“When the winds of Vata blow, the fire of Pitta burns, and the waters of Kapha flow in harmony, the song of life is in tune.” – Ayurvedic proverb
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On Monday, I drew a mudra from the mudra deck of cards that talked a lot about the Kapha dosha, and I touched briefly on what a dosha is, SO I thought it might be a good idea to explore those doshas in a little more detail. (I do live mudra card draws every Monday on our Facebook page)
Have you ever noticed how some days you’re light as a feather, brimming with ideas, and other days you feel fiery, focused, and ready to conquer the world… and then there are those days when you just want to curl up under a blanket with a cup of tea and not move?
Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science, explains this beautifully through the doshas. Three unique energies that weave together our body, mind, and spirit.
✨ Vata is the dreamer and creator. Quick to move, quick to imagine. When balanced, Vata sparkles with creativity and joy. But when out of balance? Vata can feel like a tumbleweed in a windstorm, scattered, restless, anxious.
Vata (Air + Ether)
- Qualities: Light, dry, cold, quick, mobile, irregular.
- Mind–Body Traits: Creative, quick to learn, expressive, full of ideas, enthusiastic. Physically, Vata types are often lean with variable energy.
- When Balanced: Imaginative, vibrant, adaptable, joyful.
- When Imbalanced: Anxiety, insomnia, constipation, scattered mind, dry skin, overthinking, restlessness.
- Balance Vata: Create routines, stay warm, eat grounding and nourishing foods (soups, stews, warm grains), slow down, practice gentle yoga like yin or restorative.
🔥 Pitta is the doer and leader. Sharp, determined, and full of passion. In harmony, Pitta shines with clarity and courage. Out of balance, though, and it becomes a little too fiery, think frustration, irritation, or being hard on yourself (and others).
Pitta (Fire + Water)
- Qualities: Hot, sharp, oily, intense, focused, penetrating.
- Mind–Body Traits: Driven, organised, ambitious, intelligent, natural leaders. Physically, Pitta types often have medium builds, strong digestion, and warm bodies.
- When Balanced: Clear-minded, purposeful, courageous, charismatic.
- When Imbalanced: Anger, irritability, heartburn, inflammation, competitiveness, judgmental tendencies.
- Balance Pitta: Cool down—physically and emotionally. Enjoy cooling foods (cucumber, mint, salads), avoid too much spice or alcohol, practise calming yoga and meditation, spend time in nature and water.
🌱 Kapha is the nurturer. Steady, strong, and grounding. In balance, Kapha is the embodiment of love, patience, and calm. But when it tips over? It can get stuck in heaviness, sluggishness, or resistance to change.
Kapha (Earth + Water)
- Qualities: Heavy, steady, stable, slow, nurturing, moist, grounded.
- Mind–Body Traits: Compassionate, loyal, calm, strong, dependable. Physically, Kapha types often have sturdy builds, smooth skin, and good endurance.
- When Balanced: Loving, patient, supportive, emotionally steady.
- When Imbalanced: Lethargy, weight gain, sluggish digestion, possessiveness, resistance to change, depression.
- Balance Kapha: Get moving! Favour stimulating, invigorating exercise, eat light and spicy foods, avoid excess dairy/sweets, and invite variety and novelty into life.
Here’s the secret: we all have all three doshas, just in different amounts, and they’re always shifting. Seasons, time of day, and even life stages stir them up. The art is learning to notice: Am I feeling more airy, fiery, or earthy today?
✨ Why Doshas Matter
The doshas aren’t meant to put us in boxes; they’re fluid energies that shift with the seasons, times of day, and even life stages. For example:
- Childhood tends to be Kapha-dominant.
- Adulthood is Pitta-driven (building careers, families, purpose).
- Elder years lean into Vata (wisdom, but also fragility).
By understanding your dominant dosha(s) and how they change, you can fine-tune your lifestyle, diet, and yoga practice to stay balanced.
🌸 The Doshas in Yoga Practice
- Vata types thrive on grounding poses like forward folds, seated postures, and a slower pace.
- Pitta types benefit from cooling practices, twists, pranayama like sheetali (cooling breath), and non-competitive, mindful movement.
- Kapha types need energising sequences, strong flows, backbends, and pranayama like bhastrika to stoke inner fire.
🪞 A Playful Way to Think of Them
- Vata is the windy day — breezy, changeable, inspiring.
- Pitta is the summer sun — hot, bright, sometimes scorching.
- Kapha is the fertile earth after rain — nourishing, steady, sometimes a little muddy.
When you begin to dance with the doshas instead of wrestling them, you start to live in harmony with your own nature. Maybe that means slowing down with warm grounding foods when Vata is running the show, cooling off with gentle practices when Pitta flares, or shaking things up with invigorating movement when Kapha lingers too long.
💫 The invitation? Listen. Adjust. Honour the ebb and flow. The doshas are not problems to fix; rather, they are guides, whispering reminders of how to find balance.
What's happening in The Pantry? 🧘♀️
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Your YouTube class of the week
This year has been the year of tight neck and shoulders! So here is a little practice to help alleviate those issues :)
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See you on the mat my awesome friend!
Let’s keep learning and healing together.
With love and deep breaths,
Tash x
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