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

Challenges: Overtraining, competitiveness, overheating.

Balancing action: Move for the joy of it — and go for a swim.

The Pitta constitution is dominated by fire and water — heat dominates while fluidity can help restore balance. The fiery nature of the this constitution means Pittas tend to be competitive, driven, and assertive, and they often prefer to pursue their goals independently.

“Because of heat, intensity, or competition, a Pitta’s greatest enemy is overdoing it when it comes to any physical activity,” says Das. “That means, interestingly, they need to practice moderation — a kind of Goldilocks zone where they’re doing enough but not too much.”

Managing effort, then, is a primary consideration for Pittas. “If you recommend an exercise that has 10 reps, a Pitta will probably do 20,” Kucera says. “They’re eager to keep a high intensity and love anything that makes them feel they’re really getting a workout. A little bit of that is fine, but they need softness as well. They need exercise in the form of play.”

Pittas could join a recreational sports league or group-fitness class, play catch with their kids, turn on some music and have an impromptu dance party, or go to the playground and reignite a childhood passion for hopscotch or the monkey bars. (Learn more about the power of play at “The Power of Play.”)

Pittas can also thrive by incorporating activities that don’t have a measurable result. “Just going for a hike in the woods or choosing movement that’s done for the joy of it can help temper that competitiveness,” Douillard says. “When you have too much of the fire of constantly reaching for a goal, it can lead to burnout.”

Another consideration is temperature, adds Kucera. Pittas already bring plenty of heat, so adding more isn’t advantageous. For example, doing hot yoga or exercising in the hottest part of the day is OK occasionally, but if done too frequently, these and other heat-centric activities may push Pitta over the edge, she explains. Common resulting ailments or concerns include skin rashes, heat exhaustion, headache, irritability, and anger.

If you’re a Pitta and working out in heat is unavoidable, consider what you can do to temper its effects: Limit the duration and intensity of your exercise, seek out shade, wear a lightweight portable fan to help you stay cool, and carry water and electrolytes to stay hydrated.

And when in doubt, go for a swim. “Swimming is regarded as the best activity for Pitta,” Kucera says. “Part of that has to do with the coolness of the water, to balance the heat. And it’s also exercise with smooth strokes, which balances out the sharpness of Pitta. Or you can just float, which brings a lighthearted feeling for this serious dosha.”