Types of Energy: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

In addition to the five basic elements of the inorganic universe, Ayurveda identifies three basic types of energy, or functional principles, that are present in everybody and everything. There are no single words in English to describe these principles, so we use the original Sanskrit words: vata, pitta, and kapha. These three doshas— vata, pitta, and kapha—are the active forms of the five elements. They are forces of energy, patterns, and movements, not substances and structures.

DEFINITIONS
Energy is required to create movement so that fluids and nutrients get to the cells, enabling the body to function. Energy is also necessary to metabolize the nutrients in the cells and is needed to create and maintain cellular structure. Vata is the energy of movement; pitta is the energy of digestion or metabolism; and kapha is the energy that forms the body's structure and holds the cells together. All people have a unique combination of vata, pitta, and kasha. Some individuals have one dosha predominant; others have a predominance of two doshas; still others might have the equal involvement of all three. Although each dosha is composed of all five basic elements, two of these elements are predominant. The cause of disease in Ayurveda is viewed as the lack of proper cellular function because of an excess or deficiency of vata, pitta, or kapha and/or the presence of toxins that interfere with dosha balance.

BALANCING THE THREE ENERGIES
According to Ayurveda, at the moment of fertilization, we are endowed with a certain genetic code and unique psychophysiological constitution, which is determined by the proportional combination of vata, pitta, and kapha of our biological parents. This constitution is called an individual's prakruti. It governs the individual's responses to events and life circumstances, both mental and physiological. It is believed that if one is aware of one's basic constitution and its concomitant tendencies, one can take actions—including changing diet, behavior patterns, and emotional responses—to maintain equilibrium with one's constitution, thereby living a balanced, happy, and fulfilled life.

In Ayurveda, body, mind, and consciousness work together in maintaining balance. They are simply viewed as different facets of one's being. To learn how to balance the body, mind, and consciousness requires an understanding of how vata, pitta, and kapha work together. According to Ayurvedic philosophy, the entire cosmos is an interplay of the energies of the five basic elements—space, air, fire, water, and earth. Vata, pitta, and kapha are combinations of these five elements that manifest as patterns in all creation.

According to Ayurveda, there are seven body types. There are monotypes in which one dosha is predominant, either vata, pitta, or kapha. There are dual types in which two doshas are equally dominant, either vata-pitta, pitta-kapha, or kapha-vata. And, very rarely, there are equal types, in which all three doshas are present in equal proportions. Every individual has a unique combination of these three doshas.

Vata
In the body, vata, which is principally composed of space and air, is the subtle energy associated with movement. It governs breathing, blinking, muscle and tissue movement, heartbeat, and all movement in the cytoplasm and cell membranes. In balance, vata promotes creativity and flexibility in a person; out of balance, vata produces fear and anxiety. In the external world, vata types tend to earn and spend money quickly. They are not good planners and, consequently, may suffer economic hardship. On the physical level, vata people are more susceptible to diseases involving the air principle, such as emphysema, pneumonia, and arthritis. Other common disorders caused by imbalanced vata include flatulence, tics, twitches, aching joints, dry skin and hair, nervous system disorders, constipation, and mental confusion. The energy of vata tends to increase with age, regardless of the individual's basic constitution.

Pitta
Pitta, principally made up of fire and water, is expressed as the body's metabolic system. Pitta governs digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism, and body temperature. In balance, pitta promotes understanding and intelligence in a person; out of balance, pitta arouses anger, hatred, and jealousy. In the external world, pitta people like to be leaders and planners and seek material prosperity. Pitta people tend to have diseases involving the imbalanced fire principle, such as fevers, inflammatory diseases, and jaundice. Common symptoms include skin rashes, burning sensations, ulcers, fever, and inflammations or irritations (e.g., conjunctivitis, colitis, sore throats). Pitta is predominant during adulthood.

Kapha
Kapha, principally comprised of earth and water, is the energy that forms the body's structure—bones, muscles, tendons—and holds the cells together. Kapha supplies the water for all body parts and systems. It lubricates joints, moisturizes the skin, and maintains immunity. In balance, kapha is expressed as the action of love, calmness, and forgiveness. Out of balance, it leads to attachment (e.g., to family, job, lifestyle, possessions), greed, and possessiveness. In the external world, kapha tendencies toward groundedness, stability, and attachment help kapha people earn and hold onto money. They tend to have diseases connected to the water principle, such as influenza, sinus congestion, and other mucus-involving diseases. Sluggishness, excess weight, diabetes, water retention, and headaches are also common. Kapha is predominant during the years of rapid development, from infancy through late childhood.