Understanding the Doshas

The natural world around us is created from the Five Great Elements - earth, water, fire, air, and ether. Each person is made from the elements that exist in varying amounts, leading to different tendencies and characteristics. For instance, water flows effortlessly and is known for its adaptability and flexibility, much like people who are easygoing and can flow with any situation. On the other hand, earth or mountains are known for their grounding and stability, much like people who exude a sense of steadiness and reliability. Similarly, fire represents transformation and intensity, which can be found in people who are passionate and driven in their pursuits. Air or ether symbolizes openness and expansiveness, much like creative people with a broader perspective on things.

All of these qualities of the elements coexist within us, and we possess some degree of each one. For example, we may exhibit the flowing nature of water in some situations, while our humor may be dry like the desert or grounded like a mountain. We may come off as intense, like fire, or spacey, like the universe that surrounds us. Ultimately, the five great elements serve as a reminder that we are all interconnected with nature, and our inner qualities are a reflection of the world around us.

Nature vs. Nurture

The human body is an intricate system, and every person has a unique mind-body constitution formed by the Five Great Elements - ether, air, fire, water, and earth. This constitution, known as Prakriti, is determined at birth and remains unchanged throughout life. Prakruti refers to nature and is formed at birth by the balance of elements within the body, influenced by a combination of factors such as heredity, genetics, birthplace, planetary alignment at birth, karma, and past lives.

Every individual has a primary and secondary dosha, with a rare few having an equal balance of all three doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha. These doshas regulate various bodily functions and determine one's unique physical, emotional, and mental characteristics.

In Sanskrit, one's current state of health is called Vikruti, which means distorted. Vikruti is a result of various factors such as lifestyle, environment, childhood, food habits, and emotional management. It's natural for everyone to experience an imbalance of the doshas at some point, but the goal is to restore balance and return to one's Prakriti.

Good health is not just the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. It's not about being perfect but the ability to adapt to change, face each moment as it comes, and make necessary changes accordingly to achieve optimal health.

The 3 Energetic Bodies

According to the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, there are three primary energetic life forces in the body known as Doshas, which are compromised by the five great elements—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Understanding these Doshas is the key to unlocking our full potential and achieving optimal health and wellness. The term "Dosha" means "that which has a fault" or "that which can cause problems."

Learning to pay attention to how we feel physically and mentally every day so that we can adjust to bring ourselves back to a state of balance. The Doshas manifest in various ways, such as characteristics, physical attributes, habits, emotional patterns, and even how you digest. Your Dosha is also called your Prakriti, which is assigned at birth. Everyone has every element within the body, but some are more dominant. Knowing which elements are more dominant will help you recognize your needs, what causes you to feel unbalanced, and how to bring yourself back to balance with remedies.

This Dosha Quiz is designed to help you discover your Prakriti, allowing you to understand your unique mind-body constitution. By taking this quiz, you will be able to know yourself better, recognize the factors that affect your health, and utilize tools to restore balance. Remember, this quiz assesses your most natural state, so answer the questions based on your physical and emotional baseline. It's okay if not every question applies to you; choose the answer that best fits your situation.

TAKE THE DOSHA QUIZ

UNDERSTANDING YOUR CONSTITUTION

According to Ayurvedic medicine, individuals have a unique set of physical, mental, and emotional characteristics or constitutions determined by the three primary Doshas - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

The most common constitution is the dual type, where an individual has two prominent Doshas. In this case, the Dosha with the highest score is the primary Dosha, and the one with the second-highest score is the secondary Dosha. The third Dosha has the lowest score and is the tertiary Dosha. For example, if you are Vata dominant and Pitta secondary, Vata would be the primary Dosha, which means that you would be more susceptible to Vata imbalances, such as dry skin, constipation, and anxiety. As the secondary Dosha, Pitta would contribute to these imbalances and may manifest as irritability or inflammation. Kapha, the tertiary Dosha, would be the least likely to cause any imbalances.

Rare types are those with one dominant Dosha and two secondary Doshas. An individual is influenced mainly by one Dosha, while the other two Doshas are usually balanced. For instance, if you have a dominant Pitta Dosha and secondary Vata and Kapha Doshas, you may experience Pitta-related imbalances such as acid reflux, skin rashes, or anger.

Lastly, the tri-doshic type is another rare Dosha, meaning an individual has an equal balance of all three Doshas. However, this does not imply that the individual is free from imbalances. On the contrary, tri-doshic individuals may be more susceptible to imbalances as they have to maintain equilibrium among all three Doshas. Therefore, they must pay close attention to their lifestyle choices, including diet, exercise, and sleep, to maintain balance and stay healthy, strong, and stable.

Ayurveda recognizes seven basic constitutional types:

DUAL-TYPES

Vata-Pitta: Vata dominate, Pitta secondary, Kapha balanced
Vata-Kapha: Vata dominate, Kapha secondary, Pitta balanced
Pitta-Kapha: Pitta dominate, Kapha secondary, Vata balanced
Pitta - Vata: Pitta dominate, Vata secondary, Kapha balanced
Kapha - Vata: Kapha dominate, Vata secondary, Pitta balanced
Kapha - Pitta: Kapha dominate, Pitta secondary, Vata balanced

RARE-TYPES

Vata: Vata Dominate, Pitta & Kapha Secondary
Pitta: Pitta Dominate, Vata & Kapha Secondary
Kapha: Kapha Dominate, Vata & Pitta Secondary
Tri-doshic: All three doshas are equal

VATA

Qualities:

Dry
Light
Cold
Rough
Subtle
Mobile
Clear

Vatas are spiritually designed. They embody the energy of movement, impulse, creativity & connection. Composed of air & ether, Vata is dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile & clear. When out of balance, Vatas often feel tired, fatigued, lack focus & forgetful, have difficulty sleeping, get constipated & gassy, have cold hands & feet, and tend to feel anxious & worried. However, when in balance, Vata is energetic & enthusiastic, learns easily, has a clear & alert mind, falls asleep easily, has good circulation throughout the body with average body temperature & has healthy & regular digestion. Vata types tend to be sun worshipers and vegans for ethical reasons, even though they are the only dosha that recommends meat in their diet.

Ether is an empty space that allows everything in the universe to exist. Vatas are considered to be more spiritual, have great intuition & can follow their path if they can make a decision, which is sometimes hard for them. