Ayurveda Doshas & Body-Types … By Mark Bunn
Three people get stressed at work, one has a nervous breakdown, one has a heart attack and the other develops diabetes.
Why do three different people on the same exercise program get three completely different results?
Have you ever wondered why any of the millions of diets that have been invented, none ever work for everyone?
In fact, if you looked closely, you would find that any diet or exercise regime, works great for about one third of the population, is averagely successful for another third, and for the other third, they are downright damaging to one’s health.
Why is this so?
Because we are all DIFFERENT!!!
Now this is blatantly obvious, and you and everyone else already know that.
Strangely though, when it comes to diets, supplements, health and exercise programs, most people (and experts) tend to search for some universal remedy that is right for everyone. This is not wise!
What’s missing is a comprehensive system of understanding of how we are all different…and most importantly, what specific foods, exercise and daily/seasonal routines are right/balancing for each of us.
The ancient & eternal science of Ayurveda does just that, through its timeless understanding of what’s called ‘the doshas’.
* Mark’s training was in Maharishi AyurVeda
The Ayurvedic Doshas – The Missing Link to ‘Individualising Health-Care’
According to Ayurveda, each one of us is comprised of a unique mix of three mind/body principles which are responsible for our ‘unique’ physical, mental and emotional characteristics.
These doshas are the ‘governing principles’ of ‘Intelligence’ that literally govern everything in the universe…and therefore each one of us…including you!
Vata, Pitta & Kapha:
The three doshas are known as Vata, Pitta, & Kapha. Understand these three doshas and how to influence them and you literally hold the reins of life in your hand. As the doshas govern ‘everything’, if you know how to balance them, you can eliminate ill-health, create perfect balance and therefore enjoy ideal health…without any need for an ‘external expert, doctor, guru or anyone/anything outside your own ‘Self’.
How It All Works:
According to Ayurveda, everything is comprised of different proportions of five fundamental elements – space, air, fire, water and earth.
-
Vata is dominantly expressed as ‘space and air’ and is responsible for all ‘communication and movement’.
Its qualities are light, dry, changeable, quick, cold & subtle…like the ‘wind’.
-
Pitta is dominantly expressed as fire and a little bit of water. Pitta governs all ‘energy and transformation’ in our bodies and the universe.
Its qualities are like fire – hot, intense, sharp, dynamic, sour/acidic, related to colour (red, orange, yellow etc).
-
Kapha is dominantly expressed as water and earth. As such it is almost the exact opposite of Vata dosha. It is heavy, slow, non-changing, sweet and moist/unctuous/oily. Kapha governs all ‘structure and lubrication’.
How Are You DIFFERENT/UNIQUE?
While each of us has some of each dosha (you couldn’t live without all the doshas being present), the proportion of the doshas in your ‘make-up’ will be different from those around you.
Your individual mix of doshas is called your ‘Prakriti’. It’s your individual/unique ‘mind-body’ make-up or constitution – your essential ‘Nature’ to be precise.
Are you Vata Predominant?
If you are dominated by vata, you will naturally,
be more light, quick, enthusiastic, fun
have a lighter/slimmer build
be more changeable, versatile and creative by nature
have a tendency towards dry hair, dry skin & light/interrupted sleep
have a delicate appetite/digestion that can be easily disturbed
love change and movement (travel, dancing…not sitting still!!!)
like to talk/communicate/express…chat, gossip etc!!!
get enthusiastic about new things but change your mind/mood easily
be a bit of a ‘daydreamer’, but also the ‘life of the party’.
You probably find it hard to gain weight, to sleep deeply, or to stick at the same thing for a long time.
You may have a tendency towards cracking joints, wind or bloating and you dislike cold or windy conditions.
Your work/vocation will likely involve being in something more creative or involving communication, travel (movement) or people – an artist, dancer, flight attendant, receptionist, entertainer, an ‘ideas person’ etc.
* I described the vata’s first, because otherwise they (‘you’) would have got bored and fluttered off to read something else!!!
