Know Your Ayurvedic Body Type & Boost Your Health

Do you know which your body type (Prakriti) is? You might know what the meanings of all type are, yet you might not be able to figure out which your body type actually is. In this article, I am going to help you to discover your Ayurvedic body type so that you can start making necessary lifestyle changes in order to balance your dosha.

Your Ayurvedic body type could be responsible for your health issues. It is common to confuse your dosha with a food allergy or an illness, but taking note of the following symptoms can help determine your dosha and lead a healthier life as you balance your doshas.

Have you ever heard of Ayurveda?

For those who are not aware, Ayurveda is 5000 years old Indian tradition which originated from the combination of two words – “Ayur” meaning life and “Veda” meaning knowledge. The Ayurvedic healers believe that a person's physical and mental health is determined by their body type. They also believe that people can improve their health by balancing their doshas, which are three basic energies present in every individual's body. Therefore, knowing your ayurvedic body type can help you to achieve a healthy living so that you can lead a long and happy life.

Ayurveda is a holistic science of health.

Ayurvedic principles are based on three fundamental body types known as doshas, which include vata, pitta and kapha.

There are three different body types in Ayurveda which is called doshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

In order to find out your dosha, you need to answer the following questions:

·        Am I more physically active? Do I have an athletic build? Am I patient and slow in my actions? Do I have a medium build? Am I fast and always on the go?

·        Do I prefer warm climate? Do I have dry skin? Do I perspire less or not at all? Do I prefer colder climate? Is my skin oily and shiny? Do I perspire a lot?

·        Do I have thick hair and strong nails? Is my skin oily and shiny? Do I have thin hair, soft nails and dry skin? Am I prone to excess mucus production or sinus congestion or colds and flu?

·        Do I suffer from constipation or dry skin or anxiety or irregular heartbeats or high BP? Do I feel wired but tired and tire easily after exercise or do not sleep well at night? Is it hard for me to gain weight even though my appetite is good and digestion is slow but regular with soft stool formation?

Dosha

Doshas are biological energies found throughout the human body and mind. They govern all physical and mental processes and provide every living being with an individual blueprint for health and fulfilment.

Your physical, mental and emotional state is greatly determined by the balance of three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These are called tridoshas in Ayurveda. The word 'dosha' refers to a person's biological humors that determine his unique body constitution.

Each dosha is made up of one or more of the five elements: ether, air, fire, water and earth. These elements combine in each person to create a unique physical and mental constitution (prakruti).

Your dominant dosha influences your body's shape, weight, metabolism and energy levels. The three doshas are Vata (air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (earth).

Vata dosha:

People with Vata dosha are considered to be thin individuals and are said to have a thin bone structure. They are highly creative and energetic, but they can also be too restless, anxious and disorganized at times.

Vata dosha is comprised of ether and air elements. It controls bodily functions associated with motion, including blood circulation, breathing, blinking, and your heartbeat.

Vata dominant people have a creative mind, are full of energy, quick in thought and movement.

A Vata body type tends to be skinny with a small frame. Most people with this constitution have dry skin, sleep very lightly and are prone to constipation. Vatas tend to lose weight easily and often have trouble gaining weight. They need to eat regularly to maintain their energy level.

Vata type individuals are usually thin, underweight, dry skinned and sensitive to cold. They are usually tall with long limbs.

Vata types are very creative but they also worry a lot. They are restless and get bored easily due to their fluctuating moods. They may also experience anxiety and depression at times.

Pitta dosha:

If you have a moderate build and frame then you may fall under this category. Pitta people are mostly warm, intense, focused and driven in nature. But sometimes they can be too intense, short-tempered and critical in their behaviour.

Pitta dosha is composed of fire and water. It controls the body’s metabolic systems, including digestion, absorption, nutrition, and your body’s temperature.

Pitta dominant people have a fiery nature, they are opinionated, ambitious and perfectionists

Pitta body types tend to be medium build with a tendency toward red hair and freckles. They usually have oily skin and are prone to heartburn or acid reflux. Pittas sleeps well but tend to be intense in their habits and can become overheated easily. Pittas needs plenty of cooling foods in their diet such as cucumbers and leafy green vegetables.

Pitta type individuals are medium built, warm, sensitive to heat and have a fiery nature. They have good muscle tone and they easily gain weight.

Pitta types are competitive, aggressive, impatient and ambitious. They get angry very quickly but their anger subsides as quickly as it arises.

Kapha dosha:

If you have a heavy build with broad shoulders and well-developed muscles then you belong to this category. You are considered to be the most stable of all the body types and often appear calm, relaxed and composed. However, at times you may also suffer from being too possessive, lethargic and greedy in your behaviour.

Kapha dosha is composed of water and earth elements. It controls growth in the body. It supplies water to all body parts, moisturizes the skin, and maintains the immune system.

Kapha dominant people like to take their time in everything they do, they are grounded and calm.

Kapha body types are larger boned with more fat on their bodies than other types. Sleep is often deep but long; Kaphas may need an alarm clock to wake up in the morning! They have a slower metabolism.

Kapha type individuals are normally heavy built and prone to obesity. They have a slow metabolism rate, oily skin, thick hair, strong physique and good stamina.

Kapha types are calm, relaxed and composed individuals who love to stay close to nature. They are usually slow in their approach towards everything in life.

conclusion

There are three types of Ayurvedic doshas that can be found in different proportions in each person. These doshas are called Vata dosha, Pitta dosha, and Kapha dosha. Each of these Ayurvedic doshas has a unique set of characteristics and traits. Your unique combination of the three doshas determines your temperament, body constitution, and physical features.

Understanding your body type will help you to know what kind of foods would suit you best.