What is a Dosha?
There are Three Doshas which are the energies governing all the functions in the body. While modern medicine is based on the structure of the body, Ayurveda is based on the energies behind that structure. The five Mahabhutas give rise to three Doshas or Tridoshas.
Vata
Composition: Air + Ether
Description: The energy of action, transportation, and movement.
Qualities: Dry, rough, light, cold, subtle, and mobile
Pitta
Composition: Fire + Water (Primarily Fire)
Description: The energy of transformation, conversion, and digestion.
Qualities: Oily, sharp, hot, light, moving, liquid, and has an acidic smell
Kapha
Composition: Water + Earth
Description: The energy of construction, lubrication, and nourishment.
Qualities: Moist, cold, heavy, dull, soft, sticky, and static
Vata: Ones that gives energy
Overview
Element: Air + Ether
In nature, Vata is like the wind. It is constantly moving and scattering things around. Vata is called the King of the Doshas mainly because it is the moving force behind everything, including Pitta and Kapha.
Personality
Vata people are generally slim and slender, either short or tall with prominent bones and less muscles. Their other physical characteristics are oval face, small eyes (many times roll eyeballs often), dry skin, thin hair, small joints (may crack often), and long fingers. Variability is Vata nature. Their metabolism and sleep pattern is always changing.
They talk a lot, walk a lot and complain a lot. They do lot of hand gestures almost like they talk with their hands. They are good in attracting people with their talking and expressions. They are very intuitive, imaginative and artistic. They are good in writing poems, creating art, or dancing. They love to travel or be constantly on the go.
The Vata mind is like a busy bee, constantly buzzing around, moving in circles. They are born worriers- worry about everything and anything. Often feel anxious, nervous and worried. Many time their mind is in the future, not enjoying the present moment. They are good at playing “what if” game. Vata slogan is “Can I change my mind?”
Causes of Aggravation
- Fall and early part of winter.
- Eating too many dry, bitter, pungent, astringent, light, cold, stale or processed foods.
- Drinking too cold drinks or food.
- Drugs.
- Exposure to cold and wind, dark (less light).
- Listening to loud noise, bright light, too much TV.
- Erratic work or life-style schedule.
- Fasting, wrong dieting, less sleep, interrupted sleep.
- Excessive exercise, running, staying up late, holding natural urges.
- Stress, fear, anxiety, insecurity, worry.
- Excessive bleeding, excessive cleansing.
- Sexual overindulgence.
Signs of Aggravation
- Dry: Skin, hair, eyes, ears, lips, joints, stools, bloating, gas, dehydration.
- Light: Light-headedness, restless mind, ungroundedness, dizziness, thinness, weight loss.
- Cold: Cold body, poor circulation, muscle spasm, constriction, tightness, pain, asthma.
- Rough: Breaking of skin and lips, varicose veins.
- Subtle: Tremors, twitching, fear, anxiety, insecurity.
- Mobile: Racing mind, restlessness, fast actions, chatter, fidgeting, obsessive compulsive, bipolar, manic depression, muscle twitching and palpitations.
- Clear: Racing mind, agitated mind.
Remedies for Balancing Vata
- Get to bed before 10:00 pm and rise by 6:00 am
- Maintain a daily routine with regular times for eating, sleeping, and working (Dinacharya)
- Drink warm beverages and eat freshly prepared, warm, whole foods.
- Eat foods that are naturally sweet, sour, and salty in taste.
- Use generous amounts of high-quality oils or ghee and warming spices like ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, and cumin in your daily diet
- Avoid alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and chocolate
- Incorporate a regular exercise routine into your week
- Vata-reducing herbs and remedies
Pitta: That Which Produces Heat or Anger
Overview
Element: Fire + Water
In nature, Pitta is like the sun’s heat, giving light and transforming things. It is the heat or transformative energy in the body. Pitta helps us to think, discriminate, be confident, have clear vision, speak to the point, and see different things and colors, digest food, maintain body temperature, protect from excess heat and cold, and give luster to skin.
Personality
Pitta people are medium built and height, with strong muscles. Sharpness is the main characteristic of Pitta personality – Sharp nose, sharp eyes and sharp chin and (unfortunately) sharp tongue. They tend to have receding hairlines or get early graying or balding.
Pitta people are good speakers. They speak to the point (no beating around the bush). They are very precise, goal seeking, orderly and tidy. Pitta people are list makers; they can’t do anything unless planned. They are always “on time” machine. The Pitta mind is like a bull. Once set on the goal, it is difficult to change.
Often, they are also opinionated, criticizing others or telling people what is right and wrong (that is why they create enemies). Pitas get irritable or angry quickly, especially when things don’t happen their way. Pitta’s metabolism is very sharp. They are always hungry and angry. Their slogan is “Do it my way or the highway”.
Causes of Aggravation
- Summer Time
- Eating very sour, salty or pungent food; Too much yogurt, sour juices, junk food.
- Smoking, alcohol, hallucinogenic or excessive medicinal drugs.
- Outdoor activities in the afternoon, exposure to sun.
