What it means to be a
Kapha
YOU ARE GROUNDED, STABLE AND CALM IN THOUGHT, SPEECH AND ACTION.
YOU ARE EASY-GOING AND SUPPORTIVE IN RELATIONSHIPS.
THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF STEADINESS TO YOUR STEP, A QUALITY OF SERENITY IN YOUR SMILE. LOYALTY IS YOUR SECOND NAME.
More About Your Dosha
Your body is composed of all three doshas. We have all three doshas in each of us, but we have them in unique combinations. This unique combination is what creates YOU and is the reason why Ayurveda is highly individualized. So let’s look at you.
You are a Kapha and as such have a a more solid or voluptuous build and though you have a strong presence, you can be soft-spoken and shy.Kapha-type people are very strong, jolly, sweet and highly structured in both body and mind.
You tend to have thick, porcelain skin (you do not wrinkle easily) and thick hair. Your eyes are round with thick eyelashes and you have a strong, bright smile.
Kaphas are the sturdiest of the three doshas capable of handling a lot of work with endless patience. It can take you a long time to get out of balance and a very long time to come back into balance.
- You are physically strong and resilient. You are also placid, kind, and thoughtful.
- You are sweet-natured, loyal and affectionate…and you hate confrontation.
- You do not like change or the unpredictable aspects of life.
- You may have a tendency to be a lazy – ‘couch potato’ who likes nothing better than to sit around, relax and do very little.
- Exertion does not come naturally to you, although vigorous exercise does make you feel really good.
- People with more Kapha in their constitutions tend to be of larger proportions, with a robust frame and padded joints, thick smooth skin that may tend towards oiliness, and rich, wavy hair.
- Your appetite is stable, though you are often not very hungry first thing in the morning, when you tend to feel sleepy. You love food and have a tendency to comfort eat.
- Your digestion is slow and sluggish as is your metabolism which means weight is often something you often battle with.
- Factors that can cause your dosha to increase include a diet that contains too many deep-fried, sweet or heavy foods, over-consumption of ice-cold foods or beverages, exposure to cold and damp, daytime sleep, and lack of exercise.
Kapha Characteristics
FACE
Round face, large white teeth, big eyes, wide nose, full lips.
HAIR & SKIN
Thick hair, lustrous skin.
MIND
Detail-orientated, steady, consistent.
BODY
Heavy bone structure, widely spaced features.
APPETITE
Loves to eat but has a slow digestion.
TEMPERMENT
Sweet-natured, loyal, affectionate, resilient, avoids confrontation.
Signs & Symptoms of Imbalance
We often think of our health in terms of symptoms, however, symptoms are just signs of an underlying problem or imbalance. We want to treat the underlying cause of the imbalance and not just the symptoms.
- Feeling slow, heavy, lethargic, foggy mindedness, poor motivation
- Mucus build-up, bronchial congestion, hay fever, asthma
- Weight gain, slow metabolism, excess salivation, nausea and heaviness after eating
- Metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes
- Fluid retention, lymphatic congestion
- Possessiveness, greed, stubbornness, aversion to change
- General lethargy
- Low thyroid function, high cholesterol
- Poor circulation
- Depression
Get Back in Balance
Lifestyle Recommendations
In order to eliminate symptoms and get back in balance, consider the following specific recommendations by clicking the link below:
Exercise
- The primary lifestyle recommendation for balancing Kapha is to get moving. Physically, get some exercise every single day.
- Kapha’s have a tendency towards sluggishness and exercise first thing in the morning will get your lymphatic system moving, and clear away any brain fog.
- Vigorous activities are ideal exercise for Kapha-dominant people that tend towards sluggishness and low metabolism. Exercise every day for best results, but without overstraining. Racquetball, tennis, jogging, and aerobics are good activity choices for balancing Kapha. Exercise in the morning so that you can get a good charge for the day ahead.
Mental Health
- Mentally, challenge yourself with new activities—learn a new skill, solve some puzzles or take a class.
- Add zest to your life by consciously incorporating variety and new experiences into your life. Travel, meeting new people and trying new hobbies are ways to embrace change. Kapha’s can get stuck in their moods too and can become unmotivated – change is what stimulates the mind for you.
- Emotionally, welcome new relationships in your life by making it a point to meet people—volunteering comes naturally to the caring Kapha nature and can provide a great way for you to make friends.
Eating
- Do not skip meals, and do not fast. The Kapha digestive fire (metabolism) tends to be low, as does your appetite, and not eating on time slows down the metabolism even more.
- Start your day with a light breakfast. Eat a sustaining meal at lunch, and a lighter meal for dinner.
Here are some great balancing recipes for you
Body Care
- You have a tendency towards oilier skin so deep-cleanse oily skin twice a day with a natural cleanser to rid the skin of surface impurities and grime.
- Protect yourself from the damp and cold. Drink lots of warm water, infused with warming spices such as turmeric, dried ginger, and black pepper. These spices are a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial agents. At-home steam therapy can help open clogged channels and relieve congestion, especially during allergy season.
- Set aside about 30 minutes each day for meditation, to help calm the mind and enhance body-mind-spirit coordination.
- Daily elimination is very important to prevent digestive toxins from accumulating in the body. Triphala (a mixture of fruits) helps promote regularity as well as toning the digestive system.
Sleep
If Kapha dosha is out of balance, you’ll tend to feel tired even after a solid ten hours of uninterrupted sleep. Go to bed early and wake up really early in the morning, definitely before sunrise, to improve the quality of your rest. Do not indulge in daytime snoozes.
Start your healing journey today
Each of us is unique and your dosha gives you tremendous insights into your unique nature. If you would like more help on how to connect the dots to stay happy, healthy and disease free. Start your healing journey today by booking a complimentary consultation.