Know Your Body Constitution

No individual constitution is made up solely of any one element. Each person is a combination of all three elements with a predominant tendency toward one or more.

The doshas are the powerful and important aids in understanding the characteristics, behavior of each human being and their reactions towards stress, certain foods and the environmental conditions. Any kind of imbalance in the doshas results in various diseases.

Vata Constitution

People of vata constitution are generally physically underdeveloped. Their chest are flat and their veins and muscle tendons are visible. The complexion is brown, the skin is cold, rough, dry and cracked. There usually are a few moles present which tend to be dark.

1. Vata people generally are either too tall or too short, with thin frames which reveal prominent joints and bone-ends because of poor muscle development.
2. Curly and scanty hair.
3. The eyelashes are thin and the eyes lusterless. The eyes may be sunken, small, dry, active and the conjunctiva is dry and muddy.
4. The nails are rough and brittle.
5. The shape of the nose is bent and turned-up.
6. Vata people crave sweet, sour and salty tastes and like hot drinks.
7. The production of urine is scanty and the feces are dry, hard and small in quantity.
8. They have tendency to perspire less than other constitutional types.
9. Their sleep may be disturbed and they will sleep less than the other types.
10. Their hands and feet are often cold.
These people are creative, active, alert and restless. They talk fast and walk fast but they are easily fatigued.

Pitta Constitution

1. These people are of medium height, are slender and body frame may be delicate. Their chests are not as flat as those of vata people and they show a medium prominence of veins and muscle tendons.
2. They have many moles or freckles which are bluish or brownish-red.
3. The bones are not as prominent as in the vata individual. Muscle development is moderate.
4. The complexion may be coppery, yellowish, reddish or fair. The skin is soft, warm and less wrinkled than vata skin.
5. The hair is thin, silky, red or brownish and there is a tendency toward premature graying of hair and hair loss.
6. The eyes may be gray, green or cooper-brown and sharp, the eyeballs will be of medium prominence. The conjunctiva is moist and copper-colored.
7. The nails are soft.
8. The shape of the nose is sharp and the tip tends to be reddish.
9. These people have strong metabolism, good digestion and resulting strong appetites.
10. The person of pitta constitution generally takes large quantities of food and liquid.
11. The pitta people have a natural craving for sweet, bitter and astringent tastes ans enjoy cold drinks.
12. Their sleep is of medium duration but uninterrupted.
13. They produce a large volume of urine and the feces are yellowish liquid, soft and plentiful.
14. The body temperature may run slightly high and hands and feet will tend to be warm.
15. The pitta people do not tolerate sunlight, heat or hard work well.

Kapha Constitution

1. These people have well-developed bodies. There is however a strong tendency for these individuals to carry excess weight. Their chests are expanded and broad. The veins and tendons are not obvious because of their thick skin and their muscle development is good. The bones are prominent.
2. These people have fair and bright complexion. The skin is soft, lustrous and oily; it is also cold and pale.
3. The hair is thick, dark, soft and wavy.
4. The eyes are dense and black or blue; the white of the eyes is generally very white, large and attractive.The conjunctiva does not tend to redness.
5. Kapha people have regular appetites, the digestion functions relatively slowly and there is less intake of food.
6. They tend to move slowly.
7. They crave pungent, bitter and astringent foods.
8. Their perspiration is moderate.
9. Sleep is sound and prolonged.
10. There is a strong and vital capacity evidenced by good stamina, and are generally healthy, happy and peacful.