Overview of the Dosha (includes relation to chakra and suggested job roles)

Vata dosha

Attributes

Slim build. Either quite small or very tall. Long limbs. Small facial features sometimes with a protruding nose. Dry lips and skin, small eyes, likely dark in colour. Bony. Curly hair or dry hair. Cold hands and feet.

Excitable, speaks fast, poor memory, curious, people pleasing, loves chatting, creative, optimistic, loves to move and dance around, loves feeling free and does not like to be controlled, too much routine is not good for them as they can become quickly obsessed with it but they need some, irregular appetite, obsessive, easily emotional, disorganised (often late for things), fast thinking.

Aggravated (these are things you might see in someone with vata imbalance, but this might not be their original dosha but we must treat the imbalance first).

Anxiety, insomnia, dry skin/eczema (can lead to asthma), weight loss, bloating, chronic fatigue/ ME, paralysis, motor neurone disease, dementia, osteoporosis and bone disorders, aching joints, weak bones, dizziness, insecurity, hyperactivity, cramps, palpitations, chills; poor circulation, talking too fast, difficulty in swallowing, dryness of the throat, constipation, OCD, eating disorders.

Main causes of Vata imbalance

• Habitual use of food having identical properties to Vata dosha such as dry, cold, light or rough foods

• Inadequate quantities of food; fasting; excessive weight loss

• Excessive exercise (specially aerobic)

• Inadequate sleep; not sleeping at night and sleeping during the day

• Excessive talking and laughing; keeping bad company

• Prolonged exposure to loud music or loud sounds

• Suppression of natural urges such as hunger, thirst, urination, elimination, yawning, burping, flatulence, accidents, obstruction of marma points

• Horse riding

• Excessive fast travel (planes, trains and automobiles)

• Excessive exposure to the sun

• Excessive meditation; isolation

• Exposure to cold and windy conditions

• Excessive thinking

• Excessive concentration; excessive exposure to electronic media

Treatment for Vata imbalances

• Oleation (internal and external) - application and massage using warm oils

• Ingestion of foods which are sweet, sour and salty (mashed potato, broths, soups, stews, lightly spiced curry, coconut oil, creamy foods, warm and wet foods)

• Warm oil bath (applying oil to the body before bathing)

• Drugs of hot potency (in order to induce heat such as ginger or black pepper)

• Comfortable activities such as singing, listening to light music, walks, parks, children, non-competitive activities

Exercise:

Vata should do gentle exercise that is warming and relaxing, such as flowing yoga practices (not hot yoga), walking in nature, swimming, dancing, cycling.

Relation to the chakras:

Vata links with these chakra as vata sits in this part of the body and they are made of the same element:

Anahata chakra / heart chakra

• Primordial element - air

• It is the chakra of devotion, love and trust

• There is a connecting pathway from heart to throat chakra

Vata has the strongest emotions and connection to this area.

As vata also occupies the throat chakra when vata dosha feels unable to express themselves and the emotions coming from their heart chakra often a blockage is created in the throat. This can take the form dryness, soreness or lack of speech/inability to think of words.

Vishuddha chakra / throat chakra

• Throat region

• Primordial element - space

• Chakra of communication, the inner meets with the outer

• Poor expression and communication can block chakra

• By opening the chakra, one feels love and connection to self and others and it helps in improving creativity.

Jobs for Vata

Vata tends to enjoy and excel in jobs relating to people. Particularly either working in direct contact with clients on a daily basis or regularly working in a team where tasks are completed together.

• Vata loves communication so any job involving this may be appropriate.

• Vata is often creative so being in this field of work also might be good for them.

• Vata like to be physical so a job containing physical activity might be good, but not with too much repetition.

• Vata needs more time when doing paper work and organising as this is challenging for them, a job where this is the majority of the workload would not be appropriate.

• Vata gets overwhelmed by things easily and so needs a good work/life balance. They are better suited doing part-time work or self employment.

• Vata needs to feel autonomy and freedom, so a flexible working schedule where they can decide works a lot better to sustain a job.

• They are good at persuasion and so jobs in sales can be fulfilling for them too.

Pitta dosha

Attributes

Medium build. Medium height. Strong body. Medium facial features. More likely to have lighter coloured eyes (hazel or green) that are piercing. Oilier hair, sometimes light brown or ginger or bold. More likely to go grey prematurely. Lighter skin with moles and freckles, easily sunburned.

Organised, confident, intelligent, quick-witted, powerful, takes leadership, strong mental capacity for learning, ambitious, driven, efficient, has high expectations, focussed, visual appearance is very important to them.

