Dr. Navin, a doctor at the Atreya Ayurveda network of clinics, talks about the characteristics of the body that people share in Indian practice.
In Ayurveda, all people are divided into three doshas – according to the constitution of the body, which determines the predisposition to illness, overeating, and even affects the appearance.
Dosha is one of the oldest classifications of people, prescribed in Ayurvedic treatises. There are three of them – Vatta, Pitta and Kapha. People do not belong to any one, they are mixed in us. When all three are in balance, a person feels good, but it is worth starting to please one, forgetting about the other, and the balance is disturbed. The doctors of ancient India have been imparting wisdom for centuries on how to maintain the balance of the doshas within. We will tell you in order.
Vata (wind) is responsible for all dynamic processes in the body. People with a predominant Vata dosha in the body are usually tall, with an asthenic constitution. With the onset of autumn, to keep this dosha in balance, do not walk in rubber shoes for a long time and get wet in the rain. Vata imbalance is just a cold from a draft or overcooling. The body of those with a predominance of Vata is dry and lean – they should drink a lot of water (not cold) and engage in dynamic sports – aerobics, dancing. Do the loads at a slow pace, otherwise you can damage the spine and joints, which are already fragile in representatives of this dosha.
Pitta is the second dosha in the body, which is responsible for all transformation processes. The most important is digestion. And people with a predominant Pitta are usually strong and assertive, with broad bones and massive limbs. It is as if a fire is burning inside these people – they are very active, and they need a lot of light and wholesome food, although they are drawn mainly to spicy, salty, fried, fast food. An imbalance of Pitta in the body leads to metabolic disorders, weight gain, and constipation. The first indicator of Pitta imbalance is anger, authoritarianism, explosive nature, caused by digestive disorders.
For autumn and winter, Ayurvedic doctors advise people with a predominant Pitta monotonous sports that can calm their explosive body: swimming, cycling and skiing.
Kapha dosha is in charge of all body fluids, maintains the natural water-fat balance of the skin. She is responsible for scarring, wound healing, and fluid retention in the body, which are one of the signs of her imbalance. An overabundance of Kapha is a sore throat, phlegm and snot, and watery eyes.
Outwardly, people with a predominant kapha dosha are heavy, overweight and like to surround others with care: they are happy to take care of their family and cook. Kaphas are the best doshas for coping with monotonous work, but they should not sit on the couch, otherwise they will not avoid health problems (primarily with the thyroid gland).
In the fall, it’s time for people with Kapha dosha to engage in low-dynamic sports – running or walking is best, even an autumn hike will be useful for them. They need to develop flexibility, otherwise joint problems cannot be avoided.
Only activity in the evenings will save Kapha from the cold weather – any mugs and fitness will help not to accumulate fat over the long winter. Also, doctors recommend drinking more water, because representatives of this dosha sweat the most. Spicy should be excluded from food.