Our Doshas, or our Ayurvedic constitutions are a combination of the 5 elements: Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth.
Vata = Ether + Air
Pitta = Fire + Water
Kapha = Water + Earth
Knowing our dosha helps us to live in harmony with these innate characteristics, and we quickly able to determine when we are experiencing imbalance. We then use this knowledge to self-heal.