The three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, are put in charge of building a new bridge.

Vata is first out the blocks. She has a burst of energy at the start of this project and is blessed with the creativity and imagination to build something truly beautiful. She flips through a notebook of a hundred different designs that she has started to sketch out – she stayed up till 2am drawing them but being Vata none are finished. She starts building the bridge one way but then changes her mind.

She leaves half-built bridges all over the city. Then she disappears for days to go on a yoga retreat and take up pottery classes. Creative and free-spirited, she can’t be held down in one place with one task for very long.

Enter Pitta. Pitta’s sharp mind quickly discerns what must be done and in military fashion, she has soon drawn up a careful plan, set budgets and recruited a workforce ready to build the bridge. Everything is carefully controlled but Pitta’s perfectionism soon means her stress levels are through the roof. Before long, she is feeling hot, bothered and ready to explode at any moment. Just then, Vata returns.

‘Where have you been?’ exclaims Pitta. ‘You left me to do everything!’ You can’t just disappear when you feel like-there is work to be done and deadlines to keep!’

To which Vata replies, ‘I had to go find myself and be free of all these deadlines. But what have you done with my beautiful designs? And why are you shouting at me? I was relaxed from my yoga retreat and now I feel very unsettled and anxious!’

They continue winding each other up. Pitta prods and pushes. Vata becomes increasingly agitated, like a whirlwind spinning out of control. Vata is just about to turn and run away when Kapha saunters in, only three weeks late.

‘What’s all this fuss?’ says Kapha. ‘We had better sit down and have some tea and cake. Everyone will feel better then. Come, have a little rest and we can think about making the bridge tomorrow. Or maybe the day after…’

Vata and Pitta sit down. They have a cup of tea and some cake. Vata has calmed down now. Pitta’s face is no longer red and angry. Kapha is wondering if there is time for a quick snooze….

The next day, refreshed and rejuvenated by Kapha’s calming presence, Vata draws up some new plans, Pitta puts them into action and Kapha keeps the whole work force happy with her delicious food and tea breaks.

Perhaps you recognize elements of yourself or your friends and family in these descriptions? Which bridge builder do you relate to the most?

Don’t be put off by the descriptions – Pitta doesn’t always mean fiery and angry, Kapha is not always sitting around eating cake and Vata isn’t always flitting off somewhere when things get too much-but can you see how easy it is for the doshas to get out of balance? And, equally, how simple it can be to find balance again by bringing qualities that have the opposite effect: Kapha needs the energy of Vata to stop her becoming too lazy. Pitta needs Kapha’s calming nature to stop her getting too wound up. Vata and Kapha both need Pitta to bring a sense of order and get things done.