The 3 doshas
The Rishis are the Elders who created Ayurveda as a system of healing nearly 5000 years ago. They were influenced by the Sankhya philosophy which theorizes the creation of energy and matter.
According to the principles of Ayurveda, everything is composed of five major elements. They represent five states or qualities of energy and matter that we experience daily in our physical, mental, and emotional lives. These five great elements are: space, air, fire, water, and earth. The Rishis combined these great elements to create a more simplified representation of three vital energies which they named the doshas and which are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha (VPK). Each is a combination of two of the five great elements, one of which is dominant.
We know the qualities of the great elements, Ayurveda organizes them in ten couples (hot-cold, solid-liquid, heavy-light...) so this system allows us to understand the energies as well as the great elements, even if it is not possible to see them.
The qualities of the doshas or vital energies
Each doshas has the qualities of its two constituent elements, both individually and in combination. All three have a specific role in our mind and body, but wellness and good health requires that all three doshas work harmoniously together.
Vata, air and space (or ether):
light, cold, dry, rough, subtle, mobile, clear, dispersing, erratic, astringent.
For the individual, these tendencies give: creativity, enthusiasm, freedom, generosity, joy, vitality.
On the organic level, Vata is linked to the motor function, to the heartbeat, to inspiration and expiration, to the stimulation of digestive juices.
Pitta, fire and water:
light, hot, oily, sharp, liquid, sour and pungent.
For the individual, these tendencies give: ambition, concentration, confidence, courage, thirst for knowledge, happiness, intelligence.
On the organic level, Pitta is linked to digestion and assimilation of food, maintenance of body temperature, and the glow of the eyes and skin.
Kapha, water and earth:
heavy, cold, oily, slow, viscous, dense, soft, static, sweet.
For the individual, these tendencies give: attention, concentration, compassion, faith, fulfillment, patience, stability, tenderness.
On the organic level, Kapha is related to the softness of the body, to the distribution of heat, to strength and endurance, to sleep and to longevity.
A dosha can have an identical quality to another doshas, however there is a difference in this quality. Example: Vata and Kapha are both cold, but Vata is a dry cold and Kapha is wet.
The 3 doshas are at the origin of all physiological and psychological processes of our body and mind. They are the dynamic forces that determine growth and decline. Each of your physical, mental, or emotional characteristics can be described in terms of the 3 doshas.
The doshas can change constantly and must be in balance with your original constitution (Prakriti). An imbalance of the doshas is the cause of physical and psychological disorders. The Ayurvedic therapist then seeks to rebalance the doshas. He talks about calming, rebalancing, increasing, or aggravating a particular doshas.
Your physiognomic particularities
| Vata | Pitta | Kapha | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin | Fine and dry | Clear, soft with freckles, moles | Thick, fat, and pale |
| Hair | Thin, dark, frizzy, or curly | Fine, soft, blond, or red | Abundant, thick, shiny, and brown |
| Face | Long, angular with a marked chin | Oval with a pointed chin | Large and round |
| Neck | Fine, very long or very short | Proportionate | Solid |
| Nose | Small, narrow, aquiline | Straight, pointed, medium size | Wide, rounded |
| Eyes (shape) | Small, sunken | Means | Large, outgoing |
| Eyes (color) | Dark brown | Blue or grey, hazelnut | Blue or brown |
| Teeth | Irregular | Medium size, yellowish | White, strong gums |
| Mouth | Small | Average | Large |
| Lips | Thin, tight | Averages | Large, fleshy |
Your physical appearance according to the Doshas
| Vata | Pitta | Kapha | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Very small or very large | Medium | Large and robust or small and stocky |
| Weight | Light with difficulty gaining weight | Average, easy to gain and lose weight | Heavy, difficult to lose |
| Frame | Slim, narrow shoulders and hips | Average | Wide, large frame |
| Joints | Prominent, angular | Well-proportioned | Large, wellfunctioning |
| Bodybuilding | Thin and elongated | Proportionate and firm | Important, solid |
Your physiological characteristics
| Vata | Pitta | Kapha | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thinking | Light, cluttered, without acting out | Precise, logical, follows through on projects | Slow, stable, even conservative |
| Memory | Good in the short term | Good, fast | Good in time, vast |
| Beliefs | Fluctuating according to the moment | Strong that determine the actions | Solid, difficult to change |
| Emotions | Anxious, fearful, worried | Easy, presumptuous judgments | Greedy, very possessive |
| Work | Creative, imaginative | Intellectual | Manual and altruistic |
| Lifestyle | Unstable | Busy and ambitious | Stable and regular |
