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YOU ARE LIKELY TO HAVE A VATA & PITTA CONSTITUTION
This constitution has a mix of vata and pitta. It can be a vata pitta constitution or pitta vata constitution depending on the relative amounts of the dosha.
The most important things to note with a constitutional combination of these two dosha are:
- Both vata and pitta are LIGHT so when in balance this will show in the body as a slim moderate build and the mind will reflect this with qualities of being vibrant, bright and alert. Excess of this quality can lead to a lack of grounding, weight loss and insomnia.
- Vata has the quality of MOVEMENT and pitta has the quality of FLOWING. That means not much will be static, there will be great movement in the body and mind. In excess, this can lead to instability and over activity, and a tendency to be over zealous.
Details of vata and pitta dosha are given below.
Vata, based on the elements of air and space, regulates movement and change.
Vata predominant individuals tend to:
- have a nature of CHANGE and fluctuation; irregular appetite, thirst and bowel movements, variable energy levels coming in bursts and irregular menstrual cycles.
- be more endowed with MOVEMENT; active eyes, fast speech, quick bodily movements and always on the go. The mind is also agile, creative, lively and enthusiastic. There is a desire for change and routines are often a struggle. Things are picked up quickly but more often forgotten in the long term.
- have more DRYNESS and ROUGHNESS in the body; dry, rough skin, lips and hair, cracking joints. They are more likely to be constipated and have wind.
- be more COLD; often have cold hands and feet and strongly dislike cold and wind, prefer warm environments, food and drinks.
- be LIGHT; in general, have a slender body and thin muscles finding it hard to put on weight. Specifically, lightness also shows with thinner lips, visible joints and sharper nose. Sleep is also light and sometimes elusive.
Those with a vata constitution will be more likely to suffer from constipation, gas and insomnia when not in balance. The mind when out of balance tends towards anxiety, fearfulness and insecurity.
Pitta, woven from elements of fire and water, governs digestion and metabolism.
Pitta predominant people tend to:
- be HOT; be warm regardless of season, sweat easily and be fatigued by heat. There will be a preference for cool environments, cool food and drink and there will be quite a lot of thirst.
- have LIGHTNESS, LIQUIDITY and a sense of FLOW due to the combination of water and fire, thus they have moderate build and energy; by putting their mind to it, they’ll be able to gain or lose weight as they choose. Energy is naturally moderate, movements are of moderate speed and sleep is moderately sound (less than 8 hours leaves them rested).
- have FIRE in their bellies; strong appetites and strong digestion of food, information and experience. If they go long without food, they’ll suffer and get irritable. Their strong digestive fire makes for easy, regular, looser bowel movements.
- have more RED or YELLOWISH tones; skin, hair, lips and teeth. Their hair will more likely be fine and prone to early greying or balding. The warmer, reddish skin will be prone to irritation and burns easily.
- have a certain MENTAL INTENSITY; focused, driven, goal-oriented and naturally alert, intelligent and persevering. The eyes will have a penetrating gaze and their speech is equally penetrating and clear. They will love to convince, like structure and detail and are often organised. Decision making comes easily. Compete with and criticise them at your peril!
- have a degree of OILINESS (versus the dry, roughness of vata for example); lips are red and soft, skin is relatively soft and joints are flexible.
- more likely to have an ODOUR (one of their least flattering characteristics!).
Those with more pitta dosha in them will tend towards inflammation, hypertension and hypersensitivity if they are out of balance. Mentally they could end up being more angry, aggressive or argumentative.