Following on from the previous Ayurveda article, now that you’re up to date with the concept and practise of Ayurveda, it’s time to find out what dosha best describes you and how to move forward in creating a better, happier, healthier, most positive you.
If you are still unsure on what dosha you are, you can take a quick, free online quiz to find out which dosha best relates to and describes you.
There are three doshas explaining what kind of person you are and by following the guidelines of each dosha, you can balance your life, enabling you to live it to the fullest.
What Are Doshas?
‘Doshas’ is the term used to describe the biological energies that can be found throughout the human body and mind. This energy is used by the body to govern every aspect of the physical and mental activity that takes place within you every single day and acts almost as a blueprint or guideline that enables you to live a life of satisfaction. These doshas originate from the elements found on this Earth, refined to Air, Space, Fire, Water and Earth.
Each dosha has two representative elements, each with their own qualities and personality traits. Without further ado, discover your dosha today and start to live the life you deserve.
Pitta Dosha – Fire & Water
To begin our list, the Pitta dosha is given to individuals of a predominant variety. Usually, these individuals are of a medium physical build but are renowned for being strong and possess the ability to concentrate extremely well and have incredible mental abilities.
Pitta individuals are famous for their focused and self-confident attitudes which will always benefit them when dealing with everyday situations. They approach obstacles and life problems in a tactical and logical manner and always strive to get things done.
The actual term, Pitta, translates to ‘that which cooks’, meaning that Pitta individuals can become out of balance when they are problems with the digestive system or metabolism. This is evident as Pitta energies can be found in internal organs such as the small intestine, liver, stomach, pancreas, blood and other vital bodily systems. If a Pitta individual becomes unbalanced, the results cannot be ignored as the Fire of the mind becomes clear.
Most of the positive traits of a Pitta can quickly be replaced by rage, anger and even an aggressive ego which, physically, can lead to symptoms such as illness, infection, heartburn, fever, ulcers and inflammation. As a Pitta, there are some key things to remember to stay balanced. It’s easy for Pitta’s to want to get ahead and so they should always be mindful to stay calm in stressful situations and drive forward the logic aspect of their personality.
Some great ways for a Pitta individual to stay balanced is to focus on what food they are consuming, ensuring they eat a Pitta-balancing diet and consume food at their own pace in a comfortable and relaxing environment. Pitta’s can massively benefit from spending time in calming environments such as being out in nature, by meditating and practising relaxing exercises such as yoga, tai-chi or casual walking. Some things to avoid as a Pitta include smoking, which can irritate the mind and body, eating whilst angry and overworking. Remember to take breaks and stay calm, keeping your internal fire lit, driving you forward, without it turning into an inferno.
Vata Dosha – Space & Air
The Space and Air elements of a Vata individual translates together to become the element of Wind, again translated into ‘that which moves things’. Often referred to as the ‘King of the Doshas’, Vata individuals are thought to give motion to both Pitta and Kapha individuals.
The positive attributes of a Vata dosha include massive amounts of creativity who possesses the fantastic ability to communicate with others and is extremely active in all aspects of life, whether undergoing a project alone, working alongside a team and active in the sense that they enjoy physical and mental activities. This is evident as Vata energy is found in the thighs, bones, joints, skin, brain and bones of an individual. Vata individuals flourish when they live to a certain routine and are renowned for being very down to earth people.
Vata individuals can stay balance, enabling to live a life of satisfaction by eat a Vata balanced diet, by enjoying active exercises such as yoga, running or walking and by following a certain day to day routine which includes going to bed and getting enough sleep and balancing how they spend their days, for example, spending time at work, being sociable and spending time with themselves.
Unbalance in the Vata individual is obvious as they will become depressed and even anxious. Physical stimulates such as coffee and alcohol can also cause imbalance, as will going to bed during late hours of the night and not sticking to a routine.
Kapha – Earth & Water
Finally, a Kapha dosha individual contains the energy that is necessary to build. These energies can be found throughout the body in areas including the lungs, the chest, the head, muscle tissues, tendons and ligaments. In a balanced individual, the primary attributes include personality traits such as love, forgiveness, patience and is very talented at managing temptations such as greed as well as balancing imbalanced Pitta and Vata individuals.
Kapha individuals can become unbalanced for a number of reasons including overeating, laziness, spending the majority of their life indoors and by not challenging themselves mentally. As you can see from this list, the water element of a Kapha individuals thrives when it flows freely and feels repressed when they become weighed down or grounded. Imbalanced Kapha individuals are prone to ailments such as obesity, laziness and conditions such as colds and flu.
Kapha individuals can find balance in their lives by keeping things simple, avoiding the urge to become materialistic and giving in to the temptations of greed. Other positive activities include taking part in regular exercise, balancing and regulating their sleeping patterns and making time for themselves and their family and friends. Due to their loving nature, it’s important for a Kapha’s health to be aware when they may be being taken advantage of.
Summary
Now you know the ins and outs of each Dosha, you can slowly begin to regulate and manage your life in the best way to suit you. By following the traits that best benefit you, you’ll quickly notice you start to feel more positive in life. You’ll start to appreciate the things and people around you more and more and you’ll begin to feel a lot more satisfied with your existence.
For more information, or if you have any questions on your particular dosha, leave a comment below to spark the conversation which could change your life for the better!
