Dr. Svoboda's original work on the constitutional types in Ayurveda has been considered a classic for many years. His new revision and expansion of the subject comes after much further research and practical experience. Dr. Vasant Lad points out: "The healing science of Ayurveda is based totally upon the knowledge of "prakriti", the individual constitution. If every individual knows his own constitution, then one can understand, for instance, what is a good diet and style of life for oneself. One man's food is another man's poison. Therefore, to make one's life healthy, happy and balanced, the knowledge of constitution is absolutely necessary." (Dr. Vasant Lad is the author of Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing, and co-author of The Yoga of Herbs.)
Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
Shop the Amazon.com Textbooks Store and save up to 70% on textbook rentals, 90% on used textbooks and 60% on eTextbooks. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Important Information
Ingredients
Dr. Robert Svoboda has traveled extensively around the world, lecturing and conducting workshops on Ayurveda. This book is an introduction to Ayurveda, and the ancient healing science of India.
Dr. Robert Svoboda has traveled extensively around the world, lecturing and conducting workshops on Ayurveda. This book is an introduction to Ayurveda, and the ancient healing science of India.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
166 of 169 people found the following review helpful
By Sam
Format:Paperback
I was given this book by a friend and absolutely found it amazing. If you're new to it or ayurveda seems to mystical to you, this book explains it. The author is a westerner and is able to communicate his knowledge of ayurveda extremely well. Ive read a lot of books on ayurveda this beats every one of them by far (and is way better than the books Ive read by Deepak Chopra), simply because it digs beneath the superficial understanding of ayurveda to why it makes sense scientifically.
For example, all of the other books I previously read on ayurveda described an individuals health as a natural balance of three elements (wind, fire, and earth). This book made the useful distinction of describing an individuals health as the balance of 3 natural FORCES in your body (vata: catabolism, pitta: metabolism, kapha: anabolism)
I have ulcerative colitis and over a couple of years of my own personal research and experimentation I've come to certain natural methods to help treat my condition. But later on when I got my hands on this book I was suprised to find that most of those recommendations were already described here.
My recommendation is take this book and read it very slowly and carefully digest the points on ayurveda and youll have a really really solid practical understanding of the science that you can use for the rest of your life.
For example, all of the other books I previously read on ayurveda described an individuals health as a natural balance of three elements (wind, fire, and earth). This book made the useful distinction of describing an individuals health as the balance of 3 natural FORCES in your body (vata: catabolism, pitta: metabolism, kapha: anabolism)
I have ulcerative colitis and over a couple of years of my own personal research and experimentation I've come to certain natural methods to help treat my condition. But later on when I got my hands on this book I was suprised to find that most of those recommendations were already described here.
My recommendation is take this book and read it very slowly and carefully digest the points on ayurveda and youll have a really really solid practical understanding of the science that you can use for the rest of your life.
87 of 87 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
One of the most rewarding and useful books I have ever read
I first read "Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution" by Robert Svoboda eight years ago, and it was in fact the first book on the subject that I had ever read. It is an engagingly written, perfectly organized introduction to a discipline that I call "data dense." That is to say, ayurveda is an extraordinarily complex study of the forces and forms, events and processes, that govern the structure and functioning of the human body in health and disease. Because of Dr. Svoboda's clear and logical elucidation of that study, it is made understandable to the reader willing to invest the time and thought in surveying its breadth and plumbing its depth.
Dr. Robert Svoboda is an American author and an ayurvedic physician who is one of the luminaries of the field: a teacher, writer and practitioner who alone has done more to raise public awareness of the ancient healing art than any other Westerner and one of the dozen leading ayurvedic educators in the world today. He is the author of a dozen books on the subject and countless professional and popular articles. Svoboda graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1972 and in 1973 moved to India to study at the prestigious Tilak Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya (an ayuvedic medical college) in Pune. In 1980, he graduated from the University of Pune with the degree of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) and was awarded the distinction of "Ayurvedacharya." Svoboda is the first Westerner to graduate from a college of ayurvedic medicine and to be licensed to practice ayurveda in India.