Are you Pitta Predominant?
If you are pitta predominant, you will naturally,
be more fiery, dynamic, focused, competitive
have a medium (possibly muscular) build
have blond/white, reddy, golden, grey or receding hair
have a sharp mind and strong intellect
have skin that is generally more sensitive, maybe freckly and burns easily
have a strong appetite and digestive system – you love eating and get irritable/’angry’ if a meal is late
like order, systems and ‘having lists’!!!
be motivated, passionate and have strong drive about something
be more likely to get ulcers…and to give other people ulcers!!!
be a bit perfectionistic, be conscious of your image and have a ‘healthy ego’!!!
Your work/vocation will likely involve being a businessperson/entrepreneur, an athlete, self-employed, in something combative (police, army), highly intellectual (science, physics), sales/marketing, leadership, a ‘get the job done’ type role.
Sound like you? If so, that’s good, because pitta’s are the best!!! Well not really (no dosha is better than another), but if you’re pitta predominant you probably ‘think’ you’re better than everyone else!!!
Are you Kapha Predominant?
If you are dominated by kapha, you will naturally,
be sweet, dependable, earthy, stable & supportive
have a larger (more ‘cuddly’ build)
have large lustrous eyes, soft but possibly oily skin and thick hair
be down to earth and happy (slow to get stressed)
have a tendency towards excess mucous and congestion
be slow to start new things/get information, but once you start you have great endurance and rarely forget things
have a slower/heavier digestion
be well liked for your placid, sweet & supportive disposition
have a tendency to retain/hoard things – money, jobs, junk…weight (“I just look at a piece of cake and put on 2 kgs”)
Your work/vocation will likely involve being in something nourishing/supportive or requiring patience and thoroughness – a teacher/educator, a doctor/nurse, administrator, finance person (accountant, treasurer), support staff, labourer etc.
* Note – You Have All 3 Doshas:
It’s important to appreciate that you (or anyone) are not just one dosha, but a combination of all three. Most people have one or two doshas most dominant in their nature, with the other one(s) less prominent.
Where someone has equal amounts of all three doshas, this is called ‘sama dosha’.
Are YOU ‘Out of Balance’???
Because the doshas govern ‘everything’ in the universe, everything you do, affects the balance of doshas within your mind & body.
For example, due to particular weather/seasonal influences, lifestyle, foods, relationships, you may create too much or too little of one or more doshas in your body-mind. Such imbalance is called ‘Vikriti’.
Although anyone can develop any doshic imbalance, individuals with naturally strong vata tendencies are more prone to vata imbalances, those with naturally strong kapha tendencies are more prone to kapha imbalances.
How Vata Gets Out of Balance (Excessive)
-
• cold – food, drinks, weather
• dryness – windy weather, dry (non oily) food
• change – irregular mealtimes, variable routine, changing seasons
• stimulation – computers, action movies, intense exercise … coffee!!!
-
• you feel anxious/worried
• you find it hard to make up your mind…and change it often
• you forget things regularly (“where did I leave my car keys”)
• your skin/hair gets dry…as do your bowels (possibly making you constipated)
• you find it hard to ‘settle down’, to sleep well & you want to ‘move’ constantly (as may people near you as you are more prone to ‘wind’!!!)
• your digestion/appetite, mood & energy levels fluctuate throughout the day
• you feel the cold, get tired easily just wish life could ‘slow down’
-
Arthritis/Cracking Joints, Nervous Conditions, Insomnia, Chronic Fatigue, Restless Legs, Cancer (all doshas can be involved here), Constipation, Asthma.
How Pitta Gets Out of Balance (Excessive)
-
• too much hot/spicy food
• a lot of sour or salty food
• hot weather
• too much ‘intensity/seriousness’
• not enough fun/play/relaxation
-
• you feel angry, irritable and impatient – ‘hot under the collar’
• you are over-competitive/ over-critical (usually of others!)
