KAPHA DOSHA: THE FORCE OF STABILITY

In Ayurveda, a dosha is one of three substances that are believed to be present in a person's body. Kapha dosha is made of the earth & water elements. Close your eyes & feel these elements coming into contact with your being. What qualities do earth & water possess? What sensations do they create in your body & mind? Are these elements: light or heavy, hot or cold, dense or flowing, sharp or dull, static or mobile? Let us guide you through these questions.

Earth & water are both by nature: dense, heavy, cold, static & dull. Since these are the qualities that comprise these elements & these elements are what create kapha dosha, then kapha dosha is characterized by these qualities as well.

Kapha dosha is the force of stability due to the grounded, stable elements that create it. A kapha-type reflects earth & water in their physical, mental & emotional being. A kapha body is solid & sometimes stocky. It is very easy for kapha-types to gain weight & also hard for them to lose it. They have large features: abundant hair, large eyes & thick lips. A kapha personality is sweet, loving & loyal. They are the people at the party or social gathering making sure everyone else is okay. They will make sure your drink is full, you have eaten & you are not too hot or nor cold. Kapha-types are also solid, steady & enjoy routine. The unofficial mascot of kapha dosha is an elephant. They move slowly, have open hearts & have a natural compassion for others.

When kapha is out of balance, in the physical body, there can be weight gain, excess mucous, lethargy & nausea associated in the digestive tract. Stubbornness & attachment may become an issue in the emotional body. Imbalanced kapha skin manifests with excess oiliness, congestion, cystic acne, blackheads & large pores.

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In Ayurveda, a dosha is one of three substances that are believed to be present in a person's body. Pitta dosha is created from the elements of fire & water, with fire being predominant. Imagine these particular elements coming into contact with you. What qualities do fire & water possess? What sensations do they create in your body & mind? Are fire & water: light or heavy, oily or dry, hot or cold, static or flowing? Let us help you navigate through these questions.

The qualities of fire & water are inherently hot, light, sharp, oily & flowing. Since these elements are what create pitta dosha, then pitta dosha also reflects these qualities. A pitta type mirrors the qualities of fire & water in their physical, mental & emotional bodies. Pitta manifests in the physical body through a medium frame & athletic build, making it easy for this body type to sustain muscle tone. If weight is gained, it is easy to lose. In the mind, pitta dosha manifests as sharpness & intellect. A pitta personality tends to be a natural born leader, who is passionate & courageous. They communicate directly. To some, their clear communication can come off as sharp or curt; however, pitta types feel like they are just being clear & getting to the point. Pitta types value organization & completion of tasks is a must. When they are in balance, they have a beautiful blend of the fire & water elements which displays in a powerful, compassionate nature, inspiring others to achieve their goals. The unofficial mascot of pitta dosha is a lion. They are strong, powerful, demand attention & will protect their loved ones with a fiercely loyal love.

Imbalance in pitta dosha manifests as excess heated conditions & emotions. In the body, there is a tendency for hyperacidity, ulcers & inflammation. In the mind, excess pitta leads to irritability, jealousy, impatience, a judgmental attitude & anger. Pitta-type skin can be described as sensitive, oily in the T-Zone areas & can also be prone to acne & blemishes.

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Vata dosha is comprised of the air & ether elements. Imagine these elements coming into contact with your being. What qualities do air & ether (the space in between things) possess? How do they feel in your body & mind? Are air & ether: light or heavy, hot or cold, static or flowing? Let us help you answer these questions. Air & ether are both inherently light, dry, cold, mobile & flowing. Since these are the qualities that comprise these elements & these elements are what create vata dosha, then vata dosha reflects these qualities as well. A vata type reflects the air & ether qualities in their physical, mental & emotional bodies. A vata body is irregular; sometimes thin with long bones or sometimes vata manifests as a pear-shaped figure. Commonly, vata types have difficulty gaining weight. The personality is restless, adventurous, dreamy, bubbly & charismatic. The vata soul is creative, artistic & inspires others. It is quite difficult to pin down a vata type person because their nature is inherently mobile. They love movement, change & jump at the idea of trying new things. The unofficial mascot of vata dosha is a hummingbird or butterfly. They are always moving, fluttering from place to place. To some it may seem that vata types lack direction but to the vata type person, that is exactly what makes them feel alive.

When vata is out of balance within a person, the tendency is for excess movement & motion in the body & mind. This can lead to anxiety, overwhelm, insomnia & fear. In the physical body, vata imbalance manifests as coldness, dryness & constipation. In the skin, imbalance can be seen & felt as dry, rough, thin, fine lines, premature aging & wrinkles.

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