- Anger, irritability, sexual indulgence.
- Excessive competition, intellectual stimulation.
Signs of Aggravation
- Oily: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, oily skin, acne, skin blisters.
- Sharp: Gastritis, ulcers, acid reflux, heartburn, irritability, anger, sharp pain, sharp headaches.
- Hot: Fevers, infections, inflammations, excessive perspiration, red hot eyes, desire for cool drinks, thirst, burning, hyperacidity and insomnia.
- Light: Dizziness, sensitivity to heat and light, ringing in ears.
- Acidic: Acidic smell to feces, sweat and urine, skin, breath, jaundice, yellow hue to the skin, skin infections.
- Mobile: Vertigo, dizziness.
- Liquid: Excessive perspiration, thirst, urination.
Remedies for Balancing Pitta
- Maintain a daily routine with regular times for eating, sleeping, and working (Dinacharya)
- Use ghee, or clarified butter, in your cooking.
- Drink 4—5 litres of warm or room temperature water every day
- Keep company with people who are happy and positive
- Meditation is the key to the happy mind. It helps controlling emotions like anger, irritability, among others. A few minutes meditation twice a day is recommended.
- Moderately difficult yogasanas can pacify Pitta by increasing the blood circulation and detoxifying the body.
- Spend time in nature—be with plants, walk on the grass, walk by the lakeside, and moon gaze to bring peace to the mind.
Kapha: The One that Helps to Connect or Adhere
Overview
Element: Water + Earth
In nature, Kapha is like water. As two-thirds of the earth comprised of water, two-thirds of the physical body also comprised of water. The energy of Kapha helps us to feel calm and content, notice the taste of our food, nourishes all of the organs and cells in our body, builds tissue, lubricates our joints and air passages, and protects all of the physical systems in the body.
Personality
Kapha people are well built, full-bodied people. Their features are rounded – Round face, round big eyes, roundish nose, and sweet looks. They have long and thick hair.
Kapha people are loving, nurturing, caring and are peacemakers. They want everybody to be happy. Their slogan is “Don’t worry be happy.” They have good endurance and strong immune system. They are good listeners and speak very little. At times they tend to be shy. Kaphas tend to gain weight very easily and retain water, causing swelling. Bit lazy, Kaphas like to rely on others and like to follow others. Kapha mind tends to get heavier, many times stays in the past – day-dreaming about past incidences. Kapha people get attached quickly and have a hard time letting go.
Kapha people are well built, full-bodied people. Their features are rounded – Round face, round big eyes, roundish nose, and sweet looks. They have long and thick hair.
Kapha people are loving, nurturing, caring and are peacemakers. They want everybody to be happy. Their slogan is “Don’t worry be happy.” They have good endurance and strong immune system. They are good listeners and speak very little. At times they tend to be shy. Kaphas tend to gain weight very easily and retain water, causing swelling. Bit lazy, Kaphas like to rely on others and like to follow others. Kapha mind tends to get heavier, many times stays in the past – day-dreaming about past incidences. Kapha people get attached quickly and have a hard time letting go.
Causes of Aggravation
- Late Winter, Spring.
- Eating too much sweet, sour or salty food, junk food such as candies, ice-creams, desserts, donuts, oily fried food, red meat, excessive milk and cheese products.
- Excessive eating and drinking.
- Excessive sleep, lack of exercise or physical activity.
Signs of Aggravation
- Moist: Clammy skin due to too much oil
- Cold: Cold body, colds, cough, congestion, sinus problems, pale color
- Heavy: Heaviness, obesity, lethargy, weak Agni, indigestion, Candida, food allergies
- Static: Laziness, excessive sleep, lethargy
- Soft: Excessive saliva in the mouth, white-coated tongue
- Liquid: Water retention, swelling on the body, swollen joints, ascites, heavy mind, slow thinking
Remedies for Kapha Imbalance
- Foods that are astringent, spicy, and bitter tastes are conducive for keeping Kapha under check. Dry and warm food helps too.
- Keeping the body active is a must for Kapha personalities. It ensures that they do not slip into lethargy and inertia.
- Regular practice of yoga helps keeping the energy high, keeping toxins away and the body active.
- The controlled and long breath taken during Pranayama keeps the mind calm and increases the health of lungs.
- Avoid sleep during the day which can increase Kapha.
Find out your Dosha by taking a quiz
Visit a Holistic Ayurvedic Coach
During the consultation the Holistic Ayurvedic Coach can help identify your Dosha and provide dietary, daily routines, Ayurvedic recommendations.
Free 60 Minute Consultation
Completely free of charge, 60 Minute Consultation
Dietary Advise
Advise on dietary choices based on Doshas and the six tastes
Daily Routines
Create daily and nightly routines based on constitution, age and the seasons
Ayurvedic Principles
Ayurvedic principles including the holistic view of health, the elements, Doshas
Location
Online meeting, phone call or in person at coffee shop/park nearby Charlottesville, VA
Yoga Advise
Recommend yoga and yogic practices for improved health, including pranayama/breathwork
