Life Stages According to Ayurveda: Growth, Purpose, and Wisdom
The rings on this fallen giant redwood remind me of the beauty of all phases of life
Have you ever noticed how life feels different in each season — not just outside, but inside you too - and that there are some greater seasons we shift through as we age? Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science of lifestyle and nutrition, has a beautiful way of explaining these shifts through the three doshas: Kapha, Pitta, and Vata. Just as the day cycles through morning, noon, and night, our lifetime flows through Kapha, Pitta, and Vata.
One of the things I love about Ayurveda, is how it reminds us that life has a rhythm — not just in our days and seasons, but across the span of an entire lifetime. The three doshas — Kapha, Pitta, and Vata — don’t only describe our inherent constitution or health tendencies, they also shape the natural stages of life we move through.
I’ve been noticing in myself recently, a shift in energy towards more softness and receptivity in my life. My intuition is telling me to slow down, reflect, and adjust my lifestyle accordingly, and it stands in stark contrast to many of my friends are solidly in the Pitta (Creative) life phase. I’ve also noticed that our culture values and holds the Pitta phase in high regard. It’s what we talk about, post about, connect about, and identify with. How can I be more Vata (Wise) without feeling like my little, baby ego isn’t all squished? What is my identity without a work title?
Here’s a look at how yoga and Ayurveda view the arc of life through the lens of the doshas. Perhaps remembering that these are normal phases for all beings, they can help us embrace the natural cycle we find ourselves in.
🌱 Kapha: Youth and Growth
Kapha is the energy of earth and water, with qualities that are moist, soft, heavy, and nurturing. It’s the force that builds and sustains. Childhood and youth up to puberty, approximately 0 to 16 years - are considered the Kapha years — a time of rapid growth, strong immunity, solidity, curiosity, abundance, and play. Like Kapha, this stage is about laying foundations: physically, emotionally, and socially. It’s when we build the strength and resilience that will carry us into adulthood. It makes me smile thinking of ways to support my kiddos during this phase. I’m also grateful for my era of play growing up before video games and the internet distracted the kids indoors.
🔥 Pitta: Adulthood and Purpose
Pitta is the energy of fire and water, bringing clarity, drive, and transformation. Our adult years, puberty through midlife, around 16 to 50 years, are often dominated by Pitta energy — building careers, raising families, making decisions, and pursuing purpose. This is an era of intensity, productivity, ambition, and purpose. Pitta fuels us to create and to focus, but it can also challenge us with its heat — stress, competitiveness, and burnout if not balanced. Pitta is my natural dosha and burnout has been my constant companion through this era. I’m feeling like it’s time to let that phase go!
🍂 Vata: Later Life and Wisdom
Vata is the energy of air and space, with qualities that are light, dry, and subtle. The later years of life reflect Vata energy — a time when the body naturally becomes lighter, drier, and more delicate, but also when creativity, spirituality, and wisdom are more available. Vata reminds us of impermanence, but also invites us to soften, reflect, and connect more deeply with the unseen and eternal. This is where my heart wants to live right now and I’m grateful that my life has the space to allow it to unfold naturally.
Some sources provide slightly different upper bounds for the Pitta phase and thus shift the Vata phase later: For example, for some people Pitta may extend until around age 65, with Vata taking over from 65 onward. These ranges offer a gentle guide rather than a rigid rule—transitions are gradual, and individual constitution (prakriti), lifestyle, and health patterns play a significant role in how we experience each stage. I can’t help but wonder if my extra bright and long Pitta phase has me starting my Vata season sooner than others.
Embracing the Seasons of Life
Together, these phases remind us that each season of life has its gifts and its medicine:
Kapha grows.
Pitta creates.
Vata illuminates.
When we recognize where we are in this arc, we can honor the unique opportunities and challenges of each stage. We can be more understanding of our evolving interests, energy levels, and eras. Ayurveda encourages us to lean into the gifts of the present, while supporting the body and mind through practices that bring balance to whatever dosha is most active.
✨ Which stage of life do you feel most connected to right now — Kapha, Pitta, or Vata? How might acknowledging that help you embrace your current season with more grace?
If you want to learn more about Ayurveda and take a quiz to see what your inherent dosha is, check out this great article, Intro to Ayurveda from Banyan Botanicals, to get you started. I also loved the following books on Ayurveda: A Life of Balance by Maya Tiwari, The Yoga Body Diet by John Douillard, and Ayurveda A Beginner’s Guide.