Discover the 3 Ayurveda Body Types: Vata, Pitta, Kapha, and How to Determine Your Ayurveda Dosha

The concept of the 3 Ayurveda body types (tridosha theory) is at the very core of Ayurveda wisdom, giving you effective tools for living – tools that you can apply to every aspect of your life: health, relationships and career.

Whichever Ayurveda dosha you are, you’ll discover here helpful diet, workout and lifestyle recommendations specific to your own 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 doshas (or Ayurveda body types):

1. Vata dosha – governed by air and space (ether) elements
   
2. Pitta dosha – governed by the fire element
   
3. 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 this 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.

Consider this:

There’s an obvious, undeniable parallel between the Ayurveda tridosha system and the three body types described by the Western concept of body typing.

In order to heal (or prevent) any “dis-ease” – overweight included – each of the three Ayurveda dosha is dealt with specifically – including the physical characteristics of your body type 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?

Which of the 3 Ayurveda Body Types are You?

Although we all have all these 3 energies in different proportions, one dosha is usually dominant: Vata, Pitta or Kapha.

You should know that if two of the three energies are equally strong in your constitution, then you are a double-dosha type: Vata-Pitta, Pitta-Kapha or Vata-Kapha. The two predominant doshas in your energetic makeup manifest themselves individually, one at a time.

In rare cases, all 3 energies are equally present – if that’s your case, you are a tridosha type, more balanced overall, but harder to regain equilibrium when out of balance.

1. Vata Dosha

If your predominant dosha is Vata (governed by ether, or space & 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.

Find out more details about Ayurveda Vata body type >>

2. Pitta Dosha

If your predominant dosha is Pitta (governed by the 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.

Find out more details about Ayurveda Pitta body type >>

3. Kapha Dosha

If your predominant dosha is Kapha (governed by the water & 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 Kapha imbalance leads to easy weight gain, water retention, mucus build-up (in the sinuses, lungs & colon), prolonged sleep, depression, apathy, procrastination, possessiveness, rigidity, inflexibility, and even greed.

Find out more details about Ayurveda Kapha body type >>

How to Better Understand Ayurveda Body Types

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 Kapha would be the chassis.”

All this might be a new idea to you, but there are countless medical doctors who integrate the millenary wisdom of Ayurveda body types in their daily 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.

Interestingly, in his very insightful book, The 3-Season Diet: Eat the Way Nature Intended: Lose Weight, Beat Food Cravings, and Get Fit, that in order to achieve optimum weight and health you should follow an Ayurvedic diet matched to your specific dosha.

Why?

Because when you do this, when you eat the foods appropriate to each season at the optimal time of the day and when you workout without triggering a survival response in your body, you will lose those extra pounds and maintain your ideal weight effortlessly, while having a lot of energy and drive.

You may be surprised to find out that the wisdom of Ayurveda tridosha system is extremely powerful in relationships too, as it teaches you how to deal successfully with the three Ayurveda body types. For example, you should…

• treat a Vata person like a butterfly, delicately and with great 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 regularly (something that they typically resist it tenaciously, with damaging effects on their overall health)

Bottom line: this is why Ayurveda body types system is so important to you. Because if you want to discover what your Ayurveda dosha is and learn how to balance it to release weight naturally according to your specific body type, the Ayurveda diet section on this site explains how it all works:

Vata Body Type — Pitta Body Type — Kapha Body Type

<< Return to Ayurveda Diet for Weight Loss from Ayurveda Body Types

Go from Ayurveda Body Types to Brainy Weight Loss Home