What is My Dosha?
Mascari, Brooke. May 30th, 2024.
According to Ayurveda, there are fundamental elements at work in the world around us and within us. Being aware of and understanding these elements can help us in our daily lives immensely. In some ways, knowing these elements can be the difference between us being in balance, or out of balance! These five elements, known in Sanskrit as mahabhutas, are the building blocks of nature.
Fundamental to the timeless healing system of Ayurveda is the expression, “As is the human body, so is the cosmic body. As is the human mind, so is the cosmic mind.” This phrase embodies the understanding that human intelligence is not separate from nature’s intelligence.
The force that governs the growth of a single cell into the 50 trillion cells that are currently functioning in your mind-body physiology is the same intelligence that orchestrates the changing of the seasons, the migration of animals, and the movement of the stars. Because the same intelligence that flows in nature flows in every cell of our bodies, understanding the fundamental building blocks of nature allows us to understand ourselves better!
The five principles make up everything that we perceive through our senses. These five elements exist both within us and in the world around us. They can be described as space, air, fire, water, and earth.
The space (akasha) element represents the open expanse in which everything is contained. Space is pure potential and infinite possibilities. In the universe, space expresses itself as the vast emptiness that underlies the physical world. Within our bodies, space is the gaps between and within cells through which information flows. The space governing principle is Potential.
The air (vayu) element is the animating force of life; it is present in everything that moves. Externally, this force is represented as the wind; internally, it is the movement of breath, circulation, and nerve impulses. The air governing principle is Movement.
The fire (agni or tejas) element is present in everything that generates heat, light, or transformation. Fire expresses itself in the outer world as the sun, and internally as our digestive and cognitive processes. The fire governing principle is Transformation.
The water (jala) element connects and nourishes the physical substance of our bodies. Our bodies are made up of roughly 70 percent water, as is the planet itself. Internally, our organs and systems are nourished by the river of our plasma, our joints are lubricated by synovial fluid, and our central nervous system is protected by cerebrospinal fluid. The water governing principle is Cohesion.
The earth (prithivi) element expresses itself as solidity, mass, and form. It is reflected in nature as planets, mountains, rocks, and all solid structures. Internally, the earth element gives rise to our bones, muscles, tendons, and cartilage. The earth's governing principle is Form/Protection.
The three doshas are derived from the five elements. The five elements organize themselves into three essential principles of life: movement, metabolism, and structure, known in Sanskrit as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
These three principles (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), which we can think of as air, fire, and earth, are the forces that govern every natural function and regulate every process within our mind and body.
Since each of us is a unique expression of nature, we each have an inherent tendency towards one or more of these principles. This explains why we each respond so differently to the same stimulus. Some of us are naturally earthier, while others are more fiery or airy. As we discuss the functions and characteristics of each of these principles, notice which ones you most identify with.
VATA Dosha
Vata is responsible for all types of movement within the body and mind. Vata is like the wind—dry, light, subtle, irregular, quick, mobile, cold, rough and changeable.
Those with a predominance of Vata in their mind-body constitution have a tendency towards these attributes. These people are generally thin, light, and active, both physically and mentally. They tend to move quickly and are changeable. They generally welcome new experiences and are talkative. These are the people whose habits, interests, and daily routines change considerably from week to week. Their bodily functions also have an aspect of irregularity about them. Their appetites and moods are often inconsistent.
PITTA Dosha
Pitta is responsible for all types of digestion. Within the body, the fire principle metabolizes our experiences so we can absorb that which is nourishing and eliminate that which is not. The attributes of Pitta are what you might predict—hot, light, intense, penetrating, spicy, sharp, and acidic.
Individuals with a lot of Pitta in their mind-body constitution display these attributes mentally as well as physically. They tend to be intellectually sharp, with discriminating minds that enjoy delving into the underlying causes of things. They are often good leaders, visionaries, and speakers. Physically, they have a hearty appetite and good digestion. They tend to be warm, even in cooler environments. They often have a strong appetite for knowledge, luxury, and worldly recognition.
KAPHA Dosha
Kapha is responsible for structure, protection, and lubrication within the body and mind. People with a preponderance of the Kapha are generally sturdy and consistent. The attributes of Earth are heavy, cold, solid, stable, wet, smooth, and slow.
These attributes manifest themselves in individuals who have a lot of Kapha in their mind-body constitution. Physically, they tend to be heavyset and stocky with great strength and endurance. They are generally process-oriented and are slow to anger or respond to provocation. Their skin is usually moist, youthful, and beautiful. The heaviness of Kapha means that these types tend to retain excess weight.
Join us in our next article to see in what ways the Doshas can become out of balance (Sanskrit for Vikruti) and cause problems in our body-mind if we do not take the right steps to bring ourselves into balance (Sanskrit for Prakruti).
Want to learn what your unique Dosha type is? Click the link to be re-directed to a Dosha test that will help provide you a better understanding of your elemental makeup: https://webapp.chopra.com/en/signin?redirect=blic-dosha-quiz
