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The doshas

THE VATA INDIVIDUAL

Vatas are the skinny tall folks, who can struggle to put on weight no matter what they eat or how much they eat. Vata rules movement, creativity and communication in the body, so it is easy to see why Vata types find it hard to sit still, love a chat and may have wild imaginations. You may notice them chattering away to themselves or telling a long-winded story. Because they have so much going on inside their heads they find it difficult to listen, their eyes may dart about as you talk to them and they are very easily distracted. Vata types may be more fearful and anxious of everyday things than others and tend to be light sleepers. Sensitive Vata souls suffer without a routine to stabilise and ground the air and space in them.

Quick to learn but also quick to forget, they may be more interested in the arts and creative activities than reading, writing and arithmetic. Without a routine, they may appear scattered and a bit all over the shop. Vatas often find themselves surrounded by mess, which can be a direct reflection of their state of mind. Vatas tend to overthink everything and find it difficult to make decisions. Vatas suffer under stress. They make friends quickly and change friends often, and can have difficulty forming close relationships. This is also reflected in their interests. Intensely interested in one thing momentarily and then onto the next thing before you know it. The qualities of the dosha are light and mobile so this is natural behaviour for their constitution.

Vata types are incredibly soft and intuitive and are greatly affected by the moods of those around them; when things get overwhelming for them they may just drift off into their minds where things are more comfortable for them. They are insatiable daydreamers. Anxiety and constipation can be a symptom of Vata imbalance. It is important that these types stay warm, slow down and create a routine for themselves to help balance the air and space in their dosha.

The qualities of Vata are like the wind – quick, light, dry, cold, subtle, mobile and rough. Vatas will often have dry cracked skin, hair and lips. They feel the cold and will often complain of cold hands and feet. They love the sun and their holiday of choice will most likely be a beach destination. They are disturbed by the wind and excess travel. They are drawn to crispy, crunchy foods but these foods will quickly send them out of balance. They have joints that crack and their bodies are the most fragile and sensitive of the three doshas because of the dry, light qualities of their constitution. The mobile quality may allow them to be efficient multi-taskers but it is essential they get plenty of rest to help them deal with the constant movement as they are delicate types. Vata types may also have a tendency to swing drastically in terms of weight, and flip from being underweight to overweight quickly. Things are everchanging with Vata individuals, be it in their homelife, workplace, relationships or physical body.

Their subtle nature may mean they are drawn to the spiritual and they have a natural tendency to seek out more esoteric experiences than the other two doshas. Vata types are most comfortable in nature by a running stream, listening to birds and gazing up at the stars. Vatas can be shy, insecure and awkward in social situations and one of their biggest challenges is to come to a place of self-acceptance. This fast paced modern world is often confronting to these Vatas, who may worry and struggle to keep up and fit in.

For more information on Vata out of balance, see page 24.

THE PITTA INDIVIDUAL

Pitta types love to be the centre of attention. Ruled by the elements of fire and water, they are born to shine and it’s hard to mistake when a Pitta enters a room. These types like to be in control and are easily annoyed if made to follow rules and regulations. Pitta children are happy to figure things out for themselves and like to receive praise and recognition when they are successful. Blessed with strong athletic bodies, Pittas are driven, competitive individuals who play to win. Anger is their go-to emotion and if they don’t get what they want, they can make things uncomfortable for all around them.

Pittas are fiery types whose qualities are hot, oily, sharp, light, spreading and liquid. The oily nature gives Pitta types lovely moist soft skin, though it can overheat easily and Pittas will often sweat a lot in hotter weather or suffer from acne, a spreading rash or hives. In life, oiliness means Pittas are very good lubricators when it comes to getting what they want out of life and situations.

They will often use their sharp tongues to ensure you understand their point of view.

Because fire rules transformation and is adept at converting ideas into objects or experiences, Pitta types are great at creating, planning, organising and executing as long as they are the ones running the show. They are energetic, ambitious, aggressive and arrogant about their pursuits, and will often blaze their way down their chosen path with little consideration for those around them. Pittas’ egos need to be kept in check and it is their life lesson to learn to control their self-imposed will and fiery mind and nature. Pitta types can have a tendency to ‘burn out’ if they do not learn to moderate their desires for material possessions. Pittas need to learn patience and to consider others to temper their fires. Pitta types are courageous and make great leaders, as their ability to see a project through to the end is unrivalled by the other doshas.

