Observing and attuning our sleep patterns, diet, exercise, and relationships—all the ways we consume and interact with the world—maximizes our potential to feel good and take care of ourselves.
These factors affect our constitution and feelings, creating balance or disorder.
Read each dosha’s personality profile, yoga classes, and food recommendations.
Also called the Mother of Healing, Ayurveda is rooted in preventing illness through balance and reflection on each individual’s diet, thoughts, relationships, environment, and activities.
Ayurveda translates from Sanskrit as ‘The Science of Life.’
The premise of this rich and multifaceted approach to wellness is that when we feel good about ourselves, we’re better able to take care of others and the world around us.
Check out the blog post below to get quick tips on how to start designing a lifestyle with Ayurveda.
In Sanskrit, these energies are called Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. They are composed of the five great elements: air, ether, fire, water, and ether. Each person has a unique blend of these three energies.
A person’s constitution is dynamic and changes depending on many variables, including age, environment, mood, diet, activities, and relationships.
Understanding the three energies and their presence in each person provides insight into how to take appropriate action to restore harmony with oneself.
If a person has an overabundance of one of the doshas, activities and diet opposite to the primary constitution create balance. For example, Pitta, with its heat and intensity, would choose cooling foods and slower-paced activities to settle the fire.
Read the personality profiles for each of the three doshas to gain a better understanding of the characteristics associated with each.
You’re a beam of shimmering energy who enjoys meeting new people, exploring new places, and engaging with the ever-evolving facets of the world.
Vata people have high energy and enthusiasm; they ask questions and quickly digest new information. Your ease of discovering and engaging with new ideas tends to get lost in the ether, as you are just as quick to forget all you’ve learned.
Vata delights in the imagination; the creative spark glimmers in every interaction where the real meets the fantastic. A passion and zeal for music and dance lend an ear for harmony. Vata loves languishing in warm baths, oils, and foods; group activities and work inspire Vata and keep their personality on track.
The mind is swift and active in Vata’s personality; moods change quickly, and you’re affected by how you feel and react to stressors by becoming anxious or over-excited. In terms of body type, Vata tends to be finer-boned and long-limbed. Vata has trouble putting on weight and is weaker at the joints. Cold feet and hands, dry skin, and constipation or gas are requisites for the Vata constitution.
Vata tends to be disorganized; energy comes in bursts, and when it fizzles out, Vata needs to ground to replenish—which is hard for Vata to do. Vata loves being around people; this personality recharges through being with others and is quickly excited. Vata has trouble sleeping; waking frequently is not uncommon, with intense and vivid dreams.
Vata, in harmony, appears grounded and calm as the mind seeks and soars, exploring new ways to create and contribute to the world. Restorative and Yin styles of yoga help ground Vata when it is out of balance. Gardening,g walks in the forest, meditation, and Qi Gong are other activities that help ground Vata.
Anxiety is a condition of Vata if imbalances are left unresolved. Unbalanced, Vata is anxious, fidgety, and restless; in this state, Vata forgets to eat and listen to the body. Sleep and stomach issues ensue as a result.
Classes that ground the over-excitement and angst associated with Vata.
Pitta people are feisty, productive, purposeful, and competitive. This dosha revels in precision and pragmatism, but don’t let its aggressive attitude fool you. Pitta personalities are dedicated and devoted; relationships tend to be intense and long-standing, especially if founded upon relatable work, hobbies, or shared goals.
Fire is the ultimate symbol for Pitta. The Pitta personality runs hot literally and figuratively; Pitta angers easily forgives quickly and is highly impatient. When Pitta doesn’t get their way, they keep pushing until they do—or avoid and denyhe unsettling outcome.
Time in nature, bright and spacious environments, exercise, and play with pets or children help Pitta people take a break from their single-pointed focus. Pitta luxuriates in planning, following a system, and building on past processes.
Pitta is characterized by stocky, well-defined muscles, a proportionate physique, and soft skin. This constitution has regular bowls that pass easily and moderate appetites. Cool and moist atmospheres, as well as colder foods such as raw salads, ice cream, and cold drinks, serve Pitta. Pitta tends to get irritable and react emotionally when hungry, so skipping meals is not advised.
These personalities are so driven and focused on the task that they go into overdrive and can’t slow down or put down what they’re doing. As a result, hypertension and anger erupt. Pitta has difficulty relaxing and making space to unwind; sleep disorders, inflammation, and gastric issues may occur.
To create harmony and balance, Pitta should avoid all extremes in exercise and food. Smaller meals are advised with cool, predominantly vegetarian, and bitter foods. Many vegetables and minimal sweet, salty, and spicy foods are recommended. Less coffee, tea, and alcohol are advised. Regarding movement, Pitta should balance high-intensity workouts with slower-paced activities such as yoga, meditation, and dancing.
Classes to soothe the intensity of Pitta while gently stimulating the inner fire.
You are calm, easy to be around, thorough, and thoughtful. However, you are slow to start a new project or commit to a relationship. You’re careful and considerate, revealing a longstanding commitment once you let others in.
Kapha is notorious for their patience and understanding; a quiet and controlled sensibility makes them experts in financial matters and accruing wealth. Routine and pleasure suit your style; you tend to avoid new situations and conflict, withdrawing into a deep depression if triggered. Your emotions are steady; you don’t excite or anger easily and are just as slow to forgive and move on.
Kapha prefer cozy, wearing layers and surrounding themselves with nourishing sights and scents. Strong, steady, and reliable, the Kaphic personality also has difficulty letting things go. Fresh air, refreshing music, spicy foods, and lively company help animate Kapha.
Stocky, curvy, and larger-boned, Kaphic people tend to have oily skin and hair. Luminous eyes, white teeth, and a clear complexion add to Kapha’s sweet and demure character. Kapha has slow digestion, in life experience and diet, and is prone to skipping meals. Good stamina and physical endurance allow Kapha to take on any physical activity, but Kapha prefers solo sports, enjoying the time alone. Kapha gains weight quickly and likes slower movement and lots of sleep.
Kapha prefers a slower-paced lifestyle; when imbalanced, over-eating, avoidance of exercise, and over-sleeping may cause Kapha to become overweight. Kapha has many close, longstanding friendships, but when hurt or angered, he tends to withdraw and pull away, which may cause depression.
To maintain equilibrium and balance, Kapha should exercise regularly and eat regular meals in smaller portions. Avoiding fatty, sweet foods in preference for spicy and flavourful foods helps stimulate Kapha’s digestion. Running, vinyasa yoga, and other heat-building activities stoke the inner fires of Kapha’s calm and steady nature to burn off the lethargy and clear the static energy.
Classes to stimulate the inner flame and digestive fires to clear stagnant energy and lethargy.
Food has a profound effect on the body and the brain, more so than the activities we choose. Switching up what we eat to suit our constitution is one of the fundamental attributes of leading an Ayurvedic lifestyle.
By choosing the right foods and flavor profiles, you can boost your body’s immunity and provide yourself with all the essential nutrients you need.
We created three unique nutrition guides for Ayurveda to explore the diet for each doshas. Make yummy meals for yourself or your loved ones to satiate the flavor profiles associated with your constitution.
The final word: don’t get attached to your dosha since it will change as you age.
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