DISCOVERING YOUR CONSTITUTION (Vata,Pitta and Kapha )

The particular combination of energies present when we enter this world at birth is known in Ayurveda as our innate constitution or prakruti. What we do with our constitution is up to us.It is sourcebook of our health,vitality and well being.it can also be the springboard towards difficulties,if we ignore its needs.The five elements come together to create three basic constitutional types.they are vata,pitt and kapha.if air and ether are predominant in your constitution you are vata in nature.if fire and water is predominant you are pitta by nature and if earth and water  holds predominance you are kapha constitution.

Self assessment of your constitution

Vata

• Thin ,and usually have been;can be unusually tall or short
• Thin as a child
• Light bones and or prominent joints
• Have hard time gaining weight
• Small,active,dark eyes
• Dry skin,chaps easily
• Dark complexion relative to rest of your family tan easily
• Dark,rough,wiry or kinky hair
• Prefer warm sunshine moisture
• Variable appetite,can get easily hungry,but may find your “eyes are bigger than your stomach”
• Bowel movement can be irregular,hard,dry or constipated.
• Digest sometimes good sometimes not
• Dislike routine
• Creative thinker likely to stay physically active
• Like to stay healthy active
• You feel more mentally relaxed when exercising
• Change your mind easily
• Tend towards fear or anxiety under stress
• Often dream but rarely remember the dream
• Changeable mood and ideas
• Light sleeper
• Sexual interest variable, fantasy life active
• Cold hand feet little perspiration
• Variable thirst

Pitta

• Medium,well-proportioned frame
• Medium build as a child
• Medium bone structure
• Can gain or lose weight relatively easily, if you put your mind to it
• Penetrating light green, grey or amber eyes
• Oily skin and hair
• Fair skin, sunburn relatively easily compared to rest of the family
• Fine, light, only hair,blond, red or early grey
• Prefer cool ventilated places
• Irritable if you miss a meal or can't eat when you are hungry, good appetite
• Easy and regular bowel movement
• Usually good digestion
• Enjoy planning and like routine , especially if you create it
• Good initiator and leader
• Enjoy physical activities, especially competitive ones
• Exercising keeps your emotions from going out of control
• Have opinions and like to share them
• Tend towards anger, frustration or irritability under stress
• Relatively easy to remember your dreams , often dream in colours
• Forceful about expressing your ideas and feelings
• Like protein rich food like chicken fish beans
• If I'll, fever, rash , inflammation likely
• Usually sleep well
• Ready sexual interests and drive
• Flexible nails , but pretty strong
• Good circulation pressure frequently
• Strong full pulse , pressure frequently
• Strong full pulse, hands warm
• Usually thirsty

Kapha

• Tend to be ample in build
• Plump or little chunky as a child
• Gain weight easily, have hard time looking it
• Large, attractive eyes with thick lashes
• Thick skin , cool, well lubricated
• Tan slowly but usually evenly,skin stays cool longer than others
• Thick wavy hair, a little oily, dark or light.
• Any climate is fine as long as not humid
• Like to eat,fine appetite, but can skip meals without physical problems if you have to
• Regular daily bowel movement
• Digestion is fine,sometimes slow
• Work well with routine
• Good at keeping an organisation or project running smoothly
• Love leisure activities most
• Exercise keeps your weight down in a way diet alone won't
• Change opinion ideas slowly
• Tend to avoid difficult situations
• Generally remember dreams only when they are especially intense insignificant
• Steady,reliable, slow to change
• Love fatty foods
• If I'll fluid retention or mucus more likely
• Sound, heavy sleeper
• Steady sexual interest and drive
• Strong thick nails
• Moderate perspiration
• Rarely thirsty

Are you still uncertain as to your constitution?temperature and humidity are keys here as Dr Robert
Svoboda points in book prakruti, your ayurvedic constitution .vatas go for warm climate,pitta for
cooler and kapha anything but humid.

Many people are born with dual doshas a pitt-kapha would incorporate attributes of both.

Now we can choose which is the best form of nutrition for us and what foods should we avoid.