The major mind/ body types in Ayurveda:

There are ten major mind/body types in Ayurveda, described by their Sanskrit names:

Vata (V)
Pitta (P)
Kapha (K)
Vata-Pitta (VP)
Vata-Kapha (VK)
Pitta-Vata (PV)
Pitta-Kapha (PK)
Kapha-Vata (KV)
Kapha-Pitta, and (KP)
Sama Dosha (VPK)

Prakriti : Your individual Ayurvedic  mind-body type

To Ayurveda, the concept of “Prakriti” (= essential nature, or “constitution”) is central!

“Prakriti” means that all individuals are comprised of the 3 biological forces (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) in absolutely unique combinations: no two persons on earth are alike!

The constitutional determination provides insight into the biological and mental functions of a person. A person’s constitution ( mind-body type) is the crucial factor for the right choice of foods, spices, herbs, climates, colors, activities (...) that tend to rebalance this person.

Furthermore, with constitutional determination it is possible to outline the disease tendencies of the different constitutions. This is crucial to observing a
preventive lifestyle!

The 3 major mind- body types

Body Type Vata (Air and Space)

Vata Dosha is the principle of movement in all living organisms. Vata Dosha is a combination of the elements air and space and is closely related to the nervous system.

According to Ayurveda, the main characteristics of a Vata- person are:

Mobility: quick actions, fast walking and speaking, restless eyes, loves traveling, suffers from mood swings. Great mental mobility, loves to create and to invent things.

Dryness: Dry body (including skin, hair and lips), an inclination towards constipation as a result of inner dryness.

Coldness: Dislike towards cold weather, cold feet and hands, an inclination towards poor blood circulation. Dislike towards cold and light foods and drinks

Lightness: Generally underweight, thin physique, poor muscles, light bones, light sleeper.

Roughness: Rough and cracked skin, brittle nails, fizzy hair, crackling joints.

Sharpness: often sharp, irregular facial features, sharp and small uneven teeth; sharp intellect but poor long-term mempry.


Vata-persons are most often thin and skinny, and exceptionally short or tall.

Body Type Pitta (Fire and Water)

Pitta Dosha is the principle of transformation in all living organisms. Pitta is a combination of the elements fire and water. It is closely related to the digestive system and metabolism.

According to Ayurveda, the main characteristics of a Pitta- person are:

Heat: strong appetite, strong digestive fire ( agni) , raised body temperature, dislike of heat, reddish hair that early greys, tendency toward early loss of hair; tendency towards sun burn and heat rush.

Oiliness: Soft, oily skin; oily hair; dislike of too spicy, oily foods.

Fluidity: Excess sweating, passing of excess urine, loose stools with tendency towards diarrhoea, excessive thirst.

Sour: Acidity, excess salivation, sour eructation; easily loses temper

Sharpness: Accurate memory, sharp facial features with a pointed nose and piercing hazel eyes; sharp voice, sharp intellect, strong-willed and assertive.

Pungent: Burning sensation on skin, including eyes, throat and stomach. Feelings of anger and hatred.

Pitta-persons are most often average in height and build.


Body Type Kapha (Water and Earth)

Kapha Dosha is the principle of stability and maintenance in any living organism. It is closely related to the immune system in the body and is responsible for strenght, growth and fertility.

According to Ayurveda, the main characteristics of a Kapha- person are:

Heaviness: deep voice, full- figured with tendency towards obesity, large and heavy bones and muscles, thick and often wavy hair

Coolness: Cold skin, easily catches a cold, slow metabolism leading to poor appetite; loves cold, heavy and sweet deserts. Keeps calm and doesn't lose temper in difficult situations!

Softness: Soft and attractive facial features; soft skin, soft hair, tendency toward soft tender nails; loving, caring, kind attitude

Oiliness: Oily skin, hair, nails, stools. Flexible and mobile joints.

Sweetness: Tendency towards excess intake of sweet foods and drinks. Sweat and urine have a slightly sweet smell.

Stability: Patient and relaxed attitude, firm decisions, lethargic, methodical, even-tempered and patient, prefers sedentary activities, excellent long-term memory, has stable relations ships

Sliminess: Excess salivation, slimy secretion when suffering from a cold. Thick joints with good mobility.

Kapha-persons are most often large-boned and full-figured.


Chances are, you don’t exactly fit any one of these profiles mentioned above. In fact, Ayurveda teaches that each individual is really a combination of all three types (V, P and K) because each human being is considered a unique constellation of the five fundamental elements (space, air, fire, water, and earth) that make up our cosmos.

Double Dosha Body Types

The vast majority of us are a mix of two types, mentally and physically.
When you are a double-dosha type, two doshas are presenting themselves approximately equally strong in your constitution!
This means that you have qualities of each of the two dominant doshas.
But these qualities do not "blend", but tend to show their influence individually. Most often this is due to the present season, your age, the present time of day or due to a specific situation or circumstance. For example, Pitta tends to show its influence most likely during the Pitta season ( summer) while Kapha tends to become stronger during Kapha-season     (spring); Vata tends to show its influence at Vata-time ( early in the morning); also when we grow old, the influence of Vata dosha becomes mightier: we get wrinkles, dry skin, digestive problems, our muscle and bone mass declines, and so on.

Metabolic Types

Agni,the principle of metabolic fire

“Agni" in Sanskrit means fire. Ayurveda calls our “biological” fire (our digestive fire”) as Agni. All our metabolic activities as well as digestion are ruled by Agni. Agni and pitta are closely related. Both are hot and light, but agni is also subtle and dry. The heat energy (agni!) which is needed to enable digestion is contained by pitta dosha. Pitta is therefore seen as the “container” and agni as the “content”.
The digestive power and immune system depends on the proper functioning of Agni.
Agni takes the essence of nourishment from food, helps to carry out the metabolic reactions of the body and helps the immune system by destroying harmful organisms and toxins (Ama).

• Vata-Types usually tend to have a maladjusted, changeable agni
• Pitta-Types usually tend to have an hyperactive agni ( like a straw fire: huge, but ineffective!)
• Kapha-Types usually tend to have a slow, low burning but persistent agni (their digestion runs on "pilot flame")

The balance of Agni is important for a fit and healthy body:

When Agni is well balanced, there will be proper digestion, proper elimination of waste products (mala) , thus excellent circulation of nutriens. We remain in a state of good mental and physical health!

To maintain balance of our Agni we have to develop a healthy life style including:
• Proper eating habits
• Proper sleep
• proper fitness routine
• Control over emotions