Balancing Your Tendencies  

Are you amazed at how some people hop up in the morning, raring to start their day, chipper and smiling with not a drop of coffee in sight?  And there are those that can't open their sleepy eyes without a whiff of the fair-trade light roast that's dripping from their automatic, newly minted-in-China, bought at Bed, Bath & Beyond coffee maker.  What about those types that can seemingly eat anything and not gain an ounce, while your first Krispy Kreme ends up on your butt?.  Is it some cosmic lottery that made you what you are?  Is it your genes?  Your blood type?  Your ethnicity?  Nurture?  Nature?  Breast milk? 

 

We all have tendencies toward a certain behaviors.  Ayurveda, the medical system born in India and considered to be the sister to Yoga, has an explanation for these "tendencies".  They lump people into three categories or doshas.  You can think of these categories as behavioral tendencies.  Once you've identified your "type" you can eat and play in a manner that enhances your lifestyle and health.  These categories are Vata (light and airy), Pitta (firey) and Kapha (earth and water).  We have a dominant dosha and a percentage of the other two.  Unlike the Eat for Your Type Diet, Ayurveda is not a food diet, but a lifestyle.  It not only addresses what you eat, but how you sleep, exercise and work. 

 

Here is a brief (and I mean brief) notation on each dosha.  For more specific info, you can go here.

 

Vata - People with primarily the vata dosha (light and airy) run cool and dry and are governed by movement.  Eating ice cream on a windy, cold day is only going to make them nuts.  So they need to balance their dosha by eating quietly a warm, creamy soup and staying toasty warm.  Vatas are highly creative, energetic, but when out of balance can be fearful, anxious and  nervous.  With a tendency toward movement, a regular routine is best.

 

Pitta -  Ah, these folks get things done.  They are your managers and your organizers.  They like things explained and orderly.  Being fire, they can run hot.  Don't let them go without  food or their fire rages and so can their temper.  These folks can keep themselves cool and under control by avoiding spicy foods and lifestyles.   They are usually of medium build, athletic build.    

 

Kapha -  Kaphas are well grounded with big beautiful, calm, loving eyes.  Unlike the active Vatas, they can be couch potatoes, although once off the couch, Kapha types are great, loyal workers.  Being water and earth, they need to avoid making mud so a good balance for Kaphas would be light food and active exercise.  You can identify them by their fuller, curvy bodies. 

 

Once I identified my dosha, many of my "tendencies" made sense.  Yes, I am light, active, and creative.  I run cool, hate the wind, am chronically constipated and I eat at the sink.  I like my yoga sweaty and flowing.  Warm, oily, sweet food  are yummy to me.  These are all traits of Vatas--the good and the bad.  Knowing my tendencies, I can try to eat and live in a manner to balance the good and the bad.      

 

Curious about your dosha?  You can take a simple quiz at ayurveda.com (or others) or for a more accurate analysis,  consult an Ayurvedic practitioner.   And the next time you're feeling a bit ill-at-ease, you may be able to make a few small changes to feel better and live better.   

Did you want to read some of my past columns?  You can right here.  

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