As I said in this post, Ayurveda is meant to be contemplative. This is my contemplation on the wisdom of kapha dosha.
There is not a woman alive who could not benefit from kapha dosha.
Come to think of it, all people will benefit from befriending this principle made up of earth and water. Because, to paraphrase The Bhagavad Gita, when the women are corrupted, the whole society begins to crumble.
My friends, look at all the women who willingly starve their bodies into shadows of themselves and tell me that we are not in need of a soft place to land.
Staying Strong
My study of Ayurveda is what keeps me from crumbling, especially when it comes to appreciating my body.
While pitta is the clear winner in my constitution, kapha is a runner up. Thick bones, broad muscles, fat that protects and nourishes – I have come to love these aspects of my form. The kapha body is the kind of body that all of us secretly want, and not just because it’s been venerated as art since art began.
The Good Side of Kapha Dosha
Kapha is strong and stable. It withstands foolhardy winds and stays cool in the face of raging fires. We have the preserving force of kapha to thank for old growth forests and mineral-rich soil. And the emotional qualities that quench us – compassion, love, tenderness – are the result of kapha.
So why is it that any time you tell a woman that the spread of her thighs and plumpness of her belly are a promise of longevity and health, she responds as if you’ve called her a horrendous beast?
Get Right
We are on the wrong side of stability these days. Our thirst for innovation leads us to distrust what has been held as true for centuries. As a result, we are dry and windswept, a ragged coat of paint on an ocean-facing door.
To turn to kapha’s soft lap is an act of revolution. To lie on her pillowy breast and listen to her deep hum resonating through our bones is the medicine we are craving. To drink from her juice – the magic elixir of ojas – is to revitalize all our thirsty tissues.
We don’t have to have to be the Venus of Willendorf to receive kapha’s gifts. All we need to do is respect them.
Journal prompts:
- What has softness meant for you? How has it appeared in your life?
- How do you balance your need for stability and change?
- What is your greatest strength and from where do you draw it?
____________________________________________
Posts like this are made possible by members of The Nest and my other clients. If you enjoyed what you read and want to keep my journal open to the public, join The Nest or make a donation to my Venmo account.