The 3 Fundamental Energies in Ayurveda: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha

Elements

Vata Energy

Mobility and movement in the broadest sense, as well as the space in which they occur. Vata is responsible for the origin, maintenance, and dissolution of life and acts upon the life force.

Natural Functions of Vata

Governs the biological processes of the body and mind, including breathing, heart rate, intracellular exchanges, spasms, nervous functions, the circulation of blood, oxygen, and nutrients, elimination, and the subtle and energetic transformation of vital tissues.

Responsible for sensations, emotions, and thoughts: joy, anxiety, nervousness, fear, pain, lightness, and freshness.

Brings enthusiasm and creativity.

Vata Centres

Large intestine, bladder, bones, skin, ears, thighs

Skin Type

Dry

Physical

Whether you are slim, slender, tall, or short, or find it difficult to lose or gain weight

Mental and Emotional Profile

Nervous, anxious, fearful, sensitive, a jack-of-all-trades, highly creative, needs to create to feel alive, enthusiastic, a good communicator, generous, cheerful, full of vitality when feeling well, easy-going, free-thinking, easily overwhelmed by day-to-day life, constantly drawn to new sources of inspiration, finds it hard to take action, has a keen sense of touch, likes to get a feel for the atmosphere, lives in a world of imagination because reality bores them, fears commitment for fear of losing their freedom; cautious and does not readily give their trust or their heart.

Factors That Aggravate Vata

• Prolonged Cold, sudden changes in temperature

• Changes in the Seasons and time of day; feeling less well in autumn and at the start of the cold season

• Lack of Sleep, staying up late, working night shifts

• Worries, anxiety, repressed grief, fear of the future and the unknown

• Fasting, frequent enemas

• Suppression of Natural Bodily unctions, feeling better after elimination (stools, urine, blood, tears, or emotions)

• ‘Too much’ can be tiring: too much travelling, moving about, exercise, stimulants, cold food, overstimulation of the senses

Distinctive

• Tends towards what is extreme, irregular, and light

• Soars, hasn’t got its feet on the ground

• Operates in ‘hyper’ mode: it is in the realm of ‘too much’ (too bad, too difficult…)

Elements

Elements

Pitta Energy

Refers to bile, heat and the transformation of heat, a force that governs physical energy and the transformations within the body and mind; its power is evident in the eyes and in the radiance of the skin.

Natural Functions of Pitta

It influences metabolism and secretions, digestion, the absorption and assimilation of food, as well as mental experiences, emotions, intellectual activity, joy and confidence; it creates the sensation of thirst and hunger, balances body temperature, and enhances vision.

Pitta Centres

Liver, pancreas, duodenum, small intestine, skin, eyes

Skin Type

Sensitive

Physical

Average build

Psychism

Hot-tempered, irritable, oversensitive, easily offended, authoritarian, proud, jealous, possessive, active, highly intelligent, intellectual, quick-witted, meticulous, prone to extremes, ambitious, seeks fame and professional success, lacks self-confidence, highly emotional, loves or hates and can change their mind from one day to the the next day, likes to be in control of everything, otherwise easily unsettled, thirst for knowledge and happiness, endowed with a certain wisdom, understanding, and humility.

Factors That Aggravate Pitta

• Heat and the hot season

• Rich foods, salt, red meat, spicy and sour flavours

• Irregular mealtimes

• Medicines, alcohol

• Fear of failure

• Midday exertion

• Intensive mental work

Distinctive

• Tends towards excess, the acute, the rapid, the superior. Burns, consumes itself

• Operates in a ‘hyper’ state

• Has too much fire in the heart, leading to an imbalance in the digestive system and the psyche

Elements

Kapha Energy

Refers to phlegm; supports the energy of the heart and lungs; it is the stabilising force of the organism, the body’s framework, activating the immune system. It ensures stability between body, mind and spirit, as well as physical and psychological endurance.

Natural Functions of Kapha

Connects the elements that make up our body with one another, lubricates the joints, moisturises the skin and spleen, protects the mucous membranes, brings vitality to vital tissues, and is responsible for the growth of the body, the immune system, resistance to disease, and emotions (love, forgiveness, generosity, courage, attachment, envy, greed, compassion, forgiveness, loyalty, patience), brings balance and gentleness to body and mind. It protects the body and regulates the other two forces; it influences cell longevity and sleep, and stimulates memory.

Kapha Centres

Chest, throat, neck, nape of the neck, tongue, hypothalamus, nose, adipose tissue, joints, and bodily fluids

Skin Type

Oily

Physical

Rounded, strong build, with a tendency towards being overweight (expanded Kapha); more angular and lean, with a tendency towards thinness and a stooped posture (contracted Kapha).

Psychism

Self-centred (withdrawn Kapha), fears abandonment, very unassuming, envious, very possessive (expanded Kapha) many emotional barriers due to overprotection during childhood, thrives on attention and support, compassion, tenderness, love, needs to be comforted, capable of achievement as they are patient but slow, stable and reliable intellect, and excellent memory. An expanded Kapha can be easily satisfied, whereas a contracted Kapha is always dissatisfied with everything.

Factors That Aggravate Kapha

• Cold, the cold season, wind, draughts, prone to catching a cold

• Excessive sleep, napping

• Lack of exercise, doing nothing

• Overeating and poor diet (sugar, meat, fried foods, dairy products, etc.)

• Taking tranquillisers and sedatives

• Doubt, dwelling on emotions, possessiveness, lack of compassion

Distinctive

• Tends towards the extremes (broad or narrow, slow or fast)

• A being that constantly oscillates between expansion and contraction