Dosha Body Types

Vata Vata Vayu (air) and Akasha (ether/space)

Pitta Agni The Energy (fire) and Jal (water)

Kapha Jal (water) and Prithvi (earth)

The three doshas are called Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Although they regulate thousands of separate functions in the mind/body system, they have three basic functions:
The Vata dosha controls movement.
The Pitta dosha controls metabolism.
The Kapha dosha controls structure.
Every cell in your body has to contain all three of these principles. To remain alive, your body has to have Vata, or motion, which allows it to breathe, circulate blood, pass food through the digestive tract, and send nerve impulses to and from the brain.
It has to have Pitta, or metabolism, which processes food, air and water throughout the entire system.
It has to have Kapha, or structure, to hold the cells together and form muscle, fat, bone and sinew. Nature needs all three to build a human body.
Although there are only three doshas, they can be combined in ten possible ways to arrive at ten different body and behavioral types:
3 single – Dosha types
6 two – Dosha types
1 three – Dosha type
To find out what your body type is why not try the Dosha Test

The single Dosha type

Vata
Pitta
Kapha
If one dosha is much higher than the others, you are a single-dosha type. A true single – dosha type displays the traits of Vata, Pitta or Kapha very prominently.
Your next highest dosha will still show some influence in your natural tendencies but to a much lesser degree.

The two Dosha type

Vata – Pitta or Pitta – Vata
Pitta – Kapha or Kapha – Pitta
Kapha – Vata or Vata – Kapha
If no dosha is extremely dominate, you are a two-dosha type. This means that you display qualities of your two leading doshas, either side by side or in alternation. The higher one comes first in your body type, but both count.
Most people are two – dosha types. In some, the first dosha is very strong which would qualify them as a single-dosha type except for the prominence of another dosha. In other cases, the difference is smaller, the first dosha still predominates, but the second will be almost equal. And in still others, one dosha will stand out but the other two are exactly tied. They are probably still a two-dosha type, but the written test did not pick up the second dosha. If your score is like this, pay attention to the first dosha as your dominant one, and with time the second will become more clear.

The three Dosha type

Vata – Pitta – Kapha
If your three scores are nearly equal, you are a three-dosha type. This type is considered rare, however.

Interpreting body types
Your body type is the mold you were cast in and is genetic, it is inherited at birth. Knowledge of your body type enables you to evolve to a more ideal state of health. Understanding it’s corresponding behavioral characteristics gives you a better appreciation for the inherent behavioral traits and instincts that you display so easily, without thinking. To grasp hold of yourself and attempt to develop a life of balance, the way you approach the world through your thoughts may be more important than even your body type. Everything you create in your life first starts out as a thought and even your body follows the directions of these same thoughts.

The pure Vata type

Light, thin build
Quick to grasp new information, also quick to forget
Performs activity quickly
Tendency to worry
Irregular hunger and digestion
Tendency toward constipation
Enthusiasm, vivaciousness, imagination
Tires easily, tendency to over exert
Excitability, changing moods
Mental and physical energy comes in bursts

The pure Pitta type

Medium build
Enterprising character, likes challenges
Medium strength and endurance
Sharp intellect
Sharp hunger and thirst, strong digestion
Precise, articulate speech
Tendency toward anger
Cannot skip meals
Irritability under stress
Blond, light brown or red hair
Fair or ruddy skin, often freckled (or reddish undertones)

The pure Kapha type

Solid, powerful build; great
Slow to grasp new information, physical strength and endurance but good retentive memory
Steady energy; slow and graceful
Tendency to obesity in action
Slow digestion, mild hunger
Tranquil, relaxed personality; slow to anger
Affectionate, tolerant, forgiving
Cool, smooth, thick, pale often
Tendency to be possessive
Oily skin
Complacent

Understanding the single Dosha type

If you are a single dosha type, one dosha will be much higher than the other and may be as much as twice as high as the second highest score. A single dosha type displays traits of the pure Vatta, Pitta or Kapha characteristics listed above. Your next highest dosha will still show some influence in your natural tendencies but to a much lesser degree.

Understanding the two Dosha type

If you are a two dosha type, no dosha is extremely dominant. This means that you display qualities of your two leading doshas, either side by side or in alternation. The higher one comes first in your body type, but both count. Most people are two-dosha types.

Understanding the three Dosha type

If you are a three dosha type you start off with the best chance for remaining in balance, because your ratio of Vata, Pitta and Kapha is nearly even. This balanced dosha body type will tend to provide you with lifelong good health, ideal immunity and longevity, but is difficult to correct if out of balance.

What Dosha type are you ?

The most reliable way to discover your Dosha type is to visit an Aurvedic physician and have him or her measure your pulse. From a simple pulse reading and through a basic examination and series of questions, your type can be ascertained.

Do you need to obtain a reading? It would be nice, but no. It is more important to realize that there is a natural state of balance that is yours and when your life and all related areas become harmonised, you will fall into your natural Dosha state.
But for those who would like to try a self test please try the Dosha Test