Ayurveda teaches us how to live synergistically with the environment around us. That means we have to allow ourself to tune in with the season, time of the day, the climate etc.
Let me start with the creations in the universe. The entire cosmos has five major elements or energies. These are-
-
Ether ~ Akaash
-
Air ~ Vaayu
-
Fire ~ Agni
-
Water ~ Jal or Aap
-
Earth ~ Prithvi
Each of us are a microcosm of this macrocosmos. So, these elements are also present in us in various forms and locations. However, we may have one more two of these elements dominating the other elements. Ayurveda believes that each of us are unique and we have an individual bioenergy in us called Dosha. We are all born with a biological composition that is called your prakruti, but as we grow and get influenced with the diet, lifestyle, people that surround us, our body type tends to change or go out of balance. That is your vikruti.
The three doshas (Ayurvedic body types) are
-
Vata Dosha
-
Pitta Dosha
-
Kapha Dosha
-
Vata = Ether+Air
-
Pitta = Fire+Water
-
Kapha= Water+Earth
These compositions explain how each of these doshas are functionally and physically different from each other.
Vata governs your creativity, your flow of energy. Since Vata dosha is a combination of space and air, these characteristics demand dryness in Vata and a spacey mind. Vata people are constant thinkers and often keep changing their thoughts and actions, because of the wind quality in them, they keep switching from one action to another.
Physical Characteristics of Vata:
Skinny
Petite
Dry skin
Thin frizzy hair
Brittle nails
Cold to touch
Sensitive to cold
Mental and emotional characteristics of Vata:
Talkative
Creative
Friendly
Deep thinkers
Multitaskers
Dreams of falling from a height or left in a lone empty place
Anxious
Worried
Indecisive
Best Professions for Vata:
Performing arts
Creative arts
Hosts of talk shows
Musicians
Teachers
Marketing
Event management
Actors
Scientists
Pitta is responsible for digestion and transformation. Since pitta is composed of Fire and water, these people have a lot of heat and oil in them. This heat can be manifested as anger or excessive heat in their body. They are very determined and shrewd thinkers. They are intellectual and highly passionate. The fire in them drives them to be ambitious
Physical Characteristics of Pitta Dosha people
They are moderate build
Muscular build
Physically fit
Oily skin
Oily hair. The heat and excessive oil starts premature hair loss or hair greying
Hot to touch
They sweat a lot
They are great speakers and leaders
Mental and emotional characteristics:
Thoughtful and Firm
Intellectual
Angry
Feisty
Jealous
Judgmental
Straightforward
Dreams about war, violence, Blood, Killing someone
Best Careers:
Corporate Leaders
Spiritual leaders
Politicians
Lawyers
Sales
Mathematicians/Scientists
Kapha is responsible for structure, stability, and helps the lubrication throughout your body. Kapha dosha is dominant with Water and earth. While water is nourishing, earth adds bulk and stability. Kapha people tend to be on the obese side of the scale. The water and earth form mucous, so these people can have excessive congestion and upper respiratory disorders
Physical Characteristics of Kapha dosha people
Soft, beautifully smooth skin
Cool and Moist
Bulky
Thick, oily, curly hair
Big eyes
Wetness and mucousy
Pleasant features
Mental and emotional characteristics
Caring
Loving
Great Listeners
Lethargic
Procrastinators
Sleepy most of the time
Sedentary
Greedy
Good careers for Kapha:
Doctors
Nurses
Counsellors
Teachers
Caretakers
They thrive well with monotonous jobs with very less physical exertion something like a desk job