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What are the Doshas - VATA, PITTA & KAPHA?

The doshas help us to categorize, or group, the movement of energies both on the subtle and gross levels, in each individual and in nature.

VATA, composed of air and ether, is subtle, light, changeable, cool and dry, like wind. Vata governs movement in nature.

PITTA, composed of fire and water, is subtle, light, intense, hot, moist and flowing like hot oil. Pitta governs light, digestion and heat in nature.

KAPHA, composed of water and earth, is cool, heavy, grounded, dense and steady. Kapha governs stability and structure in nature.

Constitution or True Nature?

Determined at conception, each person has a unique constitution for their life’s duration. Our constitution is a reflection of the constitution of our parents and their state of imbalances when conception occurred. Each individual has a combination of all three doshas but in different percentages. Our constitution refers to our true nature or state where our mental, physical and spiritual bodies are most harmonious. Your Ayurvedic practitioner will determine your constitution by reviewing your physiological, emotional and physical systems. For example, your Ayurvedic practitioner might determine that you have the following: Vata – 25%, Pitta – 65%, Kapha – 10%. These percentages reflect mainly a Pitta-predominant constitution and thus you have Pitta characteristics and challenges. Constitutions may be primarily singular, dual-doshic or tri-doshic. One constitution or Doshic predominance is not better or worse than another. It just is.

The following lists some of the typical "balanced" and "imbalanced" characteristics of each dosha. An imbalance can exist in one, two or all three doshas of an individual.

Vata:	Balanced: inspirational, enthusiastic, happy, mentally flexible, excited, artistic, infectious laughter.

	Out of Balance: fear, worry, anxiety, shaky, lightheaded, indecisive, sleep disorders, dryness, loss of body weight, forgetting to eat, chronic pain and fatigue, alternating constipation and diarrhea, chronic immune challenges, weakness in nervous and circulatory systems.

Pitta:	Balanced: charismatic, clear organized speakers, glowing with inner fire, determined, strong digestion, quick understanding and very well organized.

	Out of Balance: easy to anger/annoy, overly focused/intense, sarcastic, bossy, sleep disturbances, easy to overheat, eyes sensitive to light, hot and oily, burning in body and mind, skin rashes, diarrhea, temporal headaches, loose stools, heartburn, weakness in liver.

Kapha:	Balanced: nurturing, soft/calming demeanor, not easily ruffled, consistent, peaceful and loving.

	Out of Balance: overly attached, shutting down, lethargy both physically and mentally, excess mucous, some types of depression, congestion.

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