The concept of Ayurveda body types, or tri-doshas is at the core of Ayurveda wisdom, giving you effective tools for living that you can apply to every aspect of your life: health, relationships and career. Whichever dosha you are, learn valuable diet, workout type and lifestyle recommendations customized to your specific Ayurveda body type.
Simply put, the main idea is this. The continuous interplay of the 5 elements that form the Universe - from subtle to dense, ether/space, air, fire, water, and earth - forms 3 dynamic and very specific energies called Ayurveda body types, or doshas:
Vata dosha governed by ether, or space and air elements
Pitta dosha governed by the fire element
Kapha dosha governed by the water and earth elements
The essence of Ayurveda body types concept is that a specific mix of these 3 energies in different proportions determines our body's molecules, tissues, body fluids, and vital energy along with the complete array of psycho-biological tendencies.
When the mix gets out of balance (due to unfavorable climate, seasons' change, faulty lifestyle or nutritional diet), physio-pathological changes take us out of balance, into the dis-ease, including weight gain.
There's an interesting parallel between the Ayurveda tri-dosha system and the Western concept of body typing.
In order to heal (or prevent) any dis-ease, overweight included, the Ayurveda body types are described in great detail, including the specific characteristics of your body and even your behavior. That's why two different people with the very same symptoms are getting two different Ayurvedic treatments that match their own, unique body type.
It actually makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?
Three Ayurveda Body Types: What's Yours?
Although we all have all 3 energies in different proportions, one dosha is usually dominant: Vata, Pitta or Kapha.
You should know that if 2 of the 3 energies are equally strong in your constitution, then you are a double-dosha type. The two doshas manifest themselves individually, one at a time. In rare cases all 3 energies are equally present - if that's your case, you are a tri-dosha type, more balanced overall, but harder to regain equilibrium when out of balance.
1. Vata
If your predominant dosha is Vata (ether, or space and air elements), you are in perpetual movement, like change and manifest lightness, quickness, and flexibility in every aspect of your life. When balanced, you have a fun, vibrant, lively, and expressive personality.
A Vata imbalance leads you to increased worrying, impulsiveness, inability to make decisions, depression, insomnia, headaches and fatigue.
If your predominant dosha is Pitta (fire element), you are intense ("hot" - literally), digesting and processing on all levels - from ideas, emotions, and perceptions, to sensations and food. When balanced, you are self-confident, goal-oriented, efficient, focused, with good problem-solving skills and a sharp wit.
A Pitta imbalance leads you to heartburn, ulcers, insomnia, vision problems, anger, stubbornness, aggressiveness, sarcasm, absolutism, being judgmental and criticizing others.
If your predominant dosha is Kapha (water and earth elements), you have a denser mass, more structure and stability in all aspects of your life. When balanced, you have an excellent health and are caring, easygoing, self-sufficient, calm, methodical, reliable and non-judgmental.
A Kaphaimbalance leads to easy weight gain, water retention, mucous build-up (in the sinuses, lungs & colon), prolonged sleep, depression, apathy, procrastination, possessiveness, rigidity, inflexibility, and even greed.
When talking about the doshas, Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf - an experienced Ayurveda physician - teasingly puts it like this: "If we were talking about your car, Vata would be the electrical system, Pitta would be the combustion process, and the Kapha would be the chassis."
All this might be a new idea to you, but there are countless medical doctors who integrate the wisdom of Ayurveda body types in their practice.
For example, Dr. John Douillard speaks about the three doshas in terms of seasons According to him, you can be a "winter" (Vata), "summer" (Pitta), or "spring" (Kapha) type. In his insightful book, "3-Season Diet" he recommends that for optimum weight and good health you should follow a lifestyle and weight loss Ayurvedic diet matched to your specific body type.
As a side note, the wisdom of Ayurveda tri-dosha system is extremely powerful in relationships too, as it teaches you how to deal with these three body type energies differently:
treat a Vata person like a butterfly, delicately and with care
let a Pitta know who's the boss, or they may attempt to control the relationship
inspire Kapha to be physically active and exercise - although they’ll resist it tenaciously, with damaging effects on their overall health
Why is Ayurveda body types system important to you?
Because if you want to discover what your dosha is and learn how to balance your dosha and release weight naturally according to your specific body type, Ayurveda diet section explains how it all works.