They have strong, hot digestive systems, a fast metabolism and enormous appetites, and can get very hangry (angry when hungry) if they miss a meal. They may have heat rising in the body if their digestive system is overloaded, complaining of heartburn, ulcers or reflux. Emotionally, it may show up as fiery outbursts, heated conversations or an angry silence. Drawn to intense flavours (chilli, salt, hot’n’spicy) in food and drinks, and intense conversations and experiences, these folks are bored easily and are always on the lookout for the next exciting adventure. Pittas need cooling environments, calm friends and gentle interactions to balance out their natural tendency to overheat, overachieve and overdo. As kids, they often complain they are bored. Pitta rules the eyes and vision, so to calm their forceful nature they will do well painting or surrounding themselves in nature’s beauty. Pitta types care very much about looks. They can become obsessed with their physical body, clothes and like to be seen and acknowledged for their appearance; they like to be seen as ahead of trends, and fashion can become another way they seek attention. Anger, impatience, skin issues, overheating and reflux can be a symptom of Pitta imbalance. It is important that these types learn how to manage heat and ambition. Pitta types often go grey before other types and Pitta men tend to lose hair earlier than the other doshas. For more information on Pitta out of balance, see pages 28–9.

THE KAPHA INDIVIDUAL

Kaphas are caring, maternal, graceful, sensual types. They tend to be focused more on others than on themselves and they can usually be found mothering something or someone. It is said that without Kaphas there would be no home, no children and no family, as Kapha energy ensures the stability and foundation of the home. They have a larger rounder body shape than the other two doshas and tend to put on weight just by looking at food. Ruled by the elements of earth and water, they have a sluggish metabolism and a tendency towards fluid retention. Weight issues are a constant headache for these individuals. Kaphas have thick wavy lustrous hair that is usually blonde or black.

Slow to learn but then they never seem to forget, these people can often be mistaken for being slow or dumb, especially when they are younger. If their teachers don’t have the time or patience to spend extra effort going over things with them, they quickly fall behind at school.

Kaphas are most happy in their own company or being with family. They won’t go out of their way to make friends as they can find friendships exhausting as they always seem to be the ones giving.

Though ruled by earth and water, the qualities of Kapha are most like water – moist, slow, cool, heavy, dense, cloudy, unctuous, stable and viscous. They have soft well-lubricated joints and often their bodies feel cool, soft and slightly moist to touch. They feel the cold and tend to have an aversion to the cooler months. Their heaviness is evident in their body shape but is often more of an issue for these types mentally as it can give them a heavy outlook on life. They are also heavy sleepers who like to sleep for longer periods of time. Kaphas are slow walkers, talkers and thinkers, and won’t be rushed into decisions about anything; Kaphas are always calculating their energy and whether the effort is worth the expenditure. They seem to have a stubborn aversion to change and will often get stuck in unhappy relationships or work situations for long periods.

They are good savers and like to accumulate wealth and have a stable bank balance as this provides them with a strong sense of security. Kaphas love routine and stability but this can work against them if they are in an unhealthy situation. Kaphas can be very attached to the material world; they have a tendency to ground themselves in the world through food, people and possessions. They can become hoarders if this is not kept in check. Their home is everything to them as this is the place they devote to nurturing their families and loved ones. Kaphas are providers and nurturers, and they love to indulge in things they love. Kapha mothers need to be very aware this doesn’t turn into smothering their children as they age and want to move away from home. Kaphas can fall into the trap of loving home so much they isolate from the world, especially in the cooler, damper months. This can lead to them becoming lazy, lethargic and gaining weight.

Kaphas have strong, dense, stable bodies and Kapha types are said to be the most resilient of all the doshas when in balance. They have strong bones and when physically fit they develop strong muscles and great endurance, especially once they are committed to a task.

Exhaustion and depression can be a symptom of Kapha imbalance. It is important that these types rise early, between 6am–10am is Kapha time of day and when they feel most sluggish. If they don’t move their body in the morning, they can easily spend the rest of the day feeling tired, sluggish and unmotivated. Under stress, Kaphas will oversleep, overeat and do their best to avoid addressing whatever is bothering them. For more information on Kapha out of balance, see pages 32–4.

See Balancing the doshas on pages 22–41 for the causes of an ‘imbalance’ and what can make someone dominated by particular doshas unwell, and recommendations on diet and lifestyle to help balance your dosha.

Be ground. Be crumbled so wildflowers will come up where you are. You’ve been stony for too many years. Try something different. Surrender.

–Rumi