Why you need to know your Ayurvedic Constitution
Did you ever wonder why you are always cold, and just can’t seem to get your hands or feet warm? Maybe you struggle to lose or gain weight? Perhaps foods that agreed with you during the winter makes your digestion feel sluggish in summer? Or maybe caffeine makes you jittery and even chocolate can get your heart rate up? Once you understand your Ayurvedic constitution, all of these things start to make sense.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga. It is the medical system with roots in ancient India which has been helping people find health and happiness for thousands of years. At the basis of Ayurveda are the constitution types or doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) which are each composed of two of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether). We each have all three doshas represented in our constitutions although most people have one or two primary doshas.
The qualities of these doshas are not only present in us but also in the world around us, showing up in the seasons, time of day, in the food we eat, the exercise we engage in, and so much more.
The science of Ayurveda is a process of balance. It is the understanding of what your base Ayurvedic constitution is, and then looking at where you have doshic imbalances. Then you can use all that information along with the current season and your lifestyle choices to help bring you back into balance.
Why is a dosha imbalance such a big deal?
When your doshas are out of balance it can impact everything from your sleep to your digestion to your energy levels and so much more.
Imagine if you were able to sleep through the night and wake up rested. If you didn’t feel gassy or bloated after you ate, or if every meal didn’t sit like a lead brick in your stomach. What if you were able to get through a busy day without feeling exhausted halfway through your to-do list? All of that is possible when you bring your doshas into balance!
Dosha imbalances can also lead to physical ailments, based on my own personal Ayurvedic constitution and the imbalances I am prone to, one of the first signs I have that I am out of balance is chronic headaches. Rebalancing my doshas helps me to chase those headaches away. You might find that your imbalances manifest as skin conditions (acny, eczema, etc.), constipation or diarrhea, joint aches and pains, and more.
So what is your dosha
Ok, so now that you know why you should care, you are probably wondering what your Ayurvedic constitution type is! There are a ton of tests you can take online to help you identify what your doshic composition is. You can google “what is my dosha” and several good ones will come up. Most will require you to enter an e-mail address to get your results, so make sure you are comfortable sharing that information with the source before you begin the survey.
One of my current favorites is Banyan Botanicals quiz. It not only helps you understand your innate Ayurvedic constitution, but also identifies current dosha imbalances. I’m not affiliated with them, I just find this tool to be incredibly helpful. Be aware that Banyan Botanical is a vendor who will use this information to suggest products to you – there is no obligation to purchase, and you should do your research and consult with your physician before beginning any new medication, herbal or otherwise.
In a nutshell, here are the three doshas and some basic characteristics of each (note that because we each have all three doshas in our constitution and many of us are bidoshic, you may not identify with everything you read about your primary dosha type):
Vata
The elements that make up the Vata dosha are air and ether (an ethereal sense of space). People who are predominantly Vata may be described as birdlike. Often they have a thin frame, tend toward underweight, and can be airy or spacy. Think of characteristics like dry, light, subtle, and clear to describe someone (or something) that is primarily Vata.
Pitta
Pitta is composed of fire and water. People who are predominantly Pitta are usually of medium build, they often have a sturdy digestive system and are less bothered by foods others describe as indigestible. Pitta people can have a hot temper or a sharp way of communicating and are often on the go, unable to sit idly for any length of time. Think of characteristics like hot, liquid, sharp, and mobile to describe someone (or something) that is primarily Pitta.
Kapha
The elements in Kapha are earth and water. Those who are predominantly Kapha tend to have a more sturdy build and a slow digestive system. Often they are more comfortable being sedentary than a Pitta or a Vata and have a fairly even keeled temperament. A Kapha person might be described as constant and reliable. Think of characteristics like cold, heavy, slow, soft, and dense to describe someone (or something) that is primarily Kapha.
Now that I know what my constitution is – what do I do with that
Start researching and learning more about your constitution! Google is your friend, read up on your Ayurvedic constitution. Learn what it looks like when it is in balance. Compare that to how you currently feel. If there are things you want to change in your life, think about the characteristics you would use to describe them. How do they feel, what dosha might they be linked to.
Learn more about the doshas that are associated with each season. Think about how your constitution combined with the seasonal constitution can cause you to swing into or out of balance.
Learn which dosha is predominant during certain parts of the day, and then think about how you can use that information to help find more balance.
- Between 10 am – 2 pm (and 10 pm – 2 am) is Pitta. This is a time of heat and energy. You want to eat your biggest meal during the daytime window, and you want to be asleep before the nighttime window, otherwise you may struggle to fall asleep as the Pitta energy ignites a second wind.
- Between 2 pm – 6 pm (and 2 am – 6 am) is Vata time – a time when your energy is light and airy. Ideally we would wake before 6 am and would get productive thinking taken care of during the afternoon window when our minds are clear and light.
- Between 6 pm – 10 pm (and 6 am – 10 am) is Kapha. You want to use this earthy embodied energy to exercise. Try adding your exercise in the morning to get yourself going, or in the evening to burn off the energy from the day. If you wait until after 6 am to wake, you will be struggling to rise during the heaviest energy of the day, this can leave you feeling groggy for hours.
Then learn what food, exercise, pranayama (breathwork), and habits support bringing each dosha into balance. Experiment with things that will balance out doshas which feel out of balance in your life.
If this all feels like too much, there are plenty of Ayurvedic practitioners who can help you better understand your constitution and what changes (lifestyle, diet, etc.) can help bring you back into balance.
Get started and stay curious
While I have dipped my toe into the vast ocean that is Ayurvedic knowledge, I am far from an expert. I started by learning my Ayurvedic constitution. Then I incorporated knowledge about each season and the times of day. Next I began to think about what an imbalance of each dosha would feel like in my body.
With this understanding I am able to incorporate dosha balancing techniques into my self-care routine. On days when I feel like I am way too fiery (often this manifests as a headache – inflammation or excess heat in my body), I opt for Yin or Restorative Yoga in the morning instead of Vinyasa or even a Hatha practice that would build up additional heat (tapas). If I’m feeling sluggish and drowsy, I know a brisk walk will help to balance out the excess of Kapha energy I’m feeling.
The key is learning the basics, and then getting curious about how those basics feel in your body. Play and experiment – see what works and what doesn’t work for you. And know that the imbalances you experience will change. Think of it like stand-up paddleboarding. Any movement you make can throw you off balance. The movement of the water under you and the air around you can throw you off balance. As the world changes around you, the trick is to understand how to shift and adapt to maintain your balance.
