What’s Your Body Type?

We talked last time about the air constitution and how, when it is out of balance in the body or in the mind, it can contribute to anxiety (see below for that article).

Balance and the Body Types

Today we’ll talk a little more in depth about all of the body types and how they appear when they are both in and out of balance. One thing to note here is that we all typically go in and out of balance all the time. This is part of the everyday ups and downs of life. While it is true that some people seem to have more of a buffer than others (in that they may not be bothered by these daily fluctuations as much as others), we are all at the mercy of the elements. The good news is though, knowing a little bit can go a long way to managing the elements with relative ease and simplicity.

The 5 Elements:

There are 5 main elements that we will talk about. They are: earth, air, fire, water, and ether. Let’s look at each of them individually first.

Please note too that when I talk about the basics of each of the elements, as they appear, this is by no means an exhaustive list. It is just a snippit of how each element might typically appear within the body. Also, although all elements are constantly interacting with (and within) our bodies, we tend to carry more of certain elements within us depending upon our unique constitution. This means that how they appear in us will be different than how others will exhibit those same elements.

For example, I may have a lot of fire within me, and if I know how to manage that fire, I may appear as vibrant, happy, and ambitious. Whereas, someone else who also has a lot of fire, but does not manage it well (perhaps by sitting in the sun, eating a lot of fried foods, drinking large amounts of alcohol, and being overly ambitious at work) may appear angry or irritated quite often. I know this may sound confusing, but bear with me, and let’s go through it here.

The Earth Element

Earth is typically a heavier element.

Qualities of the EARTH element in the body are as follows: Heavy, dry, cold, dense, inflexible, grounded, stable, consistent, does not change quickly, generally likes a routine, immovable.

The Air Element

Air is so powerful, it can create hurricanes that devastate the earth.

Qualities of the AIR element in the body are typically as follows: Light, dry, mobile, quick, nervous, playful, excited, flexible, agitated, spontaneous.

The Water Element

Water has an amazing quality of creating flexibility and fluidity wherever it exists.

Qualities of the WATER element in the body are typically as follows: moveable, malleable, emotional, wet, heavy, flexible, nurturing.

The Ether Element

Ether is important because it allows there to be space for which all things can exist.

Qualities of the ETHER element in the body are typically as follows: Light, dry, wispy, penetrable, static, what permeates the space between cells and organs.

The Fire Element

Fire is the transformer (of food to nutrients, ideas to action, etc.)

Qualities of the FIRE element in the body are typically as follows: Hot, light, inflamed, driven, ambitious, angry, frustrated, having a sense of joy, charismatic.

A Little About the Types

Note that most people these days are a dual body type, meaning they typically have more than one type within them. Most people are NOT all 3 equally. This is actually quite rare.

Note also that you could be one body type, and have a large amount of another type within your mind, making it appear that you are actually a different type. For example, you could be a heavy set earthy body type, with too much air in your mind. This might make you feel anxious even though your main body type would not tend toward anxiety. This is because many people have too much air in their mind, from over-stimulation, too much mental activity, or too much movement. In this case we would treat the mind and body differently, to bring the whole person into balance.

The 3 main body types are AIR, FIRE, and EARTH. Note that each body type is made predominantly of 2 elements (I have simplified their names by calling them the element that they are most closely associated with). And given that most people are a dual constitution, they likely have a predominance of 4 elements within their body. Of course we all have all 5 elements within us, it is just the actual amount of each element that determines our constitution. (Interestingly, our lifetime constitution is what our parents were, combined, predominantly at the time that we were conceived).

Ok, let’s dive in to each of the body types now, here they are:

THE AIR TYPE

This photo is how a AIR person may typically look.

AIR TYPE  (made of Air & Ether): generally a SMALL BODY SIZE

In balance they appear: Playful, quick witted, light, clear minded, quick to act, creative.

Out of balance they appear: Anxious, fearful, dry, tendency toward nervous system disorders, weak, restless, very thin in body frame.

How to balance AIR types: Stay warm and well hydrated, get a massage, use warm oils on the body and spine, eat moist heavy foods, try to be in warmer weather more often.

THE FIRE TYPE

This photo how a FIRE person may typically look.

FIRE TYPE  (made of Fire & Water): generally a MEDIUM BODY SIZE

In balance they appear: Joyful, radiant, focused, sharp minded, to have good digestion, to be a deep sleeper.

Out of balance they appear: critical, angry, impatient, frustrated, too hot, control freaks, over-ambitious.

How to balance the FIRE type: keep cool and calm, do not push things too much if they are not working, use coconut oil on the skin/or in cooking, drink plenty of water, stay out of the direct sun, do not eat fried foods.

THE EARTH TYPE

This photo is how a typical EARTH person may appear.

EARTH TYPE  (made of Water + Earth): generally a LARGER BODY SIZE

In balance they appear: grounded, stable, consistent, steady, strong, to have a kind disposition, to have good endurance.

Out of balance they appear: Stuck, heavy, tend towards having a slow metabolism, can be stubborn, tend toward gaining a lot of weight, sluggish.

How to balance the EARTH type: cardio EXERCISE (when ok’d by your doc), heat, sunshine, light foods, varied routine, drink warm/hot water, occasional fasting (with a trained professional), wear bright colors.

There you have it in a nutshell. This overview can give you some ideas as to where you stand. If you are like me (I am a FIRE and AIR type), then you would have to keep your fire in check in the summertime (or warmer season) by following the ‘how to balance’ for FIRE, and keep your air in check in the wintertime (or cooler season) by following the ‘how to balance’ for AIR. This can all be a balancing act sometimes (pun intended!), but the more you get to know yourself and your type(s), the easier it is to bring yourself back into balance when you go off-track.