Maybe you are a Pitta raising a dominant Kapha child, this could drive any well rounded Pitta to madness! Kaphas are dominated by the water element, which makes them slower than the other two doshas, slow to make a decision, slow to get angry and slow to forgive, they also walk and talk on the slow side. Do not mistake their stockiness for chubbyness they have strong frames and are naturally athletic. As adults they need to exercise regularly to manage their tendency to gain weight because like everything else their metabolism tends to be slow and their appetite for both food and stimulation is less intense than vata or pitta types. Because of this they do better with smaller meals of fresh raw and light foods with bitter, astringent, and pungent tastes, this will help dry up the water that makes them feel sluggish, and they could fast a meal once a week and be good with it. Eating your main meal around noon is good for all doshas, but especially for balancing Kapha dominant people.
Kapha dominant people should stay away from sweets, the sweet taste just creates an imbalance of kapha energy that can lead to weight gain (meat and dairy products are also considered sweet). Instead, try an after-meal cup of ginger tea, to boost the digestion and metabolism. Also dried fruit, fresh berries, apricots, and apples can bring the kapha back into balance, and reduce dependence on heavy sweets. Raw, unprocessed honey is thought to have special heating properties that can reduce excess weight. Take a scant teaspoon followed by sips of hot water after each meal. According to Ayurvedic texts, the older the honey, the more effective it is for weight loss. Never cook honey though; these same texts note that overheated honey is indigestible.
Kaphas dominant people are innately stable, compassionate, and loyal. They benefit from exposing themselves to new environments, people, and occasionally fasting. They appreciate doing things in a methodical, step-by-step manner, and prefer a regular routine When imbalanced they can become unmotivated, stubborn, and complacent even when change is necessary.
It is important to let them be who they are and not force your pitta opinions on them, if you try to make them think the way you think, they will find a way to be just the opposite, even if they know you are right. Give them plenty of time to get ready to go places, or to get their chores done. If you try to rush them they will just become stubborn, then you won’t be able to move them at all. My daughter, Heather, tells of her 14 year old daughter that takes so long in the shower that it was messing up the family routine. finally, instead of trying to get Jesica to hurry faster they started having her start her shower earlier, giving her more time to shower. Now Jesica is happy she can shower in peace, without getting ragged on, Mom and dad are happy the family routine is in order.
I don’t pretend to understand people with dominant Kapha, their natural sense of stability can become stagnation that resists even healthy change, they can take up to a year to decide to come to a yoga class, once they are there sometimes I really have to push them to get them to keep moving. They sometimes quite because they don’t want to put in the effort, they will always take the easy way out.
Yet, if they are in balance once they have made a commitment, their slow and steady nature will keep them on the sure path until they reach their goal for a naturally balanced and healthy body. Although I don’t pretend to understand them, I have learned to appreciate their calm nature, and groundedness, they love everyone, if you need a loyal friend, a Kapha dominated friend is the best to have. Do yourself a favor and love a Kapha today, it will come back to you a hundredfold.
Nancy Adams Certified Thai Yoga Therapist
Certified Yoga Instructor
and Ayurveda Consultant
These are my own thoughts. I sometimes take writings from others to support my own ideas.
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