Caring Kapha! Why It’s Lovely to be a Kapha

In Ayurveda, there is a tendency to focus on what happens to the doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) when they are out of balance within the body and mind because identifying the symptoms of imbalance is what guides the holistic treatment plan. Yet, there are many positive attributes and tendencies that the doshas gift us with, that oftentimes are overlooked. In honor of kapha season (late winter thru spring), we will discuss what kapha dosha looks like in its imbalanced state, but primarily we would like to celebrate the plethora of reasons why it is lovely to be a kapha.

Composed of the earth and water elements, kapha dosha innately contains heavy, moist, dense, cloudy, cool, dull, static, smooth, gross and soft qualities. When these qualities are increased within the skin, body, digestion and/or mind, Ayurvedic medicine sees this as an excessive amount of kapha dosha, known as a kapha imbalance. 

Some common kapha imbalances include:

• oily, congested skin 
• large pores
• cystic acne
• itchy scalp
• sinus congestion
• sinus pressure
• allergies
• swollen joints
• nausea
• low appetite
• sluggish digestion 
• mucus in stools
• melancholy
• sadness
• stubborn
• withdrawn
• depression
• lack of motivation

Although kapha dosha can create less than optimal states in the body and mind, just remember that these only occur when kapha is out of balance. Thankfully, by implementing cleansing, clearing and activating Ayurvedic rituals into your daily routine, like kapha balancing yoga, pranayama, garshana, abhyanga, neti, nasya and eating a kapha balancing diet, one can keep kapha dosha in balance in both the physical and emotional bodies allowing the positive attributes of kapha to radiate from the inside out.

Below we share with you the positive aspects of kapha that bring sweetness into everyday aspects of life. Since each one of us contains all three of the doshas, you may find that you can relate to some of these characteristics even if you do not identify as a kapha. Maybe you will also be reminded of people in your life who possess these beautiful qualities within their unique nature.

As aforementioned, kapha dosha is comprised of the earth and water elements; therefore, when people are predominant in these elements they are considered a kapha type in Ayurveda. A kapha type personality can be described as sweet, nurturing, caring and loyal. 

To paint a better picture, a kapha type person is the individual at a party or gathering that always checks in on others to ensure they are okay. They are the first to ask if you need a fresh drink, make sure you have had plenty to eat and inquire if you are too warm or too cold. Kapha types would readily take their shirts off their own backs to make sure others are feeling safe and supported. In short, kapha types can be thought of as the momma or papa bear in their relationships with others. 

In the workplace, kapha types are the force of consistency and stability. Showing up and leaving at the same time each day comes naturally to this earthy constitution and they . have the ability to store and retain information which is an asset in any workplace setting. Even more, kapha types provide support for colleagues and will encourage others to share their thoughts and ideas. They also have the knack of staying calm and collected during stressful work situations. 

Careers that kapha types can excel in include administrators, human resource managers, hospitality and customer service as well as the multitude of caring professions such as being a doctor, nurse, social worker, counselor, therapist, childcare worker, caregiver and occupational therapist, to name a few. 

With a calm and steady mind, kapha types are compassionate and have an empathetic nature. This means that they have the innate ability to recognize, understand and vicariously feel the emotions of others. This is what makes kapha types excellent listeners and pillars of support to those around them. Finally, their ability to share their open hearts freely cultivates peace, love and stronger bonds between friends, family and loved ones.

Since kapha contains the earth element, physiologically speaking, kapha creates stability. Thus, kapha is predominant within the skeletal system, as this is the system that provides structure and support for the entire body. This maypresent itself as strong healthy teeth and thick lustrous hair. Also connected with the water element, kapha dosha is present in all of the fluids of the body like the blood, semen, synovial fluid and the lymph. Because of this, kaphas have an easy time building healthy tissues of the body. Further, the health of the immune system is closely related to kapha dosha and the strength of kapha is connected to what Ayurveda calls ojas, the ability to withstand environmental and physiological stressors, making kaphas blessed with vitality and stamina.

We hope this fun and thoughtful list of positive aspects of kapha dosha helps awaken you to the beauty of this graceful, soft and nourishing dosha. In a world that can oftentimes be painful, the sweet, compassionate and caring nature of kapha is urgently needed to make this world a more loving place. As mentioned above, even if you are not predominant with kapha dosha, you still contain kapha dosha along with vata and pitta doshas in varying degrees. This unique blend of the doshas is what makes each individual unique! 

May this deeper look into kapha dosha help you unearth your kapha qualities and empower you to move throughout your day with an open heart. 

Kapha woman helping child in the kitchen photo by August de Richelieu: https://www.pexels.com/photo/mother-and-daughter-preparing-avocado-toast-4259707/

Kapha doctor photo by Thirdman: https://www.pexels.com/photo/healthcare-worker-in-gray-scrubs-suit-with-stethoscope-on-his-neck-wearing-face-mask-while-looking-at-the-camera-5327656/

Holding hands photo by Kindel Media: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-close-up-shot-of-people-holding-hands-8172607/

Kapha woman with beautiful hair photo by Aleksandar Pasaric: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-woman-s-face-2464535/