An Introduction to the Doshas: Vata, Pitta & Kapha

The Language of Nature Within Us

Ayurveda is often translated as the science of life, and at its heart is a recognition that we are not separate from nature — we are nature. Just as the world around us is made up of the five great elements (the pancha maha bhutas: space, air, fire, water, and earth), those same elements make up our bodies, our minds, and even our personalities.

From these elements arise the doshas — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha — the unique energies that govern everything from our digestion and circulation to our moods and mental clarity.

And here’s the beautiful thing: you don’t have to memorize Sanskrit to understand them. You can simply look at the world around you. A windy day carries the same qualities as Vata. A blazing summer sun reflects Pitta. A damp, heavy spring morning feels like Kapha. These same forces are at play within you.

The Qualities of Life: Gurvadi Gunas

To understand the doshas more deeply, Ayurveda gives us the gurvadi gunas — 20 qualities or attributes that describe how energy moves and feels. They come in pairs of opposites: hot/cold, heavy/light, rough/smooth, mobile/stable, oily/dry, and so on.

By noticing which qualities are strongest — both in our environment and in our inner world — we can begin to recognize which dosha is most active. And from there, we can choose practices that bring balance by applying the opposite quality.

💨 Vata: Air + Space

• Qualities (gunas): light, dry, cold, rough, mobile, subtle.
• In balance: creativity, adaptability, inspiration, energy that feels fresh like a gentle breeze.
• Out of balance: anxiety, restlessness, irregular digestion, scattered mind, insomnia — like a hurricane blowing through.
• In the world: a windy autumn day, dry skin, a schedule packed with errands that leaves you breathless.

🔥 Pitta: Fire + Water

• Qualities (gunas): hot, sharp, oily, light, spreading, intense.
• In balance: clarity, strong digestion, focus, motivation — like the steady warmth of the sun.
• Out of balance: irritability, anger, perfectionism, acid reflux, burning sensations — like a wildfire out of control.
• In the world: summer heat, spicy foods, the drive that pushes you to finish a project through to the end.

🌱 Kapha: Earth + Water

• Qualities (gunas): heavy, cold, moist, stable, smooth, slow.
• In balance: compassion, steadiness, loyalty, deep nourishment — like rich soil that supports growth.
• Out of balance: lethargy, weight gain, congestion, resistance to change — like a swamp that becomes stagnant.
• In the world: damp spring mornings, comfort food, the steady hug of a loved one.

Balance Is the Key

We all hold all three doshas within us, but usually one or two are more dominant. And just like the seasons change, our inner doshas shift with time (days and seasons), age, lifestyle, and environment.

The key isn’t to “get rid” of one dosha or try to become something you’re not — it’s to notice what’s showing up and apply the opposite quality to restore balance. If life feels windy and scattered, you bring in grounding. If it feels fiery and sharp, you cool and soften. If it feels heavy and sluggish, you lighten and move.

This is Ayurveda’s wisdom in action: a map for living in rhythm with the world around you and the truth within you. Every class and offering I share includes these gentle reminders — how to notice what’s changing within and around you, and which practices are best suited to bring you back to your natural state of balance. If you’d like to explore this in practice, join me in one of my upcoming classes or explore my digital library of practices. Because balance isn’t something we achieve once — it’s something we return to, again and again.

xoM