Chandy draws up a meal plan for me, which will be supplied by the Balance Wellness Café for the next 30 days. Following this, an exercise regime, drinking more water and timely sleep — and I'm expected to lose about 4kg. However, unlike my last regime, there are no restrictions here. "There are no restrictions, apart from following the meal and exercise plan regularly. Ayurveda allows you to do a lot — tackle your problem areas with a balanced approach," Chandy says. From gulfnews