• you are too serious (people say “you need to ‘chill out”)
• you are really uncomfortable in hot weather
-
Heart Disease (Type A Heart Attacks), Excess Anger/Aggression, Skin Conditions (Eczema, Psoriasis), Liver Disease/Cirrhosis, Eye Problems (sensitive eyes, needing glasses etc), Diarrhea, Acid Stomach/Reflux/Ulcers.
How Kapha Gets Out of Balance (Excessive)
-
• ‘too much’ cold – food, drinks, weather
• heaviness – excessive heavy or oily foods (or too much food in general)
• insufficient activity/exercise
• damp weather
• not enough variety/change/stimulation
-
you feel lethargic, depressed and lazy
you have gained Weight and generally feel ‘heavy’
your digestion is sluggish…you feel’ ‘stuck’
you may feel congested and resistant to change
-
Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, Fluid Retention/Excessive Mucous, Depression, Lethargy (Couch Potato Syndrome!), Joint Problems, Congestion/Sinus Problems/Coughs & Colds, Allergies.
Okay, I’m Out of Balance…How Do I Fix It?
Balancing Vata:
If your Vata is out of balance, you need to adjust your diet and lifestyle etc to bring in the opposite qualities of Vata.
E.g. increase,
Rest – get to bed early & get plenty of rest generally
Good Routine – regular daily routine – sleep & mealtimes
Warmth – keeping your body warm, warm food & drinks
Oil – unctuous diet (non-dry), warm oil body massages
Sweetness – more sweet foods/relationships (Vata’s love touch/hugs)
Slowness – go for more relaxed/calming activities/exercise
– e.g meditation, gentle yoga, quiet time, cat naps…
Vata is also balanced by avoiding exposure to wind and cold, listening to relaxing, soothing music, and generally ‘slowing down’.
Balancing Pitta:
If your Pitta is out of balance, you need to adjust your diet and lifestyle to bring in the opposite qualities of Pitta.
E.g. increase,
Coolness – cool foods/drinks/climate (avoid hot sun), water activities – swimming
Fun/Leisure – take regular breaks from ‘work’ & have more ‘fun-time’
Natural Beauty – spend time looking at trees, moonlight, tranquil water
Sweet & Bitter Foods…and reduce ‘hot’ (spicy), salty and sour foods
Pitta is also balanced by reducing/avoiding ‘impure substances’ (alcohol, cigarettes) and generally ‘chilling out’ more.
Balancing Kapha:
If your Kapha is out of balance, you need to adjust your diet and lifestyle to bring in the opposite qualities of Kapha.
E.g. increase,
Lighter Diet – i.e. reduce heavy/sweet foods/drinks
Variety – keep diet, exercise, work varied
Stimulation – e.g go for ‘spicier’ food, more vigorous exercise
Warmth – keep your warm body, have warm food/drinks
Dryness – e.g. less oil in diet, ‘dry’ (silk glove) body massages
Activity Generally – lots of regular exercise
Kapha is also balanced by avoiding cold, damp environments and generally ‘spicing things up’.
PODCAST:
To listen to Mark’s extensive podcast on the Ayurvedic Doshas & Knowing Your Body-Type it’s
Episode #4 of his Ancient Wisdom for Modern Health Podcast
Notes:
1. Many modern-day Ayurvedic books equate the doshas with the ‘humours’ of the body. This is a very gross understanding of the doshas.
The doshas are far more fundamental than the humours (or anything ‘physical’). They are literally the ‘intelligence’ that underlies all the structure and function in the universe. You can’t literally see or touch the doshas…though you can see their expressions.
2. Personalised Help
The above article is meant only for general educational purposes. The only real way to know your true ‘mind-body’ make-up and how to address (and prevent) specific imbalances/health problems, is to see a properly trained practitioner. For contact details of practitioners trained in the approaches outlined above, feel free to email info@dharmicliving.com.
Mark Bunn was trained in Maharishi Ayurveda – a modern-day restoration of traditional Ayurvedic wisdom in accordance with the ancient Vedic texts. He is the author of ‘Ancient Wisdom for Modern Health’ and speaks at conferences worldwide.