Ayurvedic Body Type: Know Your Dosha
Ayurveda is a complex of medical knowledge which goes deep into Indian history. The proposed techniques aim to restore the balance of soul and body and activate the internal forces of self-healing. According to Ayurveda, the microcosm of each person is expressed in three body types (doshas). Together with https://www.alveda.life/, we will figure out why you need to know your dosha and what distinguishing features each kind has.
Reasons to Know Your Type
In Ayurvedic practice, three body types are considered: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. They describe both the physical and mental characteristics of a person. It is believed that all three doshas are represented in each of us, but at different ages and under other circumstances, only one dominates. There are several main reasons why you should know your dosha:
- You’ll be able to understand yourself and the needs of your body better. Thanks to inner harmony, you will pay less attention to others’ opinions.
- You’ll learn to identify the signs of diseases at an early stage. Due to active modern life, we ignore the first symptoms and miss the beginning of the illness development. Knowing your type, you will be able to do prevention in time.
- Knowing what diseases and ailments you are predisposed to according to your dosha, the treatment will be more effective.
- You can choose the proper treatment depending on the characteristics and needs of the body.
According to the Ayurveda theory, all diseases develop due to an imbalance of doshas. To bring the inner state to harmony, you should start by determining your type. Then you can remove from your daily life everything that causes discomfort and add things that are pleasant to the mind and body. It’s where the key to recovery lies.
Determine Your Body Type
Each dosha has quite prominent features, so it is not difficult to determine the dosha yourself. Here is what characterizes each type according to Ayurveda.
Vata
A combination of two elements represents each dosha. So, Vata combines air and ether. From the point of view of appearance and physique, Vata-dominated people are characterized by thinness, delicate figure outlines, almost complete absence of fat, and pronounced muscle mass. Height can be either very high or very low. Their hair is usually dark and curly, their eyes can be either gray or brown, their lips are small, and their voice is deep. Skin is typically thin and suffers from dryness.
The nature of such individuals is modest but energetic, which is associated with a relatively high pulse. Usually, they are creative, can learn quickly, but at the same time get tired quickly. Representatives of Vata are prone to impulsive actions and bright, often chaotic emotions. Due to their increased sensitivity, they may suffer from anxiety and sleep disorders.
Pro tips: People in whom Vata is the predominant type are advised to follow a diet and sleep schedule to reduce tension. Do not resort to debilitating diets or train to the limit of your capabilities. The diet should be dominated by fire-cooked light foods: berries, fruits, beans, and nuts. To maintain physical fitness, you should do yoga, stretching, or Pilates. So that the skin does not begin to fade prematurely, you should use natural oils and drink plenty of water.
Pitta
Pitta combines the elements of water and fire. The appearance of such people is characterized by a developed muscular corset, athletic build, medium height, and sharp facial features. Weight is usually moderate. Pitta-type people gain weight quickly, but they can also easily shed it. They are characterized by fiery red hair (straight and thin), pale skin, an abundance of freckles and moles, a loud voice, and light gray, blue, or brown eyes. Skin tends to be warm, slightly damp, acne-prone, and sensitive to cosmetics.
By nature, they are quick-tempered and energetic people. Their views are usually quite radical; they can work to the point of exhaustion and get involved in an interesting business with all their passion. Representatives of the Pitta type have a predisposition to excessive aggression. At the same time, they have a great sense of humor and are often the company’s soul.
Pro tips: To moderate the “fiery” ardor, such people should observe moderation in everything. Fruits and vegetables will help extinguish the inner fire, but spicy and hot foods are best avoided (alcohol and nicotine should be completely excluded). You should also monitor nutrition because the wrong food instantly makes itself felt with acne and other dermatological diseases. Meditation, regular walks in the fresh air, soothing baths, and so on are recommended.
Kapha
Kapha combines water and earth. The appearance of Kapha representatives is characterized by a strong physique, large facial features, and a tendency to be overweight. They have a round face, thick hair, a soft voice, and blue or light brown eyes. The skin has a perfectly even tone and seems to shine from within. They do not need to use cosmetics too often to keep their skin and hair in good condition.
Their nature is usually calm and balanced. They treat all people with understanding, are ready to help in difficult situations, and forgive loved ones for misconduct. They strive for harmony, which in turn can be fraught with laziness and lack of motivation. Natural slowness is due to their desire for inner peace. All this, in turn, can lead to weight gain.
Pro tips: People with Kapha dosha suffer from a slow metabolism. To not aggravate the situation, exclude sweets, fast carbohydrates, and fatty foods from the diet. Try to eat warm food with lots of spices; it will not be superfluous to choose coffee, giving up soothing tea. Representatives of this type should move more and engage in active sports: running, strength training, HIIT, etc.
Know Yourself Through Ayurveda
By identifying your type, you can avoid health problems, improve well-being, and bring harmony to all areas of life, and it is the goal of Ayurveda. If none of the doshas suits you perfectly, and tests always show different results, most likely, all three types are balanced in you.
