What’s your Ayurveda type (Know your dosha!)

According to Ayurveda principle, Everything in nature, including our bodies, is made from the five elements of space, air, fire, water and earth. These five elements combine to form the three basic body-mind profiles, called doshas, that govern our entire physical composition and how each of us is uniquely inclined to react and interact with the world around us. Doshas are the energies that make up every individual which perform different physiological function in the body. The doshas are called – Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

While each dosha plays an individual role in our bodies, overall good health is achieved only when all three are in balance. Knowing your unique proportions of vata, pitta and kapha is a prerequisite to understanding Ayurvedic diagnosis and treatment. We should also understand that while some of us have one only dominant dosha, many people are a combination of any two or all three doshas, usually with one profile that is dominant.

Characteristics of Vata Predominant type:

Elements: air and space

• Body Frame is Thin & Slender with prominent joints and lean muscles. Lightest of the three body types
• Dry or rough skin and have Dry and brittle (frizzy) hair, eyes are small & active
• The hands and feet are usually cold & they prefer warm environments.
• Easily gets Anxious and worried under stress
• have Light sleep with tendency to awaken easily
• Dislikes Cold weather and Lose weight easily.
• Appetite Varies and have delicate digestion.

Physical ailments connected to the air element, such as emphysema, pneumonia and arthritis, are predominant. If you are predominantly Vata, you should include more cooked, warm foods, stay away from icy drinks, and add more warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger to your food. This will prevent any digestion issues that Vata types tend to get, as well, as anxiety, dry skin, or insomnia. Maintain regular habits, try to eat and sleep at the same time every night. Exercise intensity should be moderate. A more meditative yoga, walking, and swimming are all good. Avoid strenuous and frantic activities.

Characteristics of Pitta Predominant types:

Element: fire and water

• Body frame is medium, symmetrical built with good muscle development.
• Skin is warm and reddish in color and easily irritated
• Hair are fine,thin or premature grey with penetrating gaze eyes
• Joints are loose and flexible and body temperature  is usually warm regardless of the season and they prefer cool environments.
• Under stress they are irritable,intense or aggressive.
• Moderately sound sleeper, usually need less than 8 hours to feel rest.
• Maintain weight easily.

Physical ailments connected to the fire element, such as fevers, inflammatory diseases and jaundice, are predominant. Heat make them very tired. It's important for Pittas to keep cool by avoiding overexposure to direct sunlight and fried and spicy foods. Avoid alcohol and tobacco, overworking, and overheating. When aggravated, susceptible to feeling negative emotions like hostility, hatred, intolerance, and jealousy. Choose fresh vegetables and fruits that are watery and sweet, especially cherries, mangoes, cucumbers, water melon, and avocado. Have lots of salads with dark greens such as arugula, dandelions, and kale.

Characteristic of Kapha predominant type:

Element: water and earth

• Body type is large and stocky build and skin is moist and oily with thick and wavy hair and large pleasant eyes
• Joints are large, well knit and firM
• Adaptable to most temperatures but do not like cold or wet days.
• Under stress they are withdrawn or depressed
• Sleeping habits are deep and long. Tend to awaken slowly in the morning
• Gain weight easily 

Physical ailments connected to the water element, such as the flu, sinus congestion and excess mucous, are predominant. It's important to be active on a daily basis as Kapha types are prone to sluggishness, depression, and being overweight. Getting out of the house and actively seeking new experiences is also recommended. Be receptive to useful change, be intentional in implementing life-enhancing actions. Choose foods that are light, warm, and spicy. Tea with dried ginger and lemon is a great pick-me-up for Kaphas. Avoid heavy oily and processed sugars, which are detrimental to Kaphas. Use lots of spices such as black pepper, ginger, cumin, chili and lots of bitter dark greens.