Vata and Kapha are the Doshas (energies) present inside the body. Vata Dosha is the one with the predominance of space and air element. On the other hand, Kapha dominates water and earth elements. But the major factor is what if you are a Kapha-Vata? What if you have both the Doshas present in your body? What if you wish to know about the predominant one? Obviously, there are many what-ifs in your mind. Relax and scroll down, and you might get some answers.

स्वस्थस्य स्वास्थ्य रक्षणं, आतुरस्य विकार प्रशमनं।

Ayurveda Shastra aims to keep a healthy person healthy and manage or curing diseases (mind, body, or both) that manifest in a person.

What is Kapha-Vata?

Usually, in the Kapha-Vata, Kapha’s traits dominate over Vata, but somewhere Vata shows up its characteristics and is creative yet stable when in balance. It is a powerful combination, and creative yet emotionally and physically stable people are true game-changers.

However, if out of balance, Kapha-Vata tends to dig in your heels, much to the frustration of people around them. However, as people tend to rely upon you to make a decision, your stubbornness often works to your advantage. You know better, and usually, you are correct to follow your gut instinct.

The people with this Dosha tend to eat quick, ready-made foods made up of empty calories, leading to weight gain and nutritional deficiency. As a result of an over-reliance on eating ‘convenience foods,’ you are constantly hungry and continue to (over)eat to fill the void. You can gain weight at the expense of taking in actual nutrition.

Typical Kapha-Vata characteristics

• Slender body frame (Vata)
• Prominent joints with little adipose tissue (Vata)
• Large facial features – in this case, large eyes (Kapha)
• Moderately full lips (Kapha)
• Large white square teeth (Kapha)

• Digestive System: Both the Kapha and Vata constitutions are cold, which is opposite to the digestive fire (metabolism); this disturbs the digestive system and shows up as gas, bloating, and indigestion.
• Respiratory System: Kaphas produce too much mucus while Vata causes dryness. This results in a blockage in the respiratory system and asthmatic conditions.
• Kidneys and Urinary System: The kidney and urinary system activities are regulated by the Vata Dosha, but the association of Kapha Dosha makes you prone to kidney stones and other urinary problems.
• Muscles and Joints: The cold nature of dominant Kapha and Vata Doshas causes spasms and difficult movements.
• Metabolic System: The Kapha-Vata combination causes a low metabolic rate making you prone to diabetes, obesity, and liver problems.
• Body Weight: Because of these two Doshas, it is easy for you to gain weight.
• Immune System: The dominance of the Kapha and Vata Doshas affects the immune system adversely and makes you prone to immunity-related problems.

Things you can do to bring back the balance:

To eliminate symptoms and get back in balance, consider the following recommendations:

• Wake up before sunrise and get moving. Kapha tends to sluggishness: Exercise first thing in the morning will get your lymphatic system moving and clear away any brain fog.
• Drink a full glass of warm water to soothe any digestive problems.
• Clean your face, mouth, nasal passages, and gargle with salt water to remove any mucus build-up.
• To pamper dry, rough skin that can also be oily, indulge in an ayurvedic massage every morning before your bath or shower.
• Use mustard oil as this oil is known to improve cardiac health, has antibacterial properties, and is anti-fungal. It’s also great as a blood stimulant – all things that Kapha needs.
• You can add 3-4 drops of pure essential oil such as bergamot, antibacterial, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic.
• It’s uplifting improves your digestion and keeps your system working properly or camphor which has properties as a stimulant, its antispasmodic, and antiseptic, is a decongestant, an anesthetic, a sedative, and a nervous pacifier.
• Protect yourself from the cold and wind. Stay warm and toasty in cold weather by wearing several layers of clothing. Wear a cap and scarf when you go out to protect your ears and throat. Wear lip balm to prevent lips from getting dry and chafed.
• Take any opportunity to sunbathe. The warmth of the sun is rejuvenating for you.
• Talk a walk every day in nature. Walking is the ideal exercise for balancing yourself. Walk in the early morning for about 20 minutes every day.
• Do not skip meals. Eat a nourishing breakfast and lunch at midday and a lighter meal in the evening. Sit down to eat each meal, eat in a peaceful atmosphere with your attention on your food, and sit quietly for a few minutes after your meal. If your digestive fire is irregular, practicing these eating habits will help make it more regular.
• Daily elimination is very important to prevent digestive toxins from accumulating in the body. Triphala (a mixture of fruits) helps promote regularity as well as toning the digestive system

Please Note: We highly suggest vegan diets but have included options for all diet types.

Vata and Kapha are quite the opposite in qualities, cold by nature, and have weak digestion. It can be fairly complicated to find the best food for people with Kapha-Vata Dosha. People belonging to the Kapha-Vata Dosha are advised to consume foods that provide heat to the body and stimulates digestion, including fish, chicken, egg whites, mung beans, buckwheat, quinoa, cooked veggies, and low sugar fruits. However, they should avoid the consumption of refined sugar and heavy or refined carbs, including pasta, bread, wheat, gluten, and white flour.

Stretching asanas are recommended for all Dosha types and should be included in any warm-up routine. However, based on Kapha-Vata type individuals’ specific requirements, certain poses should be included in any routine. After your warm-up, you can start with twelve moderately paced cycles of the Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation).

This can be followed with asanas like the Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand), Halasana (Plow pose), Salabhasana (Locust pose), Tadasana (Palm Tree), Vrksasana (Tree pose), Trikonasana (Triangle pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog pose), and Utkatasana (Chair pose).

Wondering from where to start?

As per the classic texts of Ayurveda, one thing stands out about the recommended daily routine: it is heavily focused on the early morning hours. Most of the recommended practices are done upon waking and are completed before breakfast.

As a result, the early morning hours are an especially powerful time to engage in loving self-care, reflective practice, and the intention to heal or re-pattern the physiology. Beyond that, this is the timeframe that sets the tone for our entire day. This is to say, the early morning is a great place to start when establishing a routine. When we care deeply for ourselves every morning, we create enormous potential for positive change—truly transformational potential. Changing your morning can really change your life.