In Ayurveda the key term is “dosha” which means the human body energy (or force). Our bodies, minds and emotions are dependent on three types of dosha: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Every person has a mixture of all three doshas but usually one or two tend to dominate more. Doshas govern activities of your body and mind.
Vata comes from the ether and air, Pitta – from fire and water, Kapha – from the Earth and water. Vata is responsible for all types of movements in the body. Pitta governs the transformation processes such as metabolism, digestion etc. Kapha gives the structure to the body and provides the physical strength.
Every person has a unique combination of doshas which does not change throughout the lifetime. Thanks to elements of doshas Ayurveda is able to determine the basic nature of each individual person and recommend different methods of treatment corresponding to the person’s needs. The most optimal condition is when all three doshas combinations are proportionally balanced as it guarantees good health. However, the domination of one dosha over the other does not necessarily mean bad health as long as you know how to live and eat according to Ayurveda principles.