About Kapha Dosha
If you are an earth mother type, you could very well be a Kapha. Caring and compassionate, grounded and patient, Kaphas are rocks of stability. Kaphas often are a little too content and become lethargic and need a lot of sleep. Kaphas often are large people, with thick and wavy hair and a full face.

To keep your doshas balanced, eat and exercise as follows:

Vata: Sweet, sour and salty. You can start your day with oatmeal or smoothies made with whole milk and rich fruits like bananas, mangoes or figs. Stick to simple yet filling meals, such as a grilled chicken breast with a side of roasted root vegetables like beets or carrots, along with whole grain rice seasoned with cumin or coriander. Maintain your flexibility, strength and balance by practicing Flow yoga. Vigorous walking can provide a good aerobic workout and will help you burn off excess energy.

Pitta: Sweet, bitter and astringent. Enjoy a breakfast of whole grain cereal with sliced sweet apples or berries and milk. Stick to low-fat meals, such as firm whitefish with potatoes or squash and steamed asparagus or broccoli drizzled with a little ghee (clarified butter). Snack on sunflower seeds. Maintain your strength, flexibility and balance by practicing Ashtanga yoga. Engage in a variety of activities that you can do with other people, such as group jogging, cycling or team sports like volleyball.

Kapha: Pungent, bitter and astringent. Indulge in a wide range of grains, like oats, muesli and couscous topped with cranberries, pomegranates or dried fruits. Limit your dairy to one glass of milk a day. Top a colorful salad composed of leafy greens with shrimp. Snack on almonds and walnuts in moderation. Maintain your strength, flexibility and balance by practicing Bikram yoga. Kapha benefits from vigorous exercise, like running and weight lifting.

From Yoga Chick: A Hip Guide to Everything Om by Bess Gallanis © 2006. Used with permission of Warner Books, New York, www.twbookmark.com.