What's Your Ayurvedic Dosha?
Ayurveda focuses on living life in a balanced way, maintaining homeostasis in all areas of life. It provides an integrated approach for preventing and treating diseases through lifestyle choices and natural therapies and teaches that every individual is unique and made up of elements that can be found in the universe (Air, Water, Fire, Earth, Ether). Different combinations of these elements create what Ayurveda calls Dosha, or constitutions.
Each person has a dominant constitution and should follow lifestyle and dietary guidelines in order to maintain a healthy, balanced body and mind.
Curious to know what yours is? Take the quiz and find out!
How would you describe your frame?
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How would you describe your weight?
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How would you describe your joints?
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How would you describe your skin/complexion?
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How would you describe your eyes?
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How would you describe your hair?
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How would you describe your nails?
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How would you describe your lips?
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How would you describe your veins?
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How would you describe your body temperature?
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How would you describe your appetite?
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How would you describe your thirst?
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How would you describe your perspiration?
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How would you describe your bowel movements?
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How would you describe your gait?
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How would you describe your sleep?
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How would you describe your speech?
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How would you describe your tempermant?
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How would you describe yourself under stress?
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How would you describe your mental activity?
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How would you describe your memory?
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How would you describe your friendships?
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What are your preferred tastes?
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What is your preferred season(s)?
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What is your preferred weather?
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What is your preferred time of day?
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The Vivacious Vata
Qualities: Dry, Light, Cold, Rough, Minute, Mobile, Clear
Associated with the elements of air and space, vata means ‘’wind’’ or ‘’that which moves things’’ and represents the force that governs biological function. It is the prime impetus of the nervous system, controlling both sensory and mental balance, mental adaptability and understanding. It is the basic life force and is enhanced by the consumption of pure, whole foods, the breathing of clean air, and by the connection with the Divine within, the deepest energizing force for the entire body.
People who are of vata nature tend to move faster than others; they move in many different directions, and they feel most comfortable after they are on their feet and headed to the next activity.
The dosha represents itself through physical, mental and emotional tendencies, as well as common disease conditions or minor health challenges.
Physically, thoe with a vata dominant body tend to be long and lean. If you were going to draw an image of this person, you might want to draw a stick figure because of the body type they will have. They tend to be towards extremes, either very tall or very short, so they often have long narrow frames.
The mental and emotional status of a Vata dosha individual tends to be very anxious and worrisome, and they may have problems concentrating. They will be simply confused and distracted because their mind is moving so quickly that it’s difficult for them to be here in this moment without distraction. But more positively, Vata persons are known to be energetic, creative, and flexible.
People with Vata constitutions may have irregular bowel movemnts or are prone to constipation. They are affected by cold, dry or windy climates and do best in warmer, more moist weather.
If you have a Vata dosha, it is recommended to favor sweet, sour and salty foods, and avoid/reduce foods that are bitter, pungent or astringent.
The Peppery Pitta
Qualities: Hot, oily, sharp, light, viscous, fluid, liquid
Pitta – the biological fire humor, or ‘’bile’’ means ‘’that which digests things‘’ or that which “heats, cooks, or transforms.’’ It is the fire that digests the food we eat and gives our bodies warmth. Our internal fires determine our capacity to perceive reality, and our power to digest life experiences.
The primary elements of Pitta are Fire and water.
The person with predominant Pitta in their constitution is blessed with great willpower and initiative, the capacity to laugh at their troubles, great determination to reach to their goals, and a penetrating mind.
Pitta is our enthusiasm for life, our joy and laughter. It finds negative expression in burning sensations in the body and mind, in a drive toward unhealthy competition and anger, and in the need to control. Mentally and emotionally, pitta governs laughter, willpower, enthusiasm, mental perception, judgement etc.
The physical aspects of a Pitta dosha individual include a medium size and weight, thin hair, excellent digestion, and a warm body temperature throughout. Pitta nails are soft, strong, rubbery and well formed. The eyes look as though they are burning with an intense fire and radiate a high level of energy. Pitta skin may be pale, pink or copper in hue, and warm to touch. It tends to be delicate, irritable, and prone to rashes, pimples etc. Pitta individuals can endure vigorous exercise, as long as they do not grow overheated.
Nutritionally, Pitta is our inner digestive fire, acids and bile, all of which help to combust food, providing energy and warmth. Because of this, people with a Pitta constituion should consume foods that are sweet, bitter and astringent. They should favor cooling herbs and spices like cumin and coriander, and avoid/reduce foods that are pungent (spicy), sour and salty.
The Calm Kapha
Qualities: Heavy, Cold, Soft, Oily, Slow, Stable, Thick
Kapha, the biological force of water / earth, means both ‘’phlegm’’ and ‘’that which holds things together.” It is the physical and emotional ‘’home’’ in which we reside, providing the substance and support for our body, giving bulk to our tissues.
Emotionally, kapha is the love and support we receive in life. It governs feelings of compassion, devotion, modesty, patience and forgiveness. Negatively expressed, kapha can show greed, attachment, and self-pity.
Kapha helps to ground and control the active and consuming natures of vata and pitta. It exerts a conserving, consolidating, stabilizing, and restraining force over the body and mind. Vata and pitta individuals would squander their energy without kapha to hold them down.
Physically, Kapha people are the bulkiest of the three different constitutions, with medium to broad frames, heavy bone structure, wide shoulders and hips.
The subtle essence of all kapha, or water in the body, is called Ojas. Ojas is the prime energy reserve in the body and is the vitality of the immune system. If there is an excessive loss of kapha due to stress, improper eating, and illness, the Kapha individual will suffer from a compromised immune system and will lack both physical and emotional support.
Kapha in the chest or lungs produces moisture, as it does in the throat, head, sinuses, and nasal passages. In the mouth and tongue, kapha produces saliva. Kapha creates fat tissue, which stores water. It is also held along the sides of the abdominal cavity in the form of peritoneal fluid. An excessive amount of kapha will produce an overabundance of mucus, and therefore, congestion.
Nutritonally, people with a Kapha constitution should favor bitter, pungent and astringent foods and avoid anything that is cold, heavy, sweet, sour, or salty.