Understand Your Dosha and Create Better Health

Living in alignment with your dosha creates better health. Dosha is a concept in traditional Indian medicine that refers to a person's unique mind-body type. It's believed that everyone has a dominant dosha, determined at conception, that results in certain physical and mental traits. Implementing self-care strategies based on your dosha can help you overcome mental, emotional, and physical difficulties or challenges. Working with a coach, therapist, or other support person or group to integrate and maintain self-care practices according to your dosha can lead to an ongoing healthy lifestyle.

Discover Your Dosha

Several online places offer quizzes or questions to help you determine your dosha. For example, Kripalu has an online quiz here, and The Art of Living Center has one here. Many of the questions relate to various physical characteristics and health-related experiences.

Health and wellness coaches also often have tools to determine your dosha and can help you create a self-care plan with your dosha tendencies in mind. Many places offer dosha workshops, or you can read one of several books available to learn more about living in alignment with your dosha, such as this one on The Seven Ways for Ayurveda.

Learn Self-Care Strategies that Work

The three doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. People can be bi-doshic or tri-doshic (meaning they have characteristics of two or three doshas), but most people have one dominant dosha. Once you know your dosha, you can identify strategies to help you feel healthy.

One example that can be adapted across doshas is the self-massage or self-abhyanga. Before you shower, use a massage oil (see below for ideas by dosha) and start your massage with the head, scalp, and ears, then slowly make your way down the body. Use gentle, upward strokes on the face, long strokes on the major muscle groups, and round strokes on the joints. Once done, shower or bathe as usual, but only use soap where necessary—leaving a layer of oil on most of your skin.

·        Vata – choose heavier, heating oils like sesame and almond, using a light massage and a slow, gentle touch

·        Pitta – choose cooling and soothing oils, such as coconut, sunflower, and olive, using a deep, penetrating massage

·        Kapha – choose light, warming oils like safflower and mustard, using a fast, vigorous massage

Other self-care strategies you can adapt by dosha include nutrition/food choices, music or sounds you listen to, the colors you wear or choose to be in your environment, and yoga poses and meditation practices. Sleep patterns can also be adjusted:

·        Vata – avoid watching television and using your phone an hour before sleep

·        Pitta – sleep in a cool, ventilated room, go to bed by 11 pm and cover yourself with a light blanket

·        Kapha – set an early wake-up time and stick to it to avoid oversleeping

Incorporate Self-Care into Your Routine

Trying new self-care strategies can be hit or miss. Some things will work better for you than others. It is best to take the attitude that nothing is prescriptive and incorporate strategies on an ongoing basis that fit with your interests and routine. You can adjust as you go along based on what works for you. Getting support from others in your journey, including a friend, family member, coach, or therapist, can help you be accountable to yourself, making self-care a regular part of how you relate to yourself.

Knowing your dosha and implementing self-care strategies can improve your health regardless of what you try. Please contact me shorewellnessmd@gmail.com if you are interested in determining your dosha and setting up a positive self-care plan.