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Doshas

The doshas, the compass of Ayurveda

Understand the three doshas of Ayurveda — Vata, Pitta and Kapha —, discover your constitution and rebalance your energy day to day.

Cones of colourful spices on a market stall
Photo: echiner1, CC BY-SA 2.0
  1. What Is a Dosha? Vata, Pitta and Kapha Explained SimplyDosha, clearly defined: the three energies of Ayurveda — Vata, Pitta, Kapha — and their roots in the 5 elements. Find out which one dominates in you.4 min
  2. Vata Dosha: Profile, Imbalances and How to Calm ItVata dosha: a complete portrait of the dosha of movement — signs of excess (anxiety, insomnia, bloating) and concrete ways to calm it in daily life.6 min
  3. Pitta Dosha: Profile, Imbalances and How to Cool It DownPitta dosha: portrait of the fire dosha — powerful digestion, signs of excess (acidity, irritability, inflammation) and concrete ways to cool it down.6 min
  4. Kapha Dosha: Profile, Imbalances and How to Energize ItKapha dosha: portrait of the dosha of structure — endurance, stability, signs of excess (heaviness, lethargy, mucus) and concrete ways to energize it.6 min
  5. Free Dosha Quiz (No Email): 20 Questions to Find Your Ayurvedic TypeFree dosha quiz, no email and no sign-up: 20 questions to estimate your Vata, Pitta or Kapha type, how to score your answers and what to do next.5 min
  6. Prakriti and Vikriti: Your Birth Constitution vs Your Current ImbalancePrakriti vs vikriti: what is the difference? Birth constitution vs current imbalance — the distinction that changes your whole practice of Ayurveda.4 min
  7. Vata-Pitta Constitution: Living With Two Dominant DoshasVata-Pitta: the quick, creative, intense profile. How to recognize this dual constitution and decide, season by season, between air and fire.4 min
  8. Vata-Kapha Constitution: Reconciling Wind and EarthVata-Kapha: understanding this paradoxical dual constitution united by cold. Diet, daily routines and seasons — the playbook to bring it into balance.4 min
  9. Dosha Imbalance: How to Recognize and Correct ItHow to balance your doshas: spot the signs of excess Vata, Pitta or Kapha, apply the principle of opposites, and judge the results within 3 weeks.4 min
  10. Which Exercise Suits Your Dosha? Working Out the Ayurvedic WayAyurveda and exercise: which workout suits your dosha? Vata, Pitta and Kapha need different intensity, timing and recovery — here is the guide.11 min
  11. Doshas and Emotions: Fear, Anger and Attachment DecodedAyurveda and emotions: why Vata leans toward fear, Pitta toward anger, and Kapha toward attachment — plus concrete practices for each temperament.18 min
  12. Doshas Through the Seasons: Why You Change With the WeatherDoshas and seasons: why autumn stirs up Vata, summer heats Pitta and spring weighs down Kapha — and how to adapt your routines and meals all year round.6 min
  13. Your Child's Dosha: Recognizing and Supporting Their ConstitutionHow to observe a child's dosha without over-diagnosing, and adjust diet, rhythm and activities to their temperament — carefully and safely.5 min
  14. Vata in Summer: Why This Season Can Throw You Off Balance TooSummer isn't just Pitta season: dry heat, disrupted routines and a packed social calendar can stir up Vata too. Signs and practical adjustments.3 min
  15. Vata and Travel: Why Trips and Jet Lag Unbalance Your DoshaWhy travel (flights, jet lag, hotels) aggravates Vata dosha, and how to prevent fatigue and restlessness before, during and after a trip.3 min
  16. What Is Your Skin's Dosha? Recognizing Vata, Pitta and Kapha SkinDry, sensitive or oily skin: how to recognize your skin's dosha in Ayurveda, so you can choose routines and products that actually suit it.2 min
  17. What Is Your Hair's Dosha? Recognizing Vata, Pitta and Kapha HairDry and curly hair, fine strands prone to early thinning, or thick and oily hair: recognize your hair dosha to choose the right oiling, powders and routine.3 min
  18. Vata in Autumn: Why This Season Unbalances It the MostVata and autumn: why wind and a hectic back-to-routine period aggravate this dosha most, plus concrete diet, rhythm and herb adjustments for the season.3 min
  19. Pitta in Autumn: The Late Season That Prolongs Summer HeatPitta and autumn: why summer’s built-up heat can linger into early autumn, and the concrete protocol for easing smoothly into Vata season.3 min
  20. Vata in Winter: Why Dry Cold Aggravates This Dosha TooVata and winter: why dry cold often prolongs and worsens the Vata excess that began in autumn, and the diet, rhythm and herb protocol for staying grounded.3 min
  21. Your Dosha After 60: How Constitution Shifts With AgeWhy Vata naturally rises with age in Ayurveda, observable signs after 60, and diet, rhythm and ritual adjustments suited to this stage of life.3 min
