Tridosha prakriti and sports performance: A qualitative analysis

Abstract

Purpose of the present study was to investigate inter relationship between tridosha prakriti and sports performance on the basis of quality. Elements of Vata, Pitta and Kapha are present in people, but with differing degrees of predominance. Each Dosha gives certain characteristic qualities to the person, based on which an individual can be classified as belonging to that particular Dosha type. Charaka and Sushruta recognize seven types or categories into which people can be classified, depending on the dominance of the Doshas in their body. Sample for the present study consisted of 315 (183 Males and 132 female) athletes in the age group of 17 to 25 years who consented/informed to participate. A factorial design 2×7 was used having two independent variables with two levels of game (Team and Individual) and seven levels of prakriti (V, P, K, VP, KV, KP, VPK). Sports performance was studied in terms of T-score. T-scores are standard scores with its mean as 50 and SD as 10 (Guilford & Fruchter, 1981) of % score of average observed composite score obtained through rating the performance of the athlete by two independent observer on focal player observation method. Finding suggests that Pitta prakriti players were found significantly different from all other prakriti types. Thus, it was concluded that the people with pitta prakriti characteristics are not found to be good in sports as compared to other prakriti types.