Ayurveda means the science of life. Instead of treating an illness, Ayurveda is all about living in wellness. Ayurveda dives deep into the connection between food, body and the earth. Our bodies are made of five elements – earth, air, water, space and fire. The balance of these elements dictates the structure of our bodies.
The balance between these elements is essential for us to lead a healthy long life this balance is called Dosha. There are three doshas according to this age-old system Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
- Vata is the energy of movement. It is the combination of space and air.
- Pitta balance is about metabolism. It is the combination of fire and water.
- Kapha is about structure. And lubrication. It is the combination of earth and water.
We all have different combinations of these doshas. Which dictates our personality types and behavior patterns. They affect our emotional, mental and physical wellness as well. Knowing our dosha balance will help us to create a lifestyle that’s suitable for our body type.
Characteristics of Vata individual
The word Vata is derived from a root which means ‘to move’ this defines their agility. Defining the body of Vata people, they have dry skin and a light flexible body with light muscles, in other words, they tend to be slim or sometimes underweight. In height, they often appear to be too tall or too short. They may even appear physically underdeveloped with a flat chest, less strength & stamina.
These individuals often experience digestive difficulties and constipation is one of the most common ailments. They tend to eat fats or very little resulting in an imbalance.
Psychologically Vatas are blessed with quick and clear minds and mental flexibility & creativity with an excellent imagination and excel in coming up with new ideas.
Characteristics of Pitta individual
Pitta individuals generally have medium height and body. Compared to Vata types muscle development is stronger. Pitta’s Skin tends to be oily, warm and less wrinkled. Moles and freckles are common.
The word ‘pitta’ is derived from the Sanskrit word tapa which means heat as the normal body temperature of pitta type is a little higher, their hands and feet are usually warm and sweaty. Hence, they have a low tolerance to hot weather, sunshine and hard physical work.
Pittas have a strong appetite and digestion. They tend to eat hot spicy food which is not good for them. They should eat food with a sweet, bitter or astringent taste.
Pitta individuals are alert, intelligent and have strong comprehension & concentration their memories are sharp. Pittas are night people. Orderliness is important to them. Thus they tend to keep rooms clean and clothes in designated places.
Characteristics of Kapha individual
People with Kapha constitution are blessed with a strong, healthy and well-developed body. They have a broader and expanded chest with strong muscles and heavy bones as a result they tend to gain weight easily. Kaphas commonly have slow digestion and metabolism.
Their skin is soft, smooth and thick. Kaphas are a sweet tooth. They love candy, chocolates etc. The cloudy and heavy characteristics of Kapaha feel foggy and heavy in the morning. Moreover, they prefer midday yet feel like sleeping after a meal because of this tendency Kapha imbalances which is not good for them.
These individuals move, talk, eat, act slowly. Their spiritual or religious faith is deep and abiding, their mind is calm and steady. Importantly, the difficult time of year for Kapha individuals are winter and early spring. Because during these times, Kapha accumulates in the system and cause an imbalance in physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
Dual Types and Triple Types
In dual types, individuals have both the characteristics of doshas. Whereas a few fortunate people have the characteristics of all the three doshas. This results in the likelihood of exceptionally good health and a long life span.