Aggravated (these are things you might see in someone with pitta imbalance, this might not be their original dosha but we must treat the imbalance first).

Increase in body temperature, craving for foods with pitta qualities (oily, sharp, hot, light, unpleasant in odour, mobile and liquid), irritation of eyes, excessive sweating, increase in desire, hyperactivity, quick temper and frustration, night sweats, nightmares, uncontrollable feelings of desire, jealousy and being excessively goal orientated, excessive desire for a luxury lifestyle and fear of loss of such lifestyle, excessive self criticism and judgment, desire for excessive control of food, activity, lifestyle, anger and aggression, self harm, blood disorders, high blood pressure, headaches, loss of hair and eye site, IBS, loose bowel movements, burning sensations, inflammation, rashes and allergic reactions, acid reflux, .

Main causes of Pitta imbalance

• Excessive consumption of sour, salty, pungent and astringent (tannin in tea and wine) foods

• Excessive consumption of foods which share pitta qualities (oily, sharp, hot, light, unpleasant in odour, and liquid)

• Excessive consumption of oily and heavy food

• Consumption of cooked food stored for long periods (from 24 – 48 hours)

• Excessive consumption of hot drinks (hot in temperature and quality such as caffeine, mint tea and green tea)

• Excessive consumption of red meat and red fish

• Consumption of two or more different types of animal protein simultaneously (cooked together)

• Excessive consumption of root vegetables

• Excessive consumption of raw vegetables and leafy greens

• Excessive consumption of meat from wild animals

• Excessive consumption of condiments such as vinegar, mustard and fermented sauces and pickles

• Excessive consumption of alcohol

• Consumption of foods incompatible with each other (eg. fish and milk, fruit with anything else)

• Eating meals too frequently or too many meals in a day

• Eating while feeling anger, hatred or frustration

• Sleeping during the day

• Overly luxurious and hedonistic lifestyle

• Being in an overly competitive environment

• Too much screen time

• Exposure to bright sunlight

• Working long hours

Chikithsa - treatments for Pitta imbalances

• Consumption of foods with opposing qualities to pitta

• Foods with sweet taste and cold potency

• Intake of foods possessing sweet, bitter and astringent taste

• Cool breezes and being outside in nature

• Indulgence in perfumes which are pleasing, coolant and cordial

• Wearing garlands and gems of similar nature on neck and chest (such as pearls or diamonds)

• Walking and swimming

• Moonlight

• Pleasant company of friends who are not controlling, small children, family

• Being near water and playing in the water

Exercise:

Pitta should do non-competitive exercise that is cooling and relaxing, such as yin yoga, walking or jogging in nature, swimming and cycling.

Relation to the chakras:

Pitta links with these chakra as pitta sits in this part of the body and they are made of the same element:

Manipura chakra/ solar plexus chakra

• The navel centre

• Situated at umbilicus

• Closely associated with the coeliac or solar plexus

• Primordial element – fire

• Colitis

• IBS

• Autoimmune system

• Physical imbalances

Digestive problems, liver dysfunction, stomach ulcers

Chronic fatigue

High blood pressure

Diabetes

Pancreas and gallbladder issues

Colon diseases

• Emotional imbalances

Issues of personal power and self-esteem

Fears of rejection, criticism

Anxiety about physical appearances

Ajna chakra / third eye chakra

• Between the eyebrows - “third eye”

• Related to the hypothalamus & limbic system

• Endocrine gland - pituitary gland.

• Alpha (individual soul) meets with omega (higher self)

• Centre of imagination, intuition, perception and balance

• Physical imbalances

Headaches, sinus issues

Blurred vision, eyestrain

Seizures

Hearing loss

Improper hormone function

• Emotional imbalances

Mood swings, volatility

Inability to look at ones own fears

Inability to learn from others

Sahashra chakra / crown chakra

• Brain centre

• Sahasrara is the area of the pineal gland

• Physical imbalance

Depression, migraine type headache

Sensitivity to light, sound, environment

Extreme fatigue

• Emotional imbalances

Issues with self-knowledge and greater power - Imbalances arise from Rigid Confused thoughts on religion and spirituality

Constant confusion

Carry prejudices

Fear of alienation

An unshakeable trust in our inner guidance

Jobs for Pitta

Pitta tends to be ok to work alone as they are very self-motivated and can get annoyed by others input. They love to learn and so continual learning and development should be part of their career. They need to feel like they are constantly progressing, whether that is up a ladder at work or by learning more. They also need to feel success and really enjoy this feeling of accomplishment therefore challenging work suits them. However, over work, pressure from others at work and constant use of the computer can aggravate pitta.

