Your dominant Dosha - Some insights
Read the parts on Gunas (qualities), Doshas and Prakriti (original state) on the Ayurveda-page? Let's see how we can put this theory into practice now!
Maybe you have noticed that some features are unique for a specific Dosha. That is a great reference point for determining which Dosha is potentially most active in your body and mind.
Let’s pick one or two qualities or actions and see how we can apply these to appearance, tendencies or character. Just to give you an idea of how you can apply the knowledge and to enable you to make an estimate on your dominant Dosha..
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Talkative, responsive and a hard time sitting still? Vata, being the Dosha responsible for movement, all over! This is expressed by restless eyes, talking with the hands, but also mentally in the form of shaky confidence, anxiety and restlessness. The catabolic action makes it hard to gain weight, resulting in a fragile posture. Both can result in a restless and light sleep too.
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Heat makes the body warm and red, so if you find yourself walking around without coat in the winter or looking like a lobster after an hour of summer sun, there are some clues for you! And what about copper or auburn hair color, with red being the color of heat? Having a bit of a temper? Heat is also responsible for emotions like anger and jealousy.
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Having trouble losing weight? The heavy quality of Kapha may be the cause! This Dosha can also make it hard for you to get up in the morning. If sitting down, sleeping and chilling are your favorite activities, you can be pretty sure Kapha is involved. The slow and heavy qualities lead to patience and stability, but can also turn into dullness and attachment.
A few pointers on management
The dominant Dosha in your body and mind is the one most likely to aggravate if exposed to the same qualities in food, lifestyle and environment. With this and the concept of ‘equal increases equal’ in mind, here a preview on how to keep the Doshas in check.
Rest, relax, slow down. Take a soothing, calming massage. Do some meditation. Stay nourished. Did I mention rest, relax and slow down already!? O and the color of the card? Yellow is a good choice to balance Vata. Orange too by the way.
Avoid hot drinks. Take a dive in the pool. Skip the sauna (in summer time at least). Choose cooling foods and herbs (grab a coconut!). Or go for a walk in the moonlight. And yes, you guessed it already.. green, and blue even more, is the right color to cool you down.
Action is the word! Do not only spice up your food, but your lifestyle too! Get off the couch and move. Put some pepper in your food. For you a cup of coffee every now and then may even be ok. Doesn’t spicy make you think of red and bright orange? Perfect colors for you!
In short: bring balance into your life by applying qualities and actions that are opposite to your current dominant ones. As a daily reminder, pick the Dosha-card that is most in line with your situation – and make it your motto!
Interested to know more? Feel free to contact me for a consultation to find out if you were right on your dominant Dosha. And to discuss some additional ways to balance its qualities and actions!