Body Types According to Ayurveda – Do you know your body type?
All women should be aware about their Ayurvedic body types to live a balanced and healthier life.
We know that Ayurveda is 5000 years old science of wellness and longevity. The science of Ayurveda is all about creating balance—the balance between the body, mind, and spirit, and balance between the Tridosha (three doshas) that took from the five elements of nature– water, fire, air, earth, and space.
It does this by first identifying the Prakriti or Nature of an individual. Secondly, it examines the existing dosha imbalances. Lastly, Ayurveda provides a roadmap to an individual to live a healthy, perfectly balanced life using specific herbs, holistic cleanse and detox treatments, a personalized diet that is aligned with one’s unique dosha constitution.
What is Tridosha (3 doshas)? | Ayurvedic Body Types
In Ayurveda 3 dosha (imbalances of 3 constitutions in the body) are – Vata (Wind), Pitta (Bile), and Kapha (Phlegm) which are necessary to balance the body health. Each of these doshas has specific traits. This determines your Ayurvedic body type.
The Vata dosha is the air element and is the force behind all types of movements in the body.
The Pitta dosha is made up of fire and water elements and it primarily governs digestion.
The Kapha dosha is the earth element and provides moisture to the skin and lubrication to joints.
Vata Ayurvedic Body Type | Vata Dosha
Vata dominated people
- They are dominated by air and ether elements
- They have a thin bony structure and short body frame
- They have rough and dry skin
- They are restless and fast in talking and walking
- They have difficulties in gaining weight
- Their digestion is sometimes fast and sometimes slow
- They are intolerant to cold weather
Vatta is located in the abdomen below the navel; including the colon, pelvis, pelvic organs besides thighs, skin, ears, nervous system, and lungs. It is responsible for movement in the body and mind. Sensory impulses, breath, excretion, speech, and pumping of blood are some of its main functions. It also ignites, the digestive fire in the body.
Signs of Vata Imbalance
- Dryness and roughness of skin
- Too much weight loss. Emaciation happens.
- Irregular bowel movement or constipation
- Pain in bones, joints Flatulence
- Fear and restlessness
- Abnormal pulse rate
- Preference for hot environment
- Insomnia.
- Earache and hearing disorders
- Sciatica Stiff legs
- Cramps in calf muscles
- Stiffness in the neck
- Arthritis
Remedies for Balancing Vata
- Get to bed before 10:oo pm and wake up by 6:00 am
- Maintain a daily routine with regular times for eating, sleeping, and working (Dinacharya)
- Drink warm beverages and eat freshly prepared warm, whole foods.
- Eat foods that are naturally sweet, sour, and salty in taste
- Use generous amounts of high-quality oils or ghee and warming spices like ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, and cumin in your daily diet
- Avoid alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and chocolate
- Incorporate a regular exercise routine into your week
- Vata-reducing herbs and remedies
Pitta Ayurvedic Body Type | Pitta Dosha
Pitta dominated people
Next are pitta people, those who are born with hotter constitutions, containing more of the fire element. A pitta person is generally active, good-looking, a perfectionist, dynamic, intelligent, and also short-tempered. They may have leadership qualities, a moderate build, a smart personality, a sharp nose, and their eyes will also be sharp, sometimes offset with a slight pinkish tint.
Due to the unfortunate ease with which a pitta person gets imbalanced, hair loss and early greying are common. They are generally slightly warm to the touch with rosy lips and pink nails with a slight curve.
Through a combination of fire and water, it is more dominant with the fire elements. It is intensified during summers. The seat of the pitta in the body is the small intestine, stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder, blood, sweat glands, subcutaneous fat, eyes, and skin.
It is responsible for stability in the body and mind. It regulates body heat, digestion, lightens the appetite, absorption, assimilation, gives vitality, and the ability to understand. It nourishes the body by carrying amino acids and enzymes which are important for the digestion of food. It also keeps neurotransmitters and neuropeptides which are responsible for thinking.
It augments understanding and intelligence, if in balance. If out of balance, it gives room for a host of negative emotions.
