Your Unique Body Constitution (Prakruti)

Dosha is the Ayurvedic term that describes our individual combination of physical, mental and emotional characteristics.

This refers to such things as our body frame, hair, eye colour, digestive capacity, emotional balance as well as disease tendencies. We all have a different balance of the Doshas. For example, some of us are tall, some short, some get angry, others anxious, some cannot bare the heat and others dislike the cold. Many attributes are genetic while others are acquired from our diet, climate or living conditions. The constitution is fixed at birth, but many factors act upon us to disturb this balance and are reflected as a change in one's constitution from the balanced state. For example, due to our diet, seasons, weather, lifestyle, work, stress etc. If this accumulation does not leave the body through the normal routes (stool, urine, sweat), it increases. This, according to Ayurveda, is the cause of most disease. However, if the Doshas are cared for properly they offer health and vitality.

'As many human beings on earth, is as many body types on earth. Each individual is a unique book, how you read that book is an art' ~ Dr Ajit Singh

The Vata Person

-     Quick mind, flexibile and creative.

-     Physically underdeveloped

-     Career - likely to be teachers, philosophers, musicians, foreign ministers and counsellors.

-     Do not make dynamic leaders in the material arena, however no leadership is successful without their support.

-     Soft flowing clothes compliment them

-     Low sex drive  

-     Faithful and honourable in relationships

-     The best partner for Vata people are Kapha-Pitta and Kapha-Vata.

-     Complexion is brown, their skin is cold, rough, dry and cracked.

-     Chests are flat and veins, muscles and tendons are visible.

-     Tend to be either too large or too small with a thin frame which reveals prominent joints.

-     Hair is curly and scanty.

-     Eyelashes are thin and eyes lustreless.

-     Eyes may be sunken, small, and dry.

-     Nails are rough and brittle.

-     Nose is often bent and turned up.

-     Appetite and digestion are variable.

-     Crave for sweet foods, hot drinks and food.

-     Sleep is often less and often disturbed

-     Hands and feet get cold easily

-     Great potential among all the three Doshas for attaining a profound spiritual life

-     Talk and walk quickly

-     Get easily fatigued

-     Have a short memory and quick mental understanding.

-     Have little will power or tolerance.

-     Their reasoning power is weak

-     Tend to be nervous, fearful, anxious

-     Tend to earn money quick and spend quick.

Vata resides in the colon, as well as the brain, ears, bones, joints, skin and thighs. Susceptible to diseases involving the air principle, such as emphysema, pneumonia and arthritis. Other Vata disorders include flatulence, tics, twitches, aching joints, dry skin and hair, nerve disorders, constipation, and mental confusion.

The Pitta Person

-     Good self-awareness, penetrating ideas and sharp intelligence  

-     Energy, ambition and aggression are the primary qualities

-     They transform ideas into reality

-     Like to be in control of all situations

-     They are ruled by the sun

-     Love to be the centre of attention

-     Sexually, Pitta types visualize themselves as great lovers but in reality they lack patience

-     Their partners in life are Kapha people

-     Career - organizational work such as architects, designers, engineers, scientists.

-     They love to be dressed well

-     Medium in height and slender delicate body frame

-     Skin has many moles

-     Muscles are developed

-     Complexion is coppery, reddish or fair, the skin soft and warm

-      Hair is thin and silky, red or brown with a tendency toward premature greying

-     Eyes may be grey, green or copper brown and sharp

-     Nails are soft

-     Nose is sharp

-     Strong metabolism, good digestion and strong appetite

-     Sleep is of medium duration, but uninterrupted

-     Excessive perspiration

-     Body temperature is high they do not tolerate heat

-     Good clear, concise speakers

-     Ambitious people

-     Appreciate material prosperity and love to exhibit their wealth

Pitta people tend to have disease involving the fire element such as fevers, inflammatory diseases and jaundice. Other common symptoms include skin rashes, burning sensation, ulceration, fever, inflammations or irritations such as conjunctivitis, colitis or sore throats.

The Kapha Person

-     Strong, high endurance and stamina

-     Solid and stable people

-     Quality of attraction and fascination

-     Love sweet foods

-     High sex drive, with great stamina and abundant fertility

-     Females are great mothers and lover to her spouse. Very good partners

-     Family focused, working best in situations that demand stamina, care and nurturing

-     Natural teachers and parents

-     Well developed bodies with a strong tendency to gain weight

-     Chests are expanded and broad

-     Tendons and muscles are not visible because of the thick skin, and bones are not prominent

-     Complexions are fair and bright

-     Skin is soft

-     Eyes are dense, black and attractive

-     Regular appetites, digestion functions are relatively slow

-     Perspiration is moderate

-     Sleep is sound and prolonged. Tendency toward excess sleep

-     Good stamina psychologically

-     Tend to be tolerant, calm, forgiving and loving

-     Can exhibit traits of greed, attachment and possessiveness

-     Usually have wealth and tend to hold it

Kapha types have diseases connected to the water element such as flu, sinus congestion, and other diseases involving mucous. Sluggishness, excess weight, diabetes, water retention, and headaches are also common.