In Ayurveda, the sister science to yoga focused on health, there are three doshas which are energies or life force. The doshas move in and out of balance with the seasons and what we eat and do.
Kapha have strong frames and tend to gain weight. They are stable, compassionate and loyal. Pittas are strong, intense, and irritable with a medium frame and defined muscles. Vatas are thin and lanky, creative and flexible. Kaphas prefer a slower yoga practice, but need a little fire to get them moving. Pittas like a productive strong practice, but may need some balance. Vatas generally prefer a flowing practice full of a lot of movement. Being aware of the dosha of your students can help you plan for the class.
When I first learned about Ayurveda, my first thought was that I would be a kapha because my body is big. This isn’t true. Big bodied students can be pitta or vata also. I was surprised to learn that I am precisely tri-doshic. Kapha does tend to dominate my body type however, and I prefer a slower practice with longer holds, as do my students. My students prefer breathwork, meditation, and some restorative in each class, but I mix in some stronger poses and vinyasas in transitions to keep the the practice from becoming too heavy.