Over all, the human body is made up of 60% water. The lungs are 83% water and the skin is 64% water. Water and earth element in the body make up the Kapha dosha. An imbalance in the Kapha Dosha can lead to troubled digestion, edema (skin disorder) or obesity on one hand or dehydration, skin dryness, weight loss, constipation and decrease in urination.
What Happens Due To Excess or Less Water In The Body?
-Imbalance of the kapha dosha directly affects stomach functions
-When you consume oily or fatty foods regularly, it aggravates kapha and reduces the digestive fire in the body. Poor digestion leads to slowed movement of food and nutrients through the body. This results in reduced appetite and heaviness.
-Vitiated Kapha affects Rasa (plasma), meda(fat) and Sukra (tissues responsible for reproductive fluids). This can cause problems like edema and obesity. Could also create imbalance in the menstrual flow and quality of breast milk could suffer as well for women.
Less water in the body can create the opposite results
-Dehydration due to drying up of Rasa, meda and Sukra.
-Weight loss
-Dryness in the skin
-Dryness in the mucous membranes of the different organs in the body
-Constipation
-Reduced urination (yellow color) indicating the kidneys are over worked
-Eyes and lips drying up
The Magic Bullet- Varun Mudra 
In the Yogic sciences, apart from Yogasanas and Ayurveda, another form of healing modality prescribed is Yoga Mudras. Mudras are certain powerful Yogic gestures that regulate the flow of Prana or life force in the body when performed along the right breathing technique. Varuna (meaning Water) Mudra balances the water element in the body.
Experts recommend Ujjayi breathing (taught in The Art of Living) along with Mudras to get the full measure of impact. You experience a distinct shift in the state of your mind and body after practicing the Mudras just for a few minutes every day.
How to do Varun Mudra
1) Close your eyes and sit comfortably
2) Bring the little fingers of both the hands to touch the tip of the thumb. The rest of the three fingers should be stretched out.
3) While holding the gesture comfortably, take 9-10 cycles of long deep breaths or preferably Ujjayi breaths (taught in The Art of Living programs).
4) Release the posture and sit still for a few minutes gently observing the breath in the body.
Benefits of Varun Mudra
-Prevents dehydration
-Regulates the clarity and density of blood by balancing the fluid content in it
-Helpful in reducing the pain of Gastroenteritis
-Balances the dryness in the stomach lining
-Considerably reduces cramps and stiffness in the body
Editorial-Types of Kapha
Water is the element of nourishment among the Panch Mahabhutas or the Five Great elements, according to the Ayurveda. The water component has five protective functions in the body. In Ayurvedic parlance, there are five types of Kapha that heal, protect and nourish the body.
- Bodhaka Kapha is the salivary fluid which also constitutes the membrane secretions of cheeks, lips and the pharynx. Bodhaka enables the act of chewing.
- Kledaka Kapha is the water of the mucous membrane of the stomach lining responsible for digestion. It protects the stomach against acid formation.
- Tarpaka Kapha is the neurological fluid responsible for stabilizing and protecting the nerves of the brain
- Sleshaka Kapha is the water element that protects against the friction in the joints. It moisturizes the joints and allows smooth movement of the tendons and muscles.
- Avalambaka Kapha is the fluid that constitutes the mucous membrane of the lungs in the respiratory system protecting them from the dryness that would be caused due to breathing. Avalambaka also defines the fluid in the pleural cavity of the lungs.
