Discover your ayurvedic body type

the concept Tridosha In Ayurveda there are combinations of these wonderful original elements in pairs; Vata is the element of space and air, Pitta is the element of fire and water and Kapha is the element of water and earth. These three biological “humors” are responsible for the proper functioning of the body when it is in balance, and disease when it becomes unbalanced.

Every person has the five elements in their body, so all three doshas work together to maintain life. what Prakriti What it really indicates is the proportion and dominance of one or two of these elements or doshas, ​​leading to their classification as either vata, pitta or kapha dominant. As we discussed, this rule is set at the moment of birth and does not change throughout life except in rare cases. While the doshas may fluctuate in response to the foods we eat, travel, or activities, our constitutional baseline does not change. In order to maintain good health, each individual needs to work on restoring this original ratio of doshas in his or her constitution.

What are the three basic Ayurvedic body types?

The physical appearance of the body is used, among other methods of visual and tactile diagnosis, to determine the dominance of an individual; Whether they are more vata, pitta or kapha. Double doshas and even balanced triple prakruti doshas are possible along with one dosha being dominant.

Ayurvedic science Acreti It refers to a person’s outlook, which to the trained eye of an Ayurvedic practitioner or doctor will reveal certain tendencies and a deeper nature of a person beyond their current state of health or imbalance. Akruti includes general body shape, muscle type, fat distribution, as well as height and weight. More details come with skin and hair color and texture, as well as the color and quality of various organs such as the eyes.

Read on to determine your Ayurvedic body type! As you do this, it is important to take into account general facts over the lifespan, as temporary manifestations of some of these elements may be more indicative of Vikruti; Temporary states of imbalance compared to the basic constitution. For example, if you’ve been generally thin your whole life, but gained a lot of weight during pregnancy and even developed conditions like gestational diabetes; It would reflect more of an accumulation or temporary state of kapha, not your deeper constitution.

Sometimes, especially with long-standing doshic imbalance, it can be difficult to determine a person’s true prakruti based on physical appearance alone. In these cases, consider having your pulse read by a doctor or Ayurvedic practitioner.

Vata body type

Due to the dry, cold, light, rough, fine, mobile and clear qualities of the elements of air and space, a Vata individual will have bodies with a tendency to these qualities in their physical appearance.

Vata body type is usually either tall or short, not average height. This reflects the irregular quality of vata. The irregular quality of vata may lead to some asymmetry in the face or other structures and the teeth may be large and have spaces between them. The Vata face can be elongated, thin and long. Slim body with little weight reflects lake, The light quality of the air and space elements of Vata. Vata body types often have difficulty gaining weight for the same reason. Often times, Vata body types are very mobile, which makes it difficult for them to sit still and be still. There may be trembling or shuffling of the feet and general anxiety about them. They may walk quickly and erratically, or stumble or fall due to lack of presence sthira Or ground quality. Vata body types generally enjoy movement; Exercise, running, dancing, yoga, but they have to be careful not to overdo it!

Due to the dry quality of Vata, Vata dominant individuals can tend to have dry skin and hair. An irregular quality can create frizzy, unruly or frizzy hair. Vata types tend to have darker skin than individuals with a predominance of Kapha and Pitta.

Beta body type

Being composed of the elements of fire and water Pitta traits Spicy, mild, sharp, oily, diffuse and pungent and therefore these qualities will be more present in Pitta individuals in general. Pitta is associated with the colors red and yellow, so pitta types can have redder skin. They can be prone to sensitive skin (especially to sunlight) with a greater tendency to develop moles and freckles. Hair can be fiery red or red in color. The strong fire and sharpness of mind in Pitta individuals can cause premature graying or baldness of the hair. The yellow color can appear in the form of yellowed teeth, and they can also be sharp in shape. The nose and chin can be sharp while the face has a heart shape and a tapering chin.

Pitta types are often sensitive and have generally sensitive bodies and constitutions. They have moderate strength, and like Vata types, they should not work or push themselves physically too much.

The pitta body type is more of a moderate build with good muscle and average height. Pitta types generally have a stable, stable, moderate weight with good digestive capacity. Pitta also controls the radiance of the body, so when the skin is balanced, it can have a slightly oily and radiant complexion.

Kapha body type

Kapha’s qualities are heavy, soft, stable, sticky, cool, and dense. As such, Kapha body types tend to gain weight or have difficulty losing weight. They tend to have larger builds with larger bones and joints. The feet and hands will be wider and the face shape will tend to be rounder. Kapha types have thick hair and strong nails. They have beautiful, big, shiny eyes and a wide nose. Kapha types can have large lips compared to Vata and Pitta types and the skin can be oily but cool and pale in color.

Of all three types, Kapha types have the most flexible and stable physiology. They can easily tend to excessive qualities of heaviness, which manifest themselves in the form of lethargy, stagnation, and overgrowth.

As mentioned before, individuals can have a tendency to have multiple doshas. If, as you read this, you identify multiple doshas in play, you may have a dual or even triple dosha body type.

General guidelines for physical exercise for each dosha

We can go one step further after determining our basic body type. Whether it’s vata, pitta or kapha and use the principle of “like increases like” or the balance of opposites to guide movement practices that can be most supportive of our body type.

For Vata people, who tend to be dry, hyperactive, and cold, warm, firm, fluid, and gentle exercises can be very supportive. Examples include gentle yoga in a slightly warm place, walking and swimming. Vata types should never push themselves to their maximum potential because they can tend towards burnout and exhaustion. Ancient Vedic texts state that exercising to half capacity, just until the heart rate rises significantly or sweat forms on the brow, is sufficient.

For pitta body types, exercise is viewed as “food” for their more developed muscles. Moderate exercise is indicated, just as Vata does not push herself to the extreme as she can be sensitive and easily fatigued. Because of Pitta’s hot, greasy, and sharp qualities, exercises such as dancing, swimming, or moderate yoga in a well-ventilated space can work well.

Kapha is the heaviest, most stable and stable of the three doshas and can tend towards lethargy, heaviness, stagnation and accumulation. It has wonderful, sticky qualities and can get stuck, so the best exercise for Kapha is the opposite in nature; Heating, stimulating blood circulation and strong in intensity. Good types of exercise can be warm yoga at a faster pace and cardio exercises that are more motivating Pranayama Like Bhastrika and Kapalabhati.

Surya Namaskar (yogic sun salutation) is viewed as a complete exercise and can be modified to suit each dosha.