ARE YOU VATA, PITTA OR KAPHA? - BECAUSE MAGAZINE
In East by West and on my website, I introduce the concept of the Doshas in Ayurveda. For my new column in Because Magazine this month, I help you understand your mind-body type and how to make everyday choices that suit you — here is a sneak peek at what I said!
The beauty of Ayurveda is that it’s not a prescriptive or prohibitive one-size-fits-all system – rather, it recognises that we are all unique and ever-changing.
The first step in the philosophy is to understand your mind-body type, which in turn helps you to understand yourself. The Doshas — Vata (Air), Pitta (Fire) and Kapha (Water) — designate the three energies that are in us and everything around us in varying ratios. Gaining a better understanding of your own unique physical and emotional makeup is as simple as taking a Prakriti Test, which draws a conclusion based on your answers.
Those with more Vata in their makeup typically have an energetic and creative mind, and a hunger for excitement and new experiences; Pitta individuals are sharp-witted, direct and very fiery in nature; Kapha people are inherently calm and thoughtful, finding comfort in a routine. Since the Doshas also describe everything around us (from our food to the seasons and more), we can also understand how our environment influences us physically, mentally and spiritually. It’s therefore important to know and be familiar with all three in order to recognise if any are out of balance. From there, you will develop an intuitive understanding of how to bring yourself back into centre and generally feel better.