Improve digestion with Ayurveda: Kapha (on many different realms)
This time, some practical tips and what it means for Kapha dosha.
In Part I, we learned some of the basics of Ayurveda and how it pertains to health, and particularly how healthy digestion (food, thoughts, experiences) is at the root of health when it comes to Ayurveda. Now let’s look at some practical tips for connecting the dots for each dosha. This is the fun part, because once you start to see the connections and see the similarities in you and each dosha, then you can become empowered in your health. Things make sense and their solutions do too!
Dosha
To repeat from Part I, Ayurveda describes each individual as being characterized by the interplay of the doshas. Doshas can be defined as a bioenergetic principle that functions throughout life in the human body.
These three subtle forces are known primarily by their effects. We are all born with a combination of each of the three, some of us resting more in one than another and always in flux, with the possibility of their energies becoming imbalanced. Sources of imbalance can be, what we put in our bodies, the environment, and the experiences that we have.
Certain foods, based on their qualities and tastes are more balancing or aggravating for certain doshas.
These tastes are based on the elements:
Sweet = Water & Earth
Sour = Earth & Fire
Salty = Fire & Water
Pungent = Fire & Air
Bitter = Air & Ether
Astringent = Air & Earth
You will also see these elements show up in each dosha. This helps to explain why certain foods have their specific effects on the doshas. For example, Sweet foods have the qualities of Water & Earth (heavy, moist, cooling)–so they would be balancing for vata. While Bitter foods have the qualities of Air & Ether (light, cooling, dry)–so they would be aggravating for vata. Starting to make sense? Like increases like. Opposites help to balance.
Let’s explore kapha dosha for some pragmatic tools in terms of improving digestion. 
- Most balancing tastes = pungent, bitter, astringent (fire, air, ether elements); think hot, dry (spices, coffee, tea)
- Most aggravating tastes = sweet, sour, salty (water and earth elements); think (cookies, candy, salty foods–things that retain water, cause mucus)
- Kapha tends towards congestion, sinus infections, colds and flu. So really trying to stay away from congesting foods like sweets and milk (falls under sweet, earthy foods).
- Here’s a HANDOUT for a heating breath practice, Kapalabhati. This kind of breath can create some heat to reduce the dense water and earth elements of kapha
- Or read this POST I wrote on cleansing out the sinuses. This practice, Jala Neti, is thought of as a clearing of upward flow of energy, which is thought to be helpful for kapha.
- Here are a few poses in a video for kapha balancing HERE
Again, Ayurveda is a complex science, and I don’t claim to have all the answers here, because there are a lot of assessment and treatment options not explained. I’ve just touched on some possible ways to begin to view the sources of balance in digestion to create balance in life.
Here are the tips for Pitta balance and for Vata balance
I welcome your feedback and if you find this information helpful, please share with your colleagues and your friends. I would love to hear how you may have already improved your digestion with Ayurveda or after reading this, you may start to incorporate it into your daily living. Contact Tianna if you are seeking ways to add a more holistic lifestyle approach, called Yoga Therapy to improve your digestion with Ayurveda, so you can live in a space of vitality. I don’t claim to be an Ayurvedic practitioner, but within Yoga Therapy, these principles are utilized.
References:
- Kate Bentley, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Mount Madonna Institute YTT Handbook, 2016.
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