Pitta, kapha, vata. Seeing those words, you might think you've stumbled across a list of Indian spices, rather than terms from Ayurveda, "the science of life." This holistic healing method, which originated in India thousands of years ago, has gained popularity in the West---moving those foreign terms into our daily vocabulary.
Basics
Ayurveda classifies the five elements as earth, air, ether (space), water and fire. All life is considered to be intertwined with these elements, since they each influence us in some way.
The system suggests that when we are conceived, certain characteristics of our physical and mental states are set. This combination is known as our constitution. People fall under eight types of constitution, which are expressed in terms of three doshas (imbalances): pitta, kapha and vata (visit www.whatsyourdosha.com for a simple online test to determine your dosha)
Constitutions are comprised of some combination of the three doshas, such as kapha-pitta or pitta-vata. A person will be prone to the imbalances of their two predominant doshas throughout their life. Since a person's constitution is fixed, he or she will respond to matters in a way that is in line with the characteristics of his/her dosha.
Seasonal Changes
As seasons influence our bodies, so do they also help define the doshas. Vata accumulates during cool, dry weather; pitta during hot, humid summers; kapha in cooler, wet weather.
Ayurveda further divides the year into six seasons, each two months long. As each cycle moves into the next, one dosha dominates and another weakens. For example, in the shift from fall to winter, nature plagues us with vata's dry winds. This dosha's qualities are amplified and you may feel scattered, with your "head in the clouds," or be dried out through a sore throat or dry eyes.
A detox during this change in weather would help rid you of any excess vata and prevent seasonal sicknesses. In this case, the more grounding qualities of kapha are needed.
Detoxing by following a simple seasonal vegetarian diet (including root vegetables), avoiding processed foods, drinking plenty of water, resting well and doing some gentle exercise (such as hatha yoga) will help decrease vata while increasing kapha.
What You Eat
Ayurveda teaches us that like increases like. Food, weather or activities with similar traits to a dosha will increase that dosha. Foods that are airy in nature, such as puffed cereals, will increase a vata imbalance, while warm foods will help decrease it. Hot, spicy foods, such as onions and peppers, will increase pitta, and heavier foods, like sweet potato and cheese, will increase kapha. Eating foods opposite to the dosha, such as cooling foods in the case of pitta, will counteract an excess.
Exercise
Yoga and Ayurveda are mutually supportive. If you're new to yoga, finding a practice to match your dosha imbalances is a good place to start (however, remember that your doshas fluctuate so the same practice every day may not always be what your body needs).Those of a vata constitution tend to use their energy quickly and should look for a yoga practice that is peaceful and warming. If your kapha is dominating, you would benefit from a more invigorating ashtanga yoga class. People suffering from a pitta imbalance should look for a quieter, more cooling class to join.
Common Sense
As the scope of Ayurveda encompasses the universe itself, the subtleties of the practice may at first appear difficult to follow. But the system isn't designed to confuse--it's a lot of common sense. At a basic level, remember that like increases like and increasing the opposite qualities of an imbalance will help you realign yourself.
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