When I started my first yoga teacher training, I was introduced to yoga’s “sister science,” ayurveda. The first time I wrote about the doshas, or personal constitutions, I was immediately told that I was spelling the word incorrectly. The spelling is therefore going to be the first point I always make about ayurveda: there is only one r. Spelling things correctly is a form of respect, especially when we’re exploring philosophies from other cultures, so I am happy to be been corrected.
With that said, let’s look at the Ayurvedia idea of dosha. All science arises from observation, and the sages of old started from the idea that even within a particular species, there are differences. These were then categorized into three separate groups: vata, pitta, and kapha, and then subdivided into various blends. This is the framework that underlies ayurveda: understand how these three energies work together, and we can bring our health in alignment with the universe.
Vata is the energy of wind and motion. Its energy is cool and dry, like the associated season of autumn. People with a preponderance of vata energy are creative, movement oriented, and irregular – sometimes in every sense of the word. They are quick to speak, quick to learn, and often quick to forget. While they usually present long, thin physical characteristics, vata can show up as an extreme in either direction; tall and thin people display vata, but so do those who are unusually short. These folk wrestle with sleep disturbances and shifts in mood. Issues with dryness and stress are also linked to vata energy. Autumn, with its cold dry winds, is the vata season
Pitta is the energy of fire. Intensity, sharpness, and acidity are all characteristics of this dosha, as is heat and bitterness. Those with a dominance of this energy are driven and focused. Usually of medium build in terms of height and weight, pittas demonstrate intellect and desire. They also suffer from illnesses that can be thought of as an overabundance of fire: ulcers, gastric reflux, skin rashes, and the like. This is the energy of accomplishment, but also that of burnout; pitta people need to balance their need to excel with time to rest and regroup. Summer, with its extreme heat, is pitta season.
Kapha is the energy of water and earth. Think of the football players: kapha people are sturdily built, demonstrate stamina in their activities, and exhibit even temperaments. Adjectives for this dosha include steadiness, softness, and solidity. As an oft-heard Ayurvedic phrase has it, Kapha is love, and this dosha is associated with loyalty, patience, and support. When there is too much of this energy, however, illness such as asthma and diabetes can manifest; unmodulated kaphas also exhibit depression and sluggishness. The season associated with this dosha is winter, with its wet, cold weather.
As the above thumbnails make clear, most people tend towards a preponderance of one particular form of energy, sometimes with a strong secondary force. Thus, Ayurvedic specialists talk of Vata people, but also of those with a Kapha-Pitta temprement; Tri-Doshic people, evenly balanced across all three doshas, also exist. In addition, the seasonal associations affect everyone. On a cold, wet morning, for example, even someone with a strong Vata constitution will need to work against sluggishness, although not in the same way as someone with a Kapha dosha.
As is true for a great many alternative philosophies, Ayurveda is more complicated than it seems on the surface. However, since Ayurvedic phrases and ideas are often bandied about at a yoga studio, it’s helpful to have at least some slight understanding of the topic. While knowledge of the doshas is not required for successful yoga practice, many do find the two philosophies entwined, adjusting physical practice to suit the demands of a particular season or personality. This, of course, is again “yogi/ni’s choice.”
Is Ayurveda part of your yoga practice? Why or why not?
Yoga Cielo Stellato 