It’s never a ‘one size fit all’ proposition when you are considering wellness along with healing. A person should always understand his or her temperament, the situation, the season and the geographical location.
But, have you thought why some people are enthusiastic and others are calm? Do you know why some people don’t gain weight even after eating like a glutton? Do you know why individuals put on weight even after eating less during lunch or dinner?
If that’s what is lingering in your mind, then you can seek the answers through Ayurveda.
In Ayurveda, there are basically three body types, Vata, Kapha and Pitta. The doshas are commonly referred to as biological energies circulating within the body and the mind. While these indicate the overall health, the doshas also govern the mental as well as the physical processes.
Primarily, the doshas are based on the five elements of nature and the associated properties. While Vata is composed of air and space, Kapha is derived from water and fire. Moreover, a person with Pitta Dosha has water and earth as the primary elements.
A fine balance between the three doshas determines that the person is healthy. If the proportion of the doshas is according to the birth constitution, then the person is always energetic. Any imbalance can lead to sickness and make the individual unhealthy.
As every type of element is prominent, all the doshas might be found in an individual. But, with a different ratio or proportion, the constitution then becomes a determining factor for optimal health. The energy can influence the personality traits and might become a unique strength or weakness.
In Ayurveda, vikriti denotes an imbalance or deviation from the prakruti.
So, since everyone is prone to an imbalance, let’s check out the body constitutions and which type of dosha is quite important.
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3 Ayurvedic Body Types
Vata Dosha
The Vata Dosha could be determined only when wind energy is dominant. Since the dosha is based on the elements of air and space, the energy is supposed to govern the biological activities of the body. In fact, it is nicknamed as ‘the king of doshas’ because it governs the body and helps in driving Pitta Dosha and Kapha Dosha.
When it comes to describing the traits of the person, he or she is always active and performs tasks with a creative mind. As the individuals have the natural ability to communicate, they learn things quickly and are always brimming with enthusiasm and joy.
But, once an imbalance is observed, the individual might become anxious and may show a tendency to react instantly. Dryness of the skin, dry cough, constipation, back pain, abdominal pain, and menstrual disorders are also some of the signs of Vata imbalance.
Vata Body Type
When the Vata Dosha is dominant, people are considered to be physically underdeveloped. While the chest is flat, the muscle tendons and veins are clearly visible. The skin remains dry and the complexion is anything between brown to wheatish.
As far as the personality is concerned, the individuals are either too tall or too short. The eyelashes are not that prominent and the hair is usually curly. Most of the time, such kind of individuals have brittle nails and may face problems associated with sleep. Moving ahead, the mind has the ability to understand things quickly and forget things at the same pace.
Pitta Dosha
Pitta Dosha is referred as the energy required for digestion and metabolism. It is normally found in the stomach, liver, small intestines, spleen, pancreas, eyes, and in the bloodstream.
As the dosha provides heat, the body becomes capable of breaking down complex food molecules. Ways beyond, the dosha governs various processes which transform the entire body as well as the mind.
Pitta Body Type
With Pitta Dosha being dominant, the person is neither too tall nor too short. While the skin complexion is reddish in nature, the muscle development is moderate. They are blessed with soft and tender skin and the hair appears silky in nature.
Since people with Pitta Dosha are capable to digest food, they may consume food and liquids in large quantities. They may also like eating sweets or sour food items most of the time.
Since the individuals are alert and intelligent, they are able to concentrate and comprehend things at different situations. They have good leadership skills and are always prepared to face challenges at every phase of life.
Kapha Dosha
Kapha Dosha refers to the energy that contributes to the overall development of the body. While the dosha is observed in the throat, lungs, fatty tissues, connective tissues, tendons, and ligaments, the energy aids in lubricating joints and adding strength.
People with Kapha dosha take everything in their stride as time passes by. They are compassionate, and never hold a grudge against anybody. Besides, they have an elegant personality and are known to be quite rich.
Kapha Body Type
People having Kapha Dosha are always well developed and may be overweight. As the chest is broad, the veins and tendons may not be easily visible due to muscle development. The individuals have a fair complexion, an oily skin, and black or blue colored eyeballs.
Though the individuals eat less food, they are energetic and always happy in their lives. Moreover, they are much healthier than the ones who have other doshas.
When the Kapha Dosha is dominant, the individual stays calm and never tries to worry about circumstances. They are always ready to forgive others and maintain peace with everyone around them. However, they might be greedy, possessive or jealous about someone if there is any imbalance. Once they have completely understood things, they can retain everything and recapitulate things ever after a long period of time.
If you don’t know the Ayurvedic body type depending on your personality, then it’s better to assess the state and the constitution. As you proceed, you would have to follow certain recommendations and try to optimize your health. A change in the diet can also aid in improving health in case one of the aforementioned doshas is dominant.
