The Tridoshas and The Human Constitution

The Tridoshas and The Human Constitution

The intent of Ayurveda is to help us maintain physical, mental and spiritual health. Such health is achieved when kapha, pitta, and vata are balanced in our constitution. However, it is often a challenge to maintain this equilibrium, as most of us are predisposed to having one or more of these doshas dominant in our  constitution. A lifestyle that includes stress, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and negative patterns of thought and behavior can lead us even further from the ideal state of balance.

Imbalance within the tridoshas disrupts the interplay of the five elements of earth, water, fire, air, and ether and, in time, has a negative effect on our health and well-being. To regain our equilibrium, we must first discover where disharmony exists.

According to Ayurvedic principles, we all have a combination of kapha, pitta and vata within us, and each of these tridoshas is either balanced, deficient or excessive.

The following descriptions summarize how we may feel or behave when our tridoshas are in these various states. This knowledge can help you to understand others and enhance your relationships with the people in your day-to-day life.

It can also enable you to take practical steps to minimize the negative effects of imbalance in your constitution.