Today is supposed to be a day when love is celebrated, and what a beautiful notion, and indeed worthy occasion! Couples and friends mark it by spending time together, or offerings gifts as a mark of their feeling for one another. It is sweet and allows even the least romantic to have an opportunity to express their affection and the shyest to feel allowed to out their feelings.
Although Valentine’s Day is associated with Christianity, Love is a universal concept common to all traditions and philosophies. In eastern traditions, the heart in all its glorious aspects is central to our being in more ways and on more levels than one.
Anahata is the heart chakra in yogic Hindu and Buddhist traditions. It is green in colour, located in the spine near the physical heart, its sound is YAM, and it is represented by a lotus flower with twelve petals harbouring the intersection of two triangles, a symbol representing the union of male and female. Anahata means “unstruck”. Its qualities are all those associated with love in our understanding of it : compassion emotional openness, and the capacity for unconditional love. This chakra is described as the energetic centre that integrates emotional experience and relational connection. Practices such as cultivating empathy, forgiveness, and loving awareness are believed to help regulate or balance this chakra.
In Ayurveda, Kapha is the dosha (a dosha is usually translated as “constitution”, it can be understood as a persona, a personality or a biological humour, as well as a set of elements that make this constitution, and sustain some fundamentals functions in the body) most associated with the notion of love.
It is sweet, loving, joyous, caring, placid, loyal…it is made of water and earth, therefore soft and nourishing. Its smoothness allows for contouring other’s personalities and asperities, and it is beautifully welcoming and accepting. It is mot beautifully described in the original Vedic scriptures as the best temperament of the 3 doshas.
“…..His/her voice resembles the rambling of a raincloud or the roar of a lion or of a mrdanga drum….of a sedate nature, capable of sustaining pain and fatigue and respectful towards his superiors. He has faith in his own religion, is true to his word and…is of a very strong physique and has long life. His nature is similar to those of the gods, of a lion, a horse, an elephant, or of a cow, bull, an eagle or a swan.”
Caraka and Susrutha Samhit
Biologically, its roles in the body are cohesiveness, unctuousness, lubrication, stability, and immunity. It is closely linked to the reproductive system and governs our lymphatic system, and our muscle and fat tissues.
People who have a Kapha dominant dosha tend to have strong, sturdy, larger boned and tend to gain weight easily (and struggle to lose it). The Kapha body is a reflection of the heavy, dense qualities of earth. They are said to have large eyes, full, thick and oily hair, endurance, good memory, moist, thick and soft skin.
In balance, Kapha has great characteristics : physical strength, strong immunity and wonderful personality traits, such as affection, joy, compassion, loyalty and emotional stability. Unsurprisingly, they are said to stay younger for longer and live older, as their “juiciness” (as Kapha is made of 50% water) keeps them nourished with “ojas” (the essence of life, and of Kapha).
People with Kapha dosha quite like routine and often dislike change. When out of balance, the signs are oversleeping, sluggishness, hoarding, depression, weight gain and over- or misplaced attachment to people or things.
To counteract or prevent this, there are lifestyle routines, foods to favour and avoid and specific therapies, massages and oils that can be used to bring back balance in a Kapha-dominant person. That is where Ayurvedic health coaching comes in. It helps determine someone’s constitution and puts the exact measures needed in place to address issues and reduce or eliminate symptoms. And sustain better health, preventing serious diseases from developing further or later.
Do you want to know whether you have Kapha in your constitution? Or Pitta? Or Vata? And which is/are dominant?
Get in touch today to find out more about this amazing science, and understand how it is more relevant than ever in 2026, with its several millennia of wisdom.
“You yourself, as much as everybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
Buddha
Remember, Ayurveda helps you gain the knowledge you need to take durable control over your own health and improve and solve sleep problems, digestive issues, weight management, stress, anxiety, inflammation, skin flare-ups and breathing issues. It helps you get healthier in a holistic, natural and completely personalised way. You are unique and absolutely deserving of love, and Ayurveda knows it.
For more information, to get access to the free Valentine online yoga class, or to book a free introductory session in Dumfries and Galloway, or online, from anywhere, email or use the contact form. And don’t miss out on the next blog post : follow Yogetherhealth on Facebook or Instagram and subscribe on the site to receive updates, newsletter and special offers!