Are You a Kapha Type? Here’s How You Should Exercise

Challenges: Sluggishness, lack of motivation.

Balancing action: Get energized with vigorous, higher intensity exercise.

For the Kapha dosha, earth and water are dominant, which leads to solid, sturdy builds that tend to have significant strength and stamina. They tend to be stable and calm, but these positive attributes can be counterproductive when it comes to activity.

Specifically, Kapha types struggle with overcoming inertia. “Motivation can be challenging for this dosha because they have an easygoing nature that requires stimulation for movement,” says Douillard. “For example, my daughter is a Kapha, and when I asked if she wanted to go on a run with me, she asked why she’d do that. It just didn’t make sense to her.”

Kaphas respond well to internal or inherent motivation rather than that which is tied to some external reward. They tend to feel a desire to engage in an activity if they see the inherent value in doing so, not just because it’s something they’re supposed to do.

In some ways, Kapha is the opposite of Vata, Kucera explains. While an airy dosha lends Vatas a try-everything-everywhere-all-at-once inclination, Kaphas are inclined to stay at rest. As such, Vata types need an anchored, grounded approach, while Kapha types benefit more from vigorous, higher intensity exercise.

“What’s great for a Kapha, because their body tends toward earth and water, which are both cold, is to really get the heart pumping and the blood flowing,” adds Das. “Any activity for that to happen is the goal — they can jump around to different cardio types to see what they enjoy. Spontaneity is the key.” (Learn more about how enjoyment can supercharge the effects of exercise at “How Positive Emotions Supercharge the Effects of Exercise.”)

Kapha types make for powerful endurance athletes, Kucera explains. “This dosha would be a great distance runner or cyclist, especially if that training had periods of varying intensity like sprinting,” she says. “They don’t naturally seek out workouts that are vigorous — they tend to love comfort and softness — but putting that vigor into their exercise can be very balancing.”

Working with a personal trainer can also be helpful for a Kapha because they appreciate the feedback and validation, she adds. A trainer who delivers plenty of encouragement and cheerleading would likely help them thrive.