Have you ever noticed how there are some people who always feel warm, and there are others who always feel cold? One person may comfortably enjoy warm temperatures, while the other will be grabbing for their sweater. Most likely, we all think it is simply the person’s preference, but Ayurveda has a theory to consider that might be deeper than the average person realizes. Ayurvedic philosophy would state that your body temperature is indicative of the type of metabolic process that is happening in your body. The way that you feel heat from your body, whether you feel hot, cold, or have a neutral temperature, is indicative of how you process foods, generate energy, and gain balance.
The way you feel about smaller details in your life could provide you with more clues to your natural state of being than you may think. The temperature of your hands and feet in the morning, how quickly you sweat when exercising, and how you feel post-meal are all indicators of the way in which your body has been designed. Health tips in today’s world often tell everyone the same information. Dietary trends, fitness regimens, and general wellness advice have been created under the assumption that everyone’s body works the same way. Ayurveda would take a different view, as it assumes that everyone has different compositions in their bodies and therefore processes everything differently through metabolism.
All About Ayurvedic Doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha
In Ayurveda, the distinctions between us are defined by three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each of the doshas is said to have its own influence upon how we create and regulate body heat.
Vata is associated with the qualities of air and movement; it is light, dry, and frequently unpredictable in nature. Individuals exhibiting a qualitative Vata predominance tend to feel cold very easily and notice that their core temperature can shift rapidly. Their metabolism can also fluctuate quickly; some days they will have a very swift metabolic rate (burning calories rapidly), but on other days their metabolism will be relatively slow (burning fewer calories).
Pitta is connected with the element of fire and the process of transformation. This is the metabolic engine within each person. Individuals with a qualitative Pitta predominance typically are warm to hot in temperature and demonstrate strong levels of digestion with an overall tendency to produce a lot of internal heat.
Kapha energy represents form and stability; it carries the properties of Earth and Water; its energy is described as steady, slow, and grounding. Individuals with a qualitative Kapha predominance typically feel slightly cool, yet quite stable in a general sense. Commonly, their metabolism will be slower in terms of caloric expenditure consistently relative to Vata and Pitta.
The Vata Energy: Cold Body Parts And Energy Level Changes
If you regularly have cold hands and/or feet, even in a comfortable temperature, you may have a lot of Vata energy. People with lots of Vata qualities struggle to keep their hands or feet warm, as they do not distribute heat well from the body (meaning their ‘core’ may feel warm but their extremities will continue to feel ‘cold’).
Vata metabolism can also change quickly, so you might feel energetic one minute, and then you may feel tired and/or cold the next. You will often notice this in the morning, as many Vata-type people feel colder after sleep than when they went to bed. Digestion also varies widely for Vata energy people, with some foods readily digesting while others may take a while, cause a lot of bloating/gas, or provide a very short feeling of warmth after eating.
The Pitta energy pattern: This Energy is Very Hot
The other way is by having a very high “core temperature.” If you constantly open windows on a hot day while others are comfortably warm, you likely have a very dominant Pitta energy. The energy associated with the fire elements is called Pitta. This element creates excessive energy in the human body by producing heat. Therefore, your body is going to burn up food very quickly, which is one of the reasons why you will experience so much internal warmth.
In general, you should feel energetic and very warm immediately after you wake up in the morning. That’s why when you wake up, you’ll typically feel very warm and energized as compared to the way you feel right when you wake up (especially if the room temperature is high). This effect appears to be intensified during exercise. During physical activity, Pitta types will tend to sweat very easily and heat up faster than others. Even moderate amounts of exercise can lead to a significant increase in body temperature. Because of this, many gravitate toward cooler conditions and activities such as swimming, exercising early in the morning, or trying to find a cooler environment.
Seasons can also play a role; for Pitta types, the summer tends to be the most difficult time of the year. When the outside temperature is warmer, this adds to the heat level on the inside, and will cause individuals to be irritable, have difficulty sleeping, and experience intense cravings for cold beverages and foods. This is merely the body attempting to regain balance.
Kapha Pattern: Cool, Yet Steady
Kapha represents the most stable temperature pattern. Kapha-type individuals tend to feel comfortably cool rather than hot or extremely cold; their body temperatures tend to remain fairly constant and there is not typically any dramatic fluctuation in their body temperature.
However, the metabolism of Kapha types is typically quite slow to get started. This is often the case when they wake up in the morning, feeling sluggish or heavy (because the body has not completely recovered from sleep). The body takes a while to gradually wake up and generate energy. Because of their slower metabolism, Kapha people may burn off calories at a slower rate or get stuck with no energy if their activity levels drop too low.
Once Kapha people’s metabolism is fully engaged, they will typically have good stamina and be able to maintain their energy level for long periods of time, because they are able to store energy efficiently (they are built for energy efficiency). Since Kaphas can maintain a stable energy level over a long period of time, they usually have a lot of emotional and physical endurance once they have kicked off their metabolic activity.
Listen to Your Body!
Ayurveda puts great emphasis on observing your body. One of the easiest ways to observe your body is by looking at your temperature patterns. Cold hands, feeling hot when active, and feeling sluggish in the morning may seem like little things, but can reveal consistent metabolic patterns.
By identifying these patterns, you can identify the types of foods, activities and environments that will work with your body versus against it. Ayurveda teaches people to be aware of their own personal physical characteristics, instead of trying to follow what is considered “normal” for everyone.