For the individual new to ayurveda, this book is the best introduction available. The author communicates his deep knowledge of ayurvedic science extremely effectively, probing beneath the superficialities and illustrating clearly the reasons that it makes sense scientifically and philosophically.
Dr. Svoboda's work on the role of the "prakriti," the constitutional psychobiological types postulated by ayurveda's theory comes after much research and clinical experience. Prakriti, the individual `s constitution, is the basis of ayurvedic medicine; ayurvedic theory asserts that if an individual (or his physician) comprehends the nature of their own constitution, they can extrapolate with precision what comprises a good diet and lifestyle specifically for them. This emphasis on the unique needs of each individual in maintaining or restoring a state of health is the "crown jewel" of ayurveda and is what makes it distinctive from all other healing arts.
In addition to explaining the theory underlying "prakriti," this valuable work illustrates how best to bring each constitutional type into healthy balance, addressing some of the most commonly encountered health challenges such as obesity and malnutrition, asthma, allergies, rheumatic diseases, tuberculosis and cancer.
Dr. Svoboda does not stop at the fundamentals: he generously gives his readers a small taste of some of the more rarified realms of ayurvedic practice in the concluding chapters of the book on Indian alchemy (rasa shastra) and on the metaphysics that lie behind and beyond the workings of this ancient science. That taste of what ayurveda has to offer leaves the reader hungry for more (and of course, there is very much more).
I unhesitatingly recommend "Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution" for anyone curious as to what ayurveda is all about: the person considering consulting an ayurvedic practitioner, the Western-trained health professional interested in or wishing to augment his or her effectiveness using ayurveda's principles, the student of yoga curious about yoga's "sister science," or anyone inquiring into ancient India's vast contribution to world science.
Dr. Svoboda has done wonderful work in writing this book, and deserves much gratitude for his effort. This is one of the most rewarding books I have ever read, and one that inspired me to continue my study of ayurveda.
I first read "Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution" by Robert Svoboda eight years ago, and it was in fact the first book on the subject that I had ever read. It is an engagingly written, perfectly organized introduction to a discipline that I call "data dense." That is to say, ayurveda is an extraordinarily complex study of the forces and forms, events and processes, that govern the structure and functioning of the human body in health and disease. Because of Dr. Svoboda's clear and logical elucidation of that study, it is made understandable to the reader willing to invest the time and thought in surveying its breadth and plumbing its depth.
Dr. Robert Svoboda is an American author and an ayurvedic physician who is one of the luminaries of the field: a teacher, writer and practitioner who alone has done more to raise public awareness of the ancient healing art than any other Westerner and one of the dozen leading ayurvedic educators in the world today. He is the author of a dozen books on the subject and countless professional and popular articles. Svoboda graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1972 and in 1973 moved to India to study at the prestigious Tilak Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya (an ayuvedic medical college) in Pune. In 1980, he graduated from the University of Pune with the degree of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) and was awarded the distinction of "Ayurvedacharya." Svoboda is the first Westerner to graduate from a college of ayurvedic medicine and to be licensed to practice ayurveda in India.
For the individual new to ayurveda, this book is the best introduction available. The author communicates his deep knowledge of ayurvedic science extremely effectively, probing beneath the superficialities and illustrating clearly the reasons that it makes sense scientifically and philosophically.
Dr. Svoboda's work on the role of the "prakriti," the constitutional psychobiological types postulated by ayurveda's theory comes after much research and clinical experience. Prakriti, the individual `s constitution, is the basis of ayurvedic medicine; ayurvedic theory asserts that if an individual (or his physician) comprehends the nature of their own constitution, they can extrapolate with precision what comprises a good diet and lifestyle specifically for them. This emphasis on the unique needs of each individual in maintaining or restoring a state of health is the "crown jewel" of ayurveda and is what makes it distinctive from all other healing arts.
