Journal · March 11, 2019
What Is My Dosha? Vata, Pitta and Kapha Explained
By Mel, 500-hour RYT · Well With Melo
In Ayurveda, the five great elements combine to form three doshas. They show up in nature through the seasons, in our stage of life, and in our mind and body.
We're each born with a natural balance of the doshas, called prakruti: our nature. When the doshas move away from that balance, it's called vikruti. If we stay out of balance for too long, we lose touch with who we really are.
The three doshas
- Vata: space and air
- Pitta: fire and water
- Kapha: water and earth
Today it's very common to be a mix of two doshas, usually with one a little more dominant. Your nature doesn't change, but how it expresses itself does when life, the seasons or stress throw things off.
The qualities of each dosha
- Vata: dry, light, cold, subtle, rough, moving, clear
- Pitta: oily, sharp, hot, light, fluid
- Kapha: cold, oily, heavy, slow, smooth, dense
Take a moment. If you described your mind, the way you communicate, your digestion and your energy, which of these words stand out?
Where each dosha lives in the body
- Vata: colon and pelvic area
- Pitta: small intestine
- Kapha: chest and stomach
Noticing what's happening in these areas can hint at which dosha is out of balance.
Why it matters
When you start noticing your nature and acting on it, it feels like walking back home. It reconnects your mind and body to who you are, and from there you can explore the gifts of your dosha.
Learn how the doshas shift with the seasons in Doshas of the Season.
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*Some links in this post are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps keep my classes free. This post is for general wellness education and isn't medical advice.