I ‘test out’ as a definite vata dosha—when I was young, I was very thin, anxious, exciteable, you get the picture. I have all the vata characteristics except weight–anymore.
As I’ve gotten older (late 40’s) and had many stressful events in life that I believe contributed to vata imbalance, rather than lose weight like a vata, I seem to have taken on some Kapha tendencies, and gradually gained weight. There are no physical abnormalities such as hypothyroid or anything–I am in generally good health as far as western-medical doctors are concerned.
Trying to make some healthy cahnges in my diet only seems to throw me into what seems to me to be my vata flaring up. If I overexercise, and eat too many bitter/ astringents/ pungents in what would be a weight loss attempt, I really feel it despite all other attempts to pacify vata (abhyanga, warmth, etc).
I am at a loss to lose 60 extra pounds that have creeped on in the past few years. Is this a Kapha imbalance in a vata person? Is that possible? I am not able to see an Ayurvedic physician for evaluation. There are none in my area. I am going by books and online info about it and what I learn from my yoga teacher—although I sense she just sees me as a lazy, unmotivated Kapha-type (not that all are!) who doesn’t have any self-discipline. Nothing could be further from the truth!! Frustrating. :x