Signs of Pitta Imbalance
- Yellow coloration of the skin
- The desire for cold things
- Giddiness
- Weakness
- Reduced sleep
- Increased anger and agitation
- Burning sensation
- Excessive thirst and hunger
- Increased tendency of being a perfectionist
- Bitter taste in the mouth
- Bad breath
- Hot flashes
Diseases Due to Pitta Imbalance
- Peptic ulcers, inflammation of the stomach or esophagus, if the imbalance is allowed to persist for too long
- Skin disorders like eczema,
- Fatigue
- Migraine
- Acid Reflux
- Jaundice
- Conjunctivitis
- Pharyngitis
- Dissatisfaction Stomatitis
- Fibromyalgia Redness of the skin
- Low blood sugar
Remedies for Balancing Pitta
- Maintain a daily routine with regular times for eating, sleeping, and working
- Use ghee or clarified butter in your cooking.
- Drink 4—5 liters of warm or room temperature water every day
- Keep company with people who are happy and positive
- Meditation is the key to a happy mind. It helps control emotions like anger, irritability among others. A few minutes of meditation twice a day is recommended.
- Sahaj Samadhi meditation of the Art of Living helps significantly in managing Pitta aggravation.
- Moderately difficult Yogasanas can pacify Pitta by increasing blood circulation and detoxifying the body.
- Spend time in nature—be with plants, walk on the grass, walk by the lakeside, and moon gaze to bring peace to the mind.
Also Read: Health Benefits Of Char Magaz Seeds
Kapha Ayurvedic Body Type | Kapha Dosha
Kapha dominated people
Kapha indicates a preponderance of the water and earth elements. People with this Kapha constitution are generally cool, calm, lazy, cheerful, stocky (if not overweight). If assigned a task, they never complete the task in time.
Ayurveda says that because a Kapha person is the least bothered, happiest type of person on the whole planet, the best constitution is Kapha. They’re cheerful all the time! Other qualities include a thick build, thick, dark hair, big eyes with white around, and prominent, shiny, white teeth.
The skin may also be thick, moist, and a little cool to the touch. As a personality type, while they tend to accumulate stuff, they also have a sharing streak that moves them to service for society.
The location of Kapha is in bones, muscles, and tendons. It acts as the ‘binding agent’ to keep the cells together. It keeps the body moist. It lubricates joints, moisturizes the skin, and maintains immunity. In balance, Kapha is synonymous to love, calmness, and forgiveness. If out of balance it can be the cause of negative emotions like greed and jealousy.
Kapha personalities have a good appetite and low digestive ability which makes them put on weight. Kapha personalities live easy-going life and prefer to maintain the status quo. They are peaceful and balanced. They are sensitive. If they experience injustice with themselves or others, they tend to slip into depression.
Lack of routine, lethargy, no exercise, irregular sleeping time, heavy food, eating frequently, and intake of too much dairy are some of the reasons which can cause the imbalance.
Signs of Kapha Imbalance
- Anorexia
- Drowsiness
- Cough
- Respiratory disorders
- Obesity
- Sweet taste in the mouth
- Goitre Indigestion
- Hardening of blood vessels
- Loss of appetite
- FluSinusitis Bronchitis
- Disorders of the joints
Remedies for Kapha Imbalance
- Foods that are astringent, spicy, and bitter tastes are conducive to keeping Kapha under check. Dry and warm food helps too.
- Keeping the body active is a must for Kapha personalities. It ensures that they do not slip into lethargy and inertia.
- Regular practice of yoga helps keep the energy high, keeping toxins away and the body active.
- The controlled and long breath taken during Pranayama keeps the mind calm and increases the health of the lungs.
- Avoid sleep during the day which can increase Kapha.
Final Words
These are the three main body types as per Ayurveda, though mixes also appear—Pitta-Kapha, Pitta-Vata, Vata-Kapha, and Saamya – one whose constitution contains all of the five elements in equal ratios.
Constitution is what we are born with. When we eat the proper food and follow the lifestyle that suits our body type, we have better chances of staying fit and healthy.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for trained medical practitioner opinion. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for more information. We do not claim any obligation for this information.
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