FAQ: What is Ayurveda? Do You Know Your Body Type?

Benefits of knowing your Ayurvedic body type

-Personal analysis of dosha helps you know about your body and its requirements

-Knowing your dosha can help you maintain optimal health.

-It will help you to maintain a good and balanced personal, family, and professional life

-Helps you to plan your lifestyle according to the requirements of your body

-Dosha analysis will help you plan a balanced diet

-This can help you to know how an imbalance is likely to occur in yourself.

# 1: Are you a Vata?

Vata body type is governed by air and space elements.

Body structure - People belonging to this class, generally find it difficult to gain weight. As they have a fast metabolism, they are thin with prominent bony structures, they tend to be cold most of the time, and have dry skin and hair. They also have little muscle tone. Their pulses are fast and weak.

Lifestyle – They are very active, mobile, restless, and energetic. Their sleeping, eating, and personal habits are usually irregular and erratic. Their sexual desire keeps on varying between extremes. As they sleep lightly and are easily disturbed, they are more prone to sleep disorders like insomnia.

Communication –Their mode of speech is generally very fast, they are talkative and enjoying talking a lot.

Mental state – Mentally and emotionally they are very quick. They are quick at gathering or displaying information or emotions. They tend to learn fast but their retention poor is weak, thus they forget fast as well.

Nature – Vata people are generally shy, modest, and low in confidence. They are often impatient but very flexible and adaptable to change. They usually feel stressed or worried under unfamiliar or bad situations. They are most likely to be loners or non-conformists. They spent money quickly. They are highly creative and sensitive.

# 2: Are you a Pitta?

Pitta's body type is by the fire element.

Body structure – People belonging to this class are medium build. They have good muscle tone and they always feel warm. They have premature gray hair or are a victim of early balding. They have a reddish complexion, enjoy high energy levels, and have a good digestive system. Their skin is soft, warm often develop freckles, and moles and are sunburned easily.

Lifestyle – Their desire for food and sex is very strong. Their sleep is moderate and is not easily disturbed. Their pulse is strong. They often dominate any conversation. They dislike hot weather, sunlight, and heat.

Communication - They usually speak loudly and with passion.

Mental state – They are extremely intelligent, focused, and ambitious people. Emotionally, they are passionate about life, have a tendency to be perfectionists, and can become easily irritated.

Nature – They are usually extroverts and love to be the center of attention. They manage money very carefully. They often aspire to attain positions of leadership. They enjoy competitive sports and games, either as spectators or participants. Their intelligence is high, and they have good insight and a keen sense of discrimination.

 Are you a Kapha?

Kapha's body type is governed by water and earth elements.

Body structure – People belonging to this class usually have the largest of all the body types. Physically they have wide hips and shoulders. They have thick and wavy hair. They generally have very good stamina. They are often overweight and tend to gain weight very easily. Their teeth are strong and very well-formed. Their pulse is slow and steady.

Lifestyle – They usually have a moderate or low appetite and their digestion is very slow. They enjoy eating luxury foods that taste and smell good. In physical activity, they are very slow. However, they are also very sluggish, lethargic and difficult to motivate. They love to sleep a lot.

Communication – They have a pleasant appearance and voice.

Mental state – They are slow learners, but their memory is very great. Emotionally, they tend to be very loyal and stable.

Nature – They like to be familiar with their surroundings. They are money-savers and they are very good providers as well. Typically, they are serene and tranquil and their emotions are slow to become excited or aroused. However, they can be sentimental, nostalgic, and romantic in nature. They are highly tolerant and forgiving, with medium intelligence. They prefer to belong to a group, club, or community. They cling to their family or familiar associations.

Why the dosha should be in balance?

All three doshas are very active and constantly change in reaction to the change in actions, food, thoughts, and activity. When we fail to treat our body well and manage it haphazardly by eating too much junk food, dosha inappropriate food items, or following unhealthy patterns, this can lead to physical and mental imbalance.

In order to maintain good health, it is important to manage your current state of doshas proportional to your birth state. If there is a difference between the two conditions, then an imbalance can occur. Vikruti is the term used to denote this imbalance.  At a certain point every day, each dosha or body type can be:

Balanced, Increased, Decreased

If your dosha is not balanced, you may be a victim of heartburn, constipation, mood swings, depression etc.