• They enjoy leadership roles

• They are happy to work alone as long as they feel they are progressing or learning

• They are less good at jobs, which require a lot of caring for others, or direct communication with others or jobs with a slower pace with no clear progression (such as teaching, nursing or care work).

• They tend to be confident and good at speaking in front of groups and presenting things.

• They are very organised and enjoy routine within their work lives.

Kapha dosha

Attributes

Wider frame, curvy physic, more likely to have excess fat, big features (big eyes, nose and lips), luscious, thick and soft hair, soft thick skin, blue or brown eyes, cold hands, can gain muscle easily, strong body, deeper voice.

Gentle, kind, loyal, understanding, non-judgmental, guarded (slow to connect and trust someone new), measured, committed, slower pace, calm, quiet, not easily upset, good memory, tolerant, stable, organised, mothering, likes to be still and resting, good sleeper, good immune system, loves food and eating.

Main causes of Kapha imbalance

• lack of physical exercise

• indulgence in luxurious lifestyle

• sleeping in the daytime or sleeping in late

• indulgence in food made of milk, fat and sugar

• eating a lot of starchy foods such as rice and potato

• eating meats such as pork and wild animal

• excessive consumption of yoghurt and other fermented food

• excessive consumption of raw fruit and vegetables

• sedentary activities

• insufficient stimulus for the mind

• experiencing a lot of sadness, grief or attachment

Symptoms of imbalances

• heavy body

• greasy skin and hair

• sticky or oily bodily fluids

• joints and organs feel greater gravity

• feeling cold and craving warmth

• lack of coordination between body and mind

• drowsiness

• halitosis

• sweet, sour, salty taste in the mouth

• pale colour skin

• wasting time, taking a long time to do things

• nausea

• tiredness

• lack of motivation

• getting overly attached to people

Treatments for Kapha imbalances

• vigorous physical activity (aerobic)

• treatments which involve heat and increased perspiration such as saunas, sunbathing

• taking astringent, pungent and bitter tastes

• eating vata and pitta foods

• exfoliating massage

• stimulating treatments using mantra or rituals

Exercise:

Kapha likes a sedentary lifestyle but needs vigorous cardio. This will make them feel great afterwards. Kapha should engage in fast physical activity and some weights but cardio should be included in every routine. Jogging, hiking, dancing, jumping, climbing and cycling are all great for kapha.

Relation to the chakras:

Kapha links with these chakra:

Anahata chakra / heart chakra

Although this chakra is not made of the same elements as kapha it is a seat of kapha and when a kapha person experiences excess kapha this can be felt in this chakra. Excess mucus is produced and feelings of love become stuck in this place causing them to turn in to obsessive, overbearing love and attachment. It can also happen the other way round, if kapha experiences the loss of a loved one they can get more mucus and kapha aggravation from this area.

Muladhara chakra / root chakra

• The root center

• Base of the spinal column

• Relates to endocrine gland – eg. testes

• Primordial element - Earth

• Chakra of our basic needs i.e. food, water, air

• The centre where we ground ourselves

• Sex energy

When imbalanced (low or blocked kapha)

• Problems in the legs, feet, rectum, tailbone, immune system

• Male reproductive parts and prostate gland

• Degenerative arthritis, knee pain, sciatica

• Eating disorders, constipation.

• Emotional imbalances include feelings affecting basic survival needs: money, shelter and food

Swadhisthana chakra/ sacral chakra

• Sex center

• 2 inches below naval

• Related endocrine glands - ovaries and adrenal

• Primordial element - water

• Chakra of procreation

• Kapha is most fertile constitution

• Body hair = male fertility is high

• Stress causes a lot of problems here because emotions are much more involved with loved ones/your territory

• Physical imbalances

Sexual and reproductive issues

Urinary problems, kidney dysfunctions

Hip, pelvic and low back pain

• Emotional imbalances

Inability to commit to relationships

Failure to express emotions

Fears of impotence, betrayal

Kapha Jobs

Kapha likes to be in caring professions that are not too fast paced. They like to feel comfortable in a job and don’t enjoy too much challenge. They ideally should work with people for some of their job as this will help motivate them especially if they are caring for someone in their role. They excel in jobs with children such as teaching and childcare roles. Sometimes if they are in a job they don’t like, they really need a push to leave it as they would almost rather stick at it than have to deal with a change.

• Kapha doesn’t need to progress at work and prefer to feel stable and comfortable

• They enjoy jobs where they are caring for others such as teaching, nursing or childcare.

• They don’t like too much change in a work situation.