Vata, Pitta, Kapha - What am I?!

Don't we all love some deeper insight into who we are?! This is a major appeal of ayurveda and I often speak to people who have toyed with the vata/pitta/kapha model of body and personality typing, sometimes expressing satisfaction and interest, sometimes they are ready to dismiss it as untrue or overly simplistic. Whilst the ayurvedic model offers a fantastic explanation of the variance of human physiology, it is sometimes over simplistic and leaves further explanation necessary.

WHO ARE YOU? You are an absolutely unique psycho-physical being. There has never been and will never be someone the same as you. Even identical twins are different, although sharing many similarities. And even if you find a doppelganger (a very close look-alike), you will still be as much or more different as you are the same. And, to make it more interesting, not only are you unique, but you are constantly changing too! You are a constantly evolving (hopefully not devolving!) being, changing at all levels of your physical/mental/emotional self.

So how can the billions and billions of unique individuals from past, present and future be so simply categorised into three boxes?

Not so simple... but actually simplification is the name of the game. Ayurveda uses the doshas of vata, pitta and kapha as a way of describing typical tendencies that we find in human beings. It allows us to converse about sometimes complex concepts in an easier way.

Whilst we are different, we share similar characteristics, and ways of thinking, feeling and reacting. Knowing where you belong in these groupings helps to understand where your baseline health point is (called prakruti), and how to restore your balance when you feel a bit off (the 'off', or current state you are experiencing is called vikruti). It helps us to be adaptable beings who are able to self-regulate and return to an anchored point when all around us may be chaotic or not to our liking.

A MORE NUANCED UNDERSTANDING

My disclaimer is that it is extremely rare that you will perfectly fit into one category, although it is likely that you will have a dominance of one category i.e. predominantly vata, pitta or kapha. If you cannot decide between vata, pitta or kapha, that's probably because you are a fairly equal blend of two or even all three of the doshas. The fact is that everyone is a unique blend of all three doshas and that looking at your 'type' is just telling you what is more prominent in your inherent constitution.

Also, a dosha can be either in balance and demonstrate positive attributes, or be present in excess. Excess is when we see negative attributes. It is really helpful and important to understand that we are not doomed with the oft described negative attributes, like nervousness (vata), anger (pitta) or laziness (kapha), but these negative attributes show us that we are somehow out of balance and need to make some adjustment to restore balance.

Let's hear more about these dosha types in brief:

VATA - THE QUALITIES OF AIR AND ETHER

Vata shares the qualities of air (wind) and space (ether). It is often described as air or space, but really we are using these analogously to describe its qualities.

Air moves in the form of wind, sometimes gently, and sometimes erratically or with force. The wind is cooling and drying - think of drying your washing in a breeze, or the desire for a cool breeze in a humid tropical climate. Wind is also light (immeasurable in weight) and subtle in that we don't see it directly, but see it's effects on other gross objects.

Space, means the container in which all other things exist, but also what exist microscopically within all other things. Having space gives us clarity, room to think, decide and be creative.

In balance, vata shows a lean, but not emaciated body frame, possibly being either quite short or quite tall. Someone who might have vata predominance could be quick in movement, speech and thought, creative and able to think outside of the box. They can be lighthearted, curious and much fun to be with.

A person with out of balance vata may be physically too light (underweight), feel excessively cold and not like cold conditions, have dry skin, hair or nails, be constipated, experience tremors, twitches or spasms. The appetite may be erratic. Emotionally they may feel fragile, restless, nervous, scared and ungrounded. Mentally the mind may have a very hard time staying still.

PITTA - THE QUALITIES OF FIRE AND WATER

Pitta demonstrates qualities similar to fire and water. It is hot like fire, light (in weight and brightness), sharp and intense like the rays of the sun, and drying like your baking that has been in the oven too long. Like water, there is a tendency to spread or seep.

In balance, a pitta body is moderate and proportionate. The skin is usually fairer relative to their racial heritage, and may have more freckles than other types. The mind and intelligence can be sharp, ambitious, confident and logical, and enjoy challenges or competition. When pitta is out of balance, a person may show sign of inflammation, especially inflammatory symptoms related to heat. There may be issues of the skin, liver or blood. The appetite could be intense and there may be issues with blood sugar fluctuations.

The mind and emotional state may become overly intense, serious, aggressive, over confident and domineering.

KAPHA - THE QUALITIES OF EARTH AND WATER

Earth and water are the elements that describe kapha. Solid, stable and reliable like the earth ('salt of the earth' characters ofter are predominantly kapha). Like the natural state of water and earth, there is coolness, and there can be density, heaviness and softness (like water).

A balanced kapha dominance will show a body that has a healthy amount of reserve in muscle and adipose, is strong, healthy and either firm or soft (both being possible attributes of kapha). Joints and nerves are especially healthy and stable. The mind is generally content, enjoying peace, comfort and leisure. These are usually easy people to be around.

When off-balance, the body may accrue too much heaviness and take on extra reserves of weight and tissue. There could be issues with water retention, congestion, high cholesterol or lethargy. The mental emotional state could become dull, low, lacking enthusiasm and drive, or there may be overly attached and possessive feelings.

LAST THOUGHTS

Perhaps you see an obvious tendency of your body and mind toward one or two doshas, and may be you don't. But remember this is not a way of absolutizing yourself - you are flexible, dynamic and adaptable, and that is how you should be. There are also seasons and phases of life that we may feel very different and need to acknowledge the difference in ourselves. It is only really when we fall out of balance that we can use this knowledge as a guideline to steer us back on course to a place of health.

To fully understand the doshas, ayurveda, and life, we need a good understanding of what is, and then flexibility to see the unlimited applications.