The three doshas
Vata, Pitta and Kapha are the three movements of nature living in you. One of them usually speaks loudest, and it changes with the season, with your work, with your grief and your joy. Read yours before the cleanse begins — the food, the season and the practices below are directions, not rules.
Vata
dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, moving
Vata is air and space — movement, thought, quickness, inspiration. It governs breath, circulation, the nervous system and everything that travels through the body. Vata is the first dosha to move out of place, and when it does you feel it as dryness, cold, restlessness and thin sleep. Everything Vata asks for is the opposite of itself: warmth, oil, weight, sweetness, rhythm and quiet.
Read the Vata guide →Pitta
hot, sharp, light, oily, spreading
Pitta is fire and water — digestion, metabolism, clarity, drive. It governs the transformation of everything you take in, from food to experience. Strong Pitta gives sharp perception, courage and a real capacity to lead. When it rises too high it burns: heat, sharpness, impatience, criticism, and the skin and gut show it first. Pitta settles with coolness, sweetness, shade and unhurried attention.
Read the Pitta guide →Kapha
heavy, cool, damp, smooth, stable, still
Kapha is earth and water — structure, lubrication, immunity, calm. It holds the body together and gives the steadiness other people lean on. When it accumulates you feel heavy, congested, slow to begin, and sleep grows long without refreshing. Kapha clears with lightness, dryness, warmth, spice and movement — and it usually clears more easily than it looks like it will.
Read the Kapha guide →