Doshas are made up of pairs of the five elements (Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth). It is the combination of these five elements in a person which decides his Dosha-type.
Vata - is composed of space and air.
Pitta - is composed of fire and water
Kapha- is composed of earth and water.
Doshas are composed of a ratio of these three types. Doshas govern the way we look and act. Every Dosha has its own attributes and qualities, its own beauty and strengths. All Doshas serve a purpose in Nature's plan. We are born in a balanced Dosha state. During our lifetime our body type is always in a state of flux, getting aggravated or depleted depending on our emotional state, our surroundings, age and lifestyle. Too much imbalance in Dosha state leads to disease.
We cannot change our body type (Dosha). The ideal balance for any person is his own unique balance. We can maintain the right balance by keeping our body type as close to its original state. We should, neither allow them to be aggravated nor depleted, and make the best use of inherent qualities of our Doshas.
To keep the Doshas in check, Ayurveda recommends a specific diet and lifestyle for every body-type.
Here, you will be given some basic traits of each body type. There would be some traits that you will find easy to identify with, and some will seem to overlap with another Dosha. If no one type seems dominant, then in that case, you may be two-Dosha type or even in rare cases a three-Dosha type.
Vata
Physical Traits:
- Thin, flexible and light built. Usually underweight and find it difficult to gain weight.
- Light muscles and little fat; May appear flat-chested.
- Tire easily; low stamina
- Irregular sleeping patterns.
- Usually get gas formation and constipation.
Nature Traits:
- Worrisome and unpredictable. Tend to be moody.
- Tendency to do things and actions quickly- Fast eating and walking.
- Seem to be in a rush and anxious. Tendency towards over-exertion.
- Experiencing bursts of emotions, which are short-lived and easily forgotten.
- Higher sexual drive.
- Usually have clarity of mind, creativity, good imagination.
- Mentally flexible.
Pitta
Physical Traits:
- Medium built, have strength and endurance
- Cannot do hard physical labour, do not like too much exposure to sun
- Baldness, thinning of hair and have tendency of premature graying of hair.
- Soft, fair skin often freckled and does not tan easily.
- Strong digestion; cannot skip meals.
- Sweaty palms and feet, and have slightly higher body temperature.
- Experience sharp hunger and thirst.
- May suffer from bad breath or body odor
Nature Traits:
- Sharp intellect, precise articulate speech, often rude.
- Short temper, and irritable if stressed
- Ambitious, argumentative and out-spoken
- Like name and fame
- Impatient, demanding and a perfectionist
- Orderly in management of money, time etc.
- Like challenges
Kapha
Physical Traits :
- Solid , powerful built, with great physical strength
- Tendency towards weight gain as they turn calories to fat
- Usually heavy bones and slow movers
- Soft look in the eyes with undemanding approach.
- Skin is oily, soft, and lustrous. Joints and organs are well lubricated.
- Bodily processes do not swing to extremes; body remains unaffected by changes
- Prone to sinus infections and chest congestion
- Excessive mucous production
- Like to sugary foods like candies and chocolates
Nature Traits:
- Slow, steady and relaxed
- Have a sweet , loving disposition
- Usually affectionate, caring and forgiving
- Good memory
- May over sleep
- Decision making takes longer
- Steady energy with graceful movements
- Very happy the way they are; don't like too many changes
Above, certain traits for each body type are given. Each body type
has its own charm, and it is the way we are designed. One cannot change
his body type(one you are born with). All attempts to become someone you are not, will just lead to imbalances in your type.
Imbalances create illnesses in the body. One must appreciate what one has, and work on his own type to keep the negative aspects of his type under control.
Body types do not control thoughts, emotions and desires. They may affect our body types but not otherwise.
Look out for the article- "Symptoms of Body-Type Imbalances"
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