In addition to explaining the theory underlying "prakriti," this valuable work illustrates how best to bring each constitutional type into healthy balance, addressing some of the most commonly encountered health challenges such as obesity and malnutrition, asthma, allergies, rheumatic diseases, tuberculosis and cancer.
Dr. Svoboda does not stop at the fundamentals: he generously gives his readers a small taste of some of the more rarified realms of ayurvedic practice in the concluding chapters of the book on Indian alchemy (rasa shastra) and on the metaphysics that lie behind and beyond the workings of this ancient science. That taste of what ayurveda has to offer leaves the reader hungry for more (and of course, there is very much more).
I unhesitatingly recommend "Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution" for anyone curious as to what ayurveda is all about: the person considering consulting an ayurvedic practitioner, the Western-trained health professional interested in or wishing to augment his or her effectiveness using ayurveda's principles, the student of yoga curious about yoga's "sister science," or anyone inquiring into ancient India's vast contribution to world science.
Dr. Svoboda has done wonderful work in writing this book, and deserves much gratitude for his effort. This is one of the most rewarding books I have ever read, and one that inspired me to continue my study of ayurveda.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By yogi-vet
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've read several books on ayurveda, done a couple of the self analysis charts and even had an ayurvedic consult but the concepts have remained elusive. I had rejected ayurveda as a system of self knowledge and potential healing for myself. However, when I picked up this book and started to leaf through it I could instantly relate to the descriptions of the doshas, how they express in people, including myself. This is the first book I've come across that spells it out so simply and therefore makes the knowledge applicable. In regards to how food relates to and affects the doshas this book again, quite simply, lays out the information. From the westerners point of view it is a little hard to fully appreciate the aspects of food (taste) and how that affects our doshas but with a little faith you can kind of see how foods do affect us.
The book is a quick read, well written to keep you moving through the subjects and understandable.
I would recommend this book to someone who wants to learn about ayurveda.
The book is a quick read, well written to keep you moving through the subjects and understandable.
I would recommend this book to someone who wants to learn about ayurveda.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good summarization
I recommend this book for anyone who is starting to read up on Ayruvedia. I suggest this for a comprehensive good over view of the principals book. Easy read.
Published 17 days ago by Heathermdavis
4.0 out of 5 stars
great guide
Great guide that explains ayurvedic concepts as well as practical tips. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about ayurveda.
Published 1 month ago by Kelsey Autin
4.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to understand
I found this book easy to understand, I thought it'd be hard to since I've never red about ayurveda . good book.
Published 1 month ago by Cesar
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love a good book
If Ayurvedic is a way of life for you as is for me, or your interested in incorporating Ayurvedic lifestyle into your massage, cooking etc.... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lisa Freund
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Easygoing, Fascinating Read - Discover and Embrace your Ayurvedic...
I am just getting "into" ayurvedic and this book was recommended to me. I find it so comfortable to read, just an easygoing flow and I don't get a sensation of DO this,... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kirsten L Chepeus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
Glad I bought this book, I have been interested in Ayurveda for some time now and this book helped, just as described.
Published 2 months ago by Jennifer Waterman
5.0 out of 5 stars
good read
Good book especially after reading the science of self healing. It gives you someone else perspective but is still similar to Dr. Lad
Published 3 months ago by Jaron O'Connor
4.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive
I bought this as a gift and there is no question that it contains lots of information. If you just have a casual interest, I think this book has too much theory and you may lose... Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Parrini
4.0 out of 5 stars
some lacks, but a great book overall
Lacks specifics in the recipes area and targets only food based on indian ingredients. The fact that anybody`s body will get accustomed slower to foreign ingredients is a matter of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Radu Costin Negoita
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent book for the western world.. & for the easterners too
The author understands the subject very well, and gives brief but equally indepth explanations on the subject. Very well written. It almost flows like reading a novel. Read more
Published 5 months ago by El Parsi
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
So You'd Like to...
|
|
