Sleep specialists describe this type of person as being nervous and disorganized as well as tending toward fretting and worrying and dwelling on problems long after they're over. One striking example is a type that sleep specialists describe as hyperaroused. It's interesting to note that sleep physiologists have defined different types of sleepers, and this knowledge correlates nicely with Ayurvedic knowledge of body types. Vata types also tend to worry and may overreact to situations during the day. For this reason, forget any preconceived notions of how many hours of sleep you need. A final important observation to make in this chapter is that individuals require different amounts of sleep in order to feel fresh and rested.

This observation of sleep experts clearly pinpoints some of the mental characteristics of the Vata type but leaves out important physiological characteristics that accompany this type. When you think of the symptoms of insomnia, you'll see immediately that the Vata dosha is the one that generally causes sleep problems. So Vata is the dosha that we must pay special attention to. However, Vata types, or Vata-Pitta types, will most commonly have the symptom. Because it is actually imbalance that produces the symptom of insomnia, any type could theoretically have a Vata imbalance and therefore have insomnia. After filling out the body type questionnaire, you may find that Vata was part of your body type and that you are either a Vata or a Vata-Pitta type. Pitta can frequently be involved in sleep disorders, although much less often than Vata. So aggravated Kapha is almost never the culprit in sleep disorders.

Heaviness, steadiness, softness, dullness, even sweetness (we speak of sweet dreams, for example). But as you review the qualities of Kapha, you'll see that these are the qualities we normally associate with sound sleep. When Vata is overly active the mind will become restless and have difficulty in settling down. Too much Vata easily causes sleep disturbances. This is because Vata is active, light, quick, subtle, and changeable. This is especially true of the Vata dosha, because Vata is quick and mobile and has the inherent property of easily going out of balance. One thing that is important to know about your body type is that the dosha most dominant in any individual is most often the one that will go out of balance.

Sleep disturbances have their source in imbalance of one or more of the three doshas. It will produce normal sleep naturally, as well as produce a healthy waking state. Balancing the three doshas produces perfect coordination in mind and body and therefore integration of physiological functioning.