In part one of this series, we explored the importance of breaking free from the attitude of “spinning the wheel of life and hoping for the best.”
We discussed how genuine well-being must be preventative, individualized, and integrative, and we explored how Ayurveda encompasses all of these.
Today, let’s take a deep dive into the elements of Ayurveda and how they act as guiding constellations for our well-being.
Nature’s 5 Elements – Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth
Ayurvedic wisdom is based on the theory of 5 elements of nature: space, air, fire, water, and earth.
Space: Externally space is the void of what appears to be nothing or emptiness but is actually dormant potential. In much the same way as there is space all around us, there is also space within us. We have space in our lungs, in our mouth and in our stomach, as examples. We even find space within and between our cells.
Air: Air is responsible for that which moves, changes and flows. Externally, the air element is the wind. Internally, our breath is the most obvious example of the element of air. Its our breath that keeps us in constant and dynamic exchange with the external universe every minute of every day simply by taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide.
Fire: In the external environment the biggest fire in the sky is the sun. Internally, the fire element comes to life through our digestive system as it transforms food into energy for the body. Fire brings the energy of transformation, metabolism, conversion and processing.
Water: Approximately 70% of our planet is made up of bodies of water like lakes, rivers, oceans, not to mention rainfall. Internally, our circulatory system, our blood flow and our saliva all represent the water element. In fact, much like planet earth, we are also approximately 70% water.
Earth: Externally the soil, mountains, and ground we stand on are all examples of what gives the earth structure. In the human body the bones, tendons and muscles that hold us up and product us with structure mirror the earth element found in nature.
Because these 5 elements exist within us, even if symbolically, in much the same way they exist in nature, we can apply their wisdom to how we nurture ourselves.
From the 5 Elements of Nature, Ayurveda gives us 3 Mind-Body Types
Ayurveda synthesizes the 5 elements of nature into 3 mind-body types or what we call doshas.
Your dosha is your unique sprinkling of the 5 elements. Some of us have a little more earth, others a little more fire and still others have more space and air in their physiology. The three doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
- The Vata Mind-Body Type is primarily comprised of the elements of space and air which are responsible for movement, change and flow.
- The Pitta Mind-Body Type is represented by the elements of fire and water which means its strength resides in transformation, conversion and metabolism.
- The Kapha Mind-Body Type is primarily comprised of water and earth making it strong, stable and steady, capable of endurance and consistency.
Now let’s explore the traits and tendencies of each dosha.
VATA
Remember, in the Vata Mind-Body Type, space and air predominate. Here are a few Vata charactistics:
- Vatas are usually lightly built with excellent agility. Their energy comes in bursts, and they are likely to experience sudden bouts of fatigue.
- Emotional Characteristics: Vatas love excitement and change. They are quick to anger but also to forgive. When unbalanced, they are prone to worry and anxiousness.
- They tend to be activators, always ready to go on a moment’s notice. Their first response is YES.
- They take pleasure in working a room, ensuring they connect personally with everyone.
- They’re creative idea generators and once excited, they’ll work hard to bring everyone else on board.
- When the Vata Mind-Body Type is out of balance, the trouble starts! Their reaction to stress is anxiety and worry. When physically out of balance, Vatas get constipated and experience gas and bloating. Why? They have an over-accumulation of space and air in the body! They may commonly struggle with insomnia waking up in the middle of the night ruminating about every worst-case scenario that could possibly happen.
Out of balance Vatas may benefit from reassurance, grounding, help with prioritization and a daily practice of meditation and mindfulness.
PITTA
Pitta is comprised of fire and water. Here are some of the characteristics you might see in a Pitta Mind-body Type:
- They have strong digestive systems and can metabolize most foods.
- They’re hot by nature and often the ones kicking off the covers in bed.
- 5-6 hours of sleep is often enough for the Pitta Mind-Body Type.
- They’re competitive in nature and have a desire to win. The adage for the Pitta is: “Good, better, best. Never let it rest ‘til good is better and better is best.
- They are brave. Fire fighters, members of the military and company leaders are often Pittas.
When Pittas are balanced, they can change the world. They have the ability to harness their intellect, with their passion and bring a big vision to life.
Now let’s examine the flip side of the powerful Pitta, when they’re out of balance:
- They will have a tendency to respond to stress with anger, criticism, judgement, and irritability. They growl and roar.
- Physically, they can tend to experience heartburn , indigestion, hot flashes and skin inflammations.
- They may attempt to solve a pressing problem with a blow torch rather than a flashlight, leaving others feeling the pain of their approach.
If you want to keep a pitta balanced, feed ‘em! And I highly recommend dark chocolate. It seems to cool their fire.
KAPHA
The 3rd and final dosha is Kapha, comprised of earth and water. Here are some key ways to think about the characteristics of Kapha:
- The nature of a Kapha Mind-Body Type is loving, protective, loyal and calm.
- They are solid sound sleepers. Fireworks, jack hammers and bombs can be going off outside their bedroom and they will still be fast asleep.
- I liken the Kapha Mind-Body Type to the marathon runners of the racing world. They are have a lot of stamina and steadiness to go the distance. They may not be the first to complete the race, but they also won’t give up until they cross the finish line.
- They may feel most at home in a supportive role, getting the work done in the background.
- They bring the wisdom of the past to the present. They are particularly good at restoring what’s old and making it work again.
When balanced, the Kapha brings a steady consistency to an organization or a relationship. They are loyal, kind and excellent listeners. You might consider them a steady worker capable of going the extra mile for you.
When out of balance, Kapha has a completely different response to stress. They tend to withdraw. They tend to say “nothing” when asked, “what’s wrong?”
When the Kapha Mind-Body Type is out of balance, what was once a caring supportive friend becomes a “wet blanket” losing a sense of independence and a sense of self. To help get the kapha back to a balanced state, they need a gentle kick in the behind, a big goal to strive for and a lot of fast paced dance music to rev them up.
Discover Your Mind Body Type Today!
If any of these descriptions resonated with you, and you’re wondering about your own mind-body tendencies, I’ve created a Mind-Body Assessment which can help you discover your results today!
Knowing your dosha helps you understand what makes you tick. It can act as a compass when you’re considering how to work on your well-being. Remember, the real difference makers will always be healthy consistent wellbeing practices.
In my next blog, I’ll share a variety of daily practices that you can use to help keep your Mind-Body Type in balance.
