Dosha Report – Vata-Pitta

What it means to be a

Vata-Pitta

DOSHA

CHARACTERISTICS

IMBALANCES

RECOMMENDATIONS

YOU ARE AN INTENSE PERSON, BLUNT, YET CREATIVE.

THIS ALLOWS YOU TO INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE OTHERS.

YOU ARE A NATURAL LEADER, OFTEN WELL ORGANIZED AND A PERFECTIONIST. NO-ONE CAN DO THE JOB AS WELL AS YOU!

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 combination of Vata and Pitta. That means either dosha can predominate in different seasons. Let me show you your two dominant doshas.

The Vata in you can talk fast, walk fast, create fast and worry fast. You have a tendency towards a thin frame and lack of insulation. You can have a slender physique, an oval-shaped face, and your hair can be more towards the thin and dry side. You really are quite delicate both physically and emotionally. Your mood and mind change easily. You can quickly go out of balance and just as quickly come back into balance.

Your other dosha, Pitta shows up as a more medium and muscular build with sensitive skin. You can run hot, especially in the summer. Often having sharper facial features, with penetrating blue or green eyes, You can be well-organized, move with intent and pre-plan everything. Your analytical nature will drive you to ask questions about every aspect of making a decision before deciding something. You can be a fantastic improviser, negotiator, and problem-solver because you live in the present. Just like a slowly growing fire, pittas take a moderate amount of time to go out of balance and a moderate amount of time to come back into balance.

• For you being focused and ‘on-task’ comes naturally
• You will stop at nothing to complete a project or goal, and will often feel frustrated with others who are less focused, and who are slower than you.
• Even though ‘you know best’ – try and develop compassion for those who are not as quick thinking as you. You can be challenging after all!
• You have good muscle tone and generally rely upon your body to get you through life’s stress.
• Your immense drive however, will push you ahead when perhaps you should be slowing down.
• If you do not listen to your body, it may force you to – when it just breaks down.

Vata-Pitta Characteristics

FACE

Long, thin face,(Vata), moderate nose and lips (Pitta), smaller eyes that can have an intense gaze.

HAIR & SKIN

Wavy, fine hair, thin and transparent skin that can be sensitive.

MIND

Keen and insightful, loves travel and adventure, determined and creative.

BODY

Slender body frame, prominent joints, bones and veins, moderately sized hands and fingers.

APPETITE

Reliable appetite.

TEMPERMENT

Fun-loving, passionate and intense, social and charismatic. The type that ‘lights up a room’.

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.

• Fatigue/burnout
• Hyperacidity
• Arthritis like symptoms
• Irritable and quick to get frustrated
• Cries easily
• Headaches
• Constipation interspersed with diarrhea
• Insomnia
• Painful periods
• Overheated

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

Mental Health

Eating

Body Care

Sleep

Exercise

• You have the speed of Vata along with the strength of Pitta, and that is why you are probably drawn to High-Intensity Interval Training. Although you can handle endurance training, it will not be your strong suit. However, you are quick and agile, excelling in movements that require short bursts of energy. The Vata predominance will make you susceptible to early fatigue and overtraining – another reason that endurance sports are not for you. Your speed, strength, and natural ability mean that you are unlikely to have a weight problem as movement is important for that Vata in you. In fact, sometimes it’s hard for you to sit still.
• The fire of Pitta will motivate you to excel in all you do. But in exercise, the fiery Pitta mind can push the Vata body beyond its comfortable limits and increase the risk of injury. The combination of air and fire from the Vata and Pitta can make for a volatile, but also productive, personality in exercise. Being quick and getting things done quickly will be part of your nature. But, as always, when there is strong Pitta in the constitution, it is important for you to find the fun in exercise and to smell the roses along the way. You can be a little intense, after all.
• Vata-Pitta types do well in gymnastics, ballet, dance, and other sports requiring primarily speed and secondary strength.

Mental Health

• Set aside about 30 minutes each day for meditation, to help calm the mind and enhance body-mind-spirit coordination. As you tend to analyze everything and live in your head – it can be useful to journal, meditate or go into counseling so that you can process emotions well.

Eating

• Follow a Pitta pacifying diet and lifestyle in the Summer- or any time it is warm, and a Vata pacifying diet and lifestyle in the Fall and Winter.
  Start your day with a nourishing breakfast. Have the largest meal of the day at lunch. This is when your metabolism is functioning at its best, but then you probably already know this!
• Do not skip meals, even though you can forget to eat, skipping meals will increase fatigue. Also do not wait to eat until you are ravenously hungry – after all, you can get so absorbed that you do not eat – this can increase acidity and make you irritable.
• Eat a nourishing lunch at mid-day and lighter meals at breakfast and dinner. Sit down to eat each meal, eat in a peaceful atmosphere with your attention on your food, and sit quietly for a few minutes after your meal. If your digestive fire is irregular, practicing these eating habits will help make it more regular.
• Drink lots of room temperature water as you have a tendency towards dryness in the winter and feeling overheated in the summer.
• Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine. Stimulants for you aggravate acidity and you probably already know that caffeine and alcohol can fire you up; emotionally too!

Here are some great balancing recipes for you

Show Me My Vata-Pitta Meal Plan

Body Care

• Avoid the heat of the midday sun – especially in summer.
• Protect yourself from the cold and wind. Stay warm and toasty in cold weather by wearing several layers of clothing. Wear a cap and scarf when you go out to protect your ears and throat. Wear lip balm to prevent lips from getting dry and chafed.
• To pamper dry, warm skin, to remove heat and to nourish and calm any nervous tension and irritability, indulge in an ayurvedic massage every morning before you bathe or shower. Use coconut oil for your massage as it has cooling properties.
• If you like, you can add 3-4 drops of a pure essential oil such as lavender or sandalwood to 2 oz. of massage oil. Mix well before use. Lavender is known as a nervine which means it calms the central nervous system.
• Two or three times a week, massage your scalp with warm oil and let the oil stay for an hour or two before you shampoo as this is really calming to the central nervous system.
• After your shower or bath, apply a generous coating of a pure, gentle moisturizer all over your body to keep your skin feeling smooth and cool all day long.
• 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.

Learn About Triphala

Triphala

Triphala is made up of three fruits and is most commonly purchased as a powder.

Triphala has the following effects:

• Assists natural internal cleansing
• Gently maintains regularity
• Nourishes and rejuvenates the tissues
• Supports healthy digestion and absorption
• Natural antioxidant

Triphala is most commonly known for its use as a gentle bowel tonic, being helpful in digestion, and supporting regular bowel movements. The combination of the three fruits has a synergistic effect to bolster many other systems as well.

In addition to the GI tract, Ayurveda uses triphala to support healthy respiratory, cardiovascular, urinary, reproductive, and nervous systems. Triphala has also been shown to be a powerful antioxidant, protecting cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.

The three fruits involved in making triphala are also known for their individual effects:

• Tamalaki (Emblica officinalis): Has a cooling effect that manages pitta, supporting the natural functions of the liver and the immune system.
• Bibhitaki (Terminalia belerica): Is particularly good for kapha, supporting the respiratory system as well as kapha accumulations in all systems.
• Haritaki (Terminalia chebula): Though having a heating nature, it is still good for all three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha). Is known for its “scraping” effect, which removes toxins and helps maintain healthy levels of weight.

• Wear clothing made of natural fibers so that your skin can cool and breathe.

Sleep

• Rest when you are tired. You can get pretty intense and sometimes forget to rest. That powering through no matter what – is what will cause you to get run down – so go for a walk, play with the dog, lighten up, have fun, and rest.
• Turn down the activity – especially an hour before bed.
• Try turning off all electronics before bed
• Try calming scents like chamomile, lavender, and sweet orange
• Make sure the room is cool and well ventilated.

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.

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