  22. Pitta in Winter: The Season This Dosha Finally Gets to Rest (and Its Traps)Pitta in winter: why the cold naturally calms this fire dosha, and the seasonal traps — heating, holiday meals, short days — that can still stir it up.4 min
  23. Your Teen's Dosha: Navigating the Changes of PubertyTeen dosha: how puberty reshapes constitution, diet and sleep adjustments by temperament, and the limits to respect at this age.3 min
  24. Your Dosha During Pregnancy: How Your Constitution Shifts Trimester by TrimesterHow pregnancy shifts the balance of the doshas trimester by trimester, and which gentle diet and routine adjustments to consider, always with caution.3 min
  25. Your Dosha After Childbirth: How Your Constitution Shifts PostpartumDosha postpartum: why Vata rises after childbirth, observable signs, diet and rhythm adjustments, alongside — never instead of — medical follow-up.3 min
  26. Your Dosha at Menopause: How Your Constitution Shifts at This StageDosha and menopause: why Vata gradually takes hold according to the doctrine of the three ages, signs by dosha, and adjustments alongside medical care.4 min
  27. Balanced Tridosha Constitution: A Body With No Dominant DoshaBalanced tridosha constitution: distinctive signs versus dual-dosha profiles, traditional advantages, and why three-way imbalance still needs watching.4 min
  28. Which Work Suits Your Dosha? Workplace Environment and TemperamentDoshas and work: which professional environment, pace and stress management suits Vata, Pitta and Kapha? Concrete guidance and its limits.6 min
  29. Dosha Compatibility in Couples: What Ayurveda Really SaysTwo Vata, Pitta or Kapha profiles as a couple: what Ayurvedic tradition suggests about friction and complementarity, and what science has not studied.5 min
  30. Which Dosha Struggles Most in College? Focus, Sleep and Exam StressHow your dosha shapes college life: memory, sleep, diet and exam stress. Routines for each profile, plus what the research actually shows.4 min
  31. Doshas and Creativity: Vata, Pitta and Kapha Don't Create the Same WayDoshas and creativity: how Vata, Pitta and Kapha approach imagination and creative work differently, with insight from the psychology of creativity.7 min
  32. Doshas and Colors: Which Shades Suit Vata, Pitta and Kapha?Doshas and colors in Ayurveda: the shades traditionally linked to Vata, Pitta and Kapha, and what color science actually says about it.4 min
  33. Doshas and Getting Back to Routine: Why Vata, Pitta and Kapha Handle It DifferentlyStruggling to get back into routine after a break? Ayurveda reads it by dosha: scattered Vata, overeager Pitta, sluggish Kapha, plus what research says about returning to work.5 min
  34. Doshas and Money: Three Different Relationships to Spending and SavingDoshas and money: why Vata spends on impulse, Pitta budgets with rigor and Kapha saves (sometimes too much), and what a personality study shows.3 min
  35. Doshas and Social Media: Three Different Relationships With the ScrollDoshas and social media: Ayurvedic tradition frames three scrolling patterns — Vata's flitting, Pitta's comparing, Kapha's passive scroll.5 min
  36. Doshas and Travel: Why Trips Throw You Off BalanceTravel aggravates Vata most of all, but also Pitta and Kapha in their own way: what Ayurveda says about travel by dosha, and how to prepare a trip.5 min
  37. Doshas and Pain: Why Pain Doesn't Feel the Same for EveryoneSharp, migrating pain; burning pain; dull, deep pain: Ayurveda distinguishes three signatures by dosha. Understanding yours helps you respond well.3 min
  38. Doshas and Gardening: What the Garden Soothes for Your ProfileDoshas and gardening: how Vata, Pitta and Kapha experience this regular contact with the soil differently, and what the research on gardening and stress suggests.3 min
  39. Doshas and Video Games: What This Sedentary Activity Reveals About YouDoshas and video games: how Vata, Pitta and Kapha experience this sedentary activity differently, and what research shows about prolonged sitting.3 min
  40. Doshas and Shopping: What Your Purchases Say About Your ProfileDoshas and shopping: how Vata, Pitta and Kapha shop differently, and what research shows about the link between shopping and mood regulation.2 min
  41. Housework and Tidying: What This Activity Balances for Your DoshaHousework and Ayurveda dosha: why Vata, Pitta and Kapha experience tidying up so differently, and how to turn it into something soothing rather than a chore.4 min
  42. Doshas and Reading: What Your Reading Habits Say About Your ProfileDoshas and reading in Ayurveda: why Vata flits between books, Pitta reads to perform, and Kapha gets swallowed up in a novel for hours.5 min
  43. Doshas and DIY: What Fixing and Building Reveals About Your ProfileDoshas and DIY in Ayurveda: why Vata flits between unfinished projects, Pitta gets frustrated with a stubborn tool, and Kapha sticks with it once started.5 min
  44. Cooking by Dosha: What Time at the Stove Reveals About Your ProfileDoshas and cooking in Ayurveda: why Vata, Pitta and Kapha react so differently at the stove, and how to adapt your cooking style to your dominant profile.5 min
  45. Doshas and Meditation: Why the Same Practice Affects You DifferentlyDoshas and meditation: why Vata, Pitta and Kapha don’t experience the same seated practice the same way, and what research shows about meditation and stress.3 min
  46. Doshas and Moving House: One Upheaval, Three Ways to Live Through ItDoshas and moving house: why this life change destabilizes Vata, tests Pitta’s patience, and wears down Kapha, with concrete tips for getting through the transition.3 min
  47. Doshas and Driving: What the Wheel Reveals About Your ProfileDoshas and driving: why Vata gets scattered behind the wheel, Pitta grows angry fast at other drivers, and Kapha reacts slowly to the unexpected.3 min
  48. Living With a Pet According to Your DoshaPets and doshas: what living with a dog or cat brings depending on your profile, a study on pets and stress, and the precautions to keep in mind.3 min
  49. Caring for Houseplants According to Your DoshaHouseplants and doshas: what this gesture soothes for each profile, a study on gardening and cortisol, and how to adapt it indoors.3 min
  50. Fishing by Dosha: Stillness, Patience and AttentionRecreational fishing and the doshas: what this calm activity offers each profile, a study on outdoor activity and cortisol, and the precautions to keep in mind.3 min
  51. Volunteering by Dosha: Committing Without Burning OutVolunteering and doshas: how Vata, Pitta and Kapha experience long-term volunteer commitment, a study on volunteering and health, and how to commit without burning out.2 min
  52. Giving and Receiving Gifts According to Your DoshaGift giving and doshas: what choosing, timing and the way you give reveal about Vata, Pitta and Kapha, with a study on the happiness linked to giving.2 min
  53. Watching Movies by Dosha: What Film RevealsMovies and doshas: how watching films affects Vata, Pitta and Kapha, a study on the emotions triggered by film, and the precautions to know.2 min
  54. Your Relationship With Technology by DoshaScreens, notifications, constant availability: how the relationship with technology differs across Vata, Pitta and Kapha, a study on attention, and concrete pointers.2 min
  55. Doshas and Chess: What This Strategy Game RevealsChess and doshas: how Vata, Pitta and Kapha experience this strategy game differently, a study on chess and cognition, and the precautions to know.3 min
  56. Doshas and Board Games: Playing While Balancing Your ProfileBoard games and doshas: what this shared moment reveals about Vata, Pitta and Kapha, a study on leisure activities and cognitive health, and precautions.3 min
  57. Dosha Test for Children: Assessing Your Child’s ConstitutionA 12-question dosha test for children: spot Vata, Pitta or Kapha tendencies in your child, with clear limits and no diagnostic claims.4 min
  58. Doshas and the Beach: Enjoying the Sea According to Your ConstitutionDoshas and the beach: how sun, salt and sea wind affect Vata, Pitta and Kapha differently, with a study on the psychological benefits of water.3 min
  59. Koshtha: The Digestive Constitution in AyurvedaKoshtha in Ayurveda: the digestive constitution (mridu, madhyama, krura) that explains why two people with the same dosha digest the same meal differently.5 min
  60. Is There a Scientific Basis for Dosha? What Studies ShowIs there a scientific basis for dosha? What a preliminary genomic study on prakriti shows, and why it does not validate the concept as a diagnostic tool.3 min
  61. Prakriti and the Gut Microbiome: What a Genetic Study RevealsPrakriti and the gut microbiome: what a study shows comparing the microbiome of extreme Vata, Pitta and Kapha profiles in a genetically homogeneous population.2 min

Our printable practical guides

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To go further than the free articles: ready-to-use menus, schedules and cards.

Eat for Your DoshaA printable quiz to find your profile, complete food lists for each dosha, a typical day, a 7-day menu and 15 recipes.€10 · 32 A4 pages Dinacharya in 21 DaysA three-week programme, one habit at a time, with versions for your dosha, the season and your lifestyle, and daily tick-box cards.€10 · 30 A4 pages Ayurvedic Kitchen in 4 WeeksFour weeks of ready-to-follow meal plans, tick-box shopping lists, a prep plan for every Sunday and 40 simple recipes.€10 · 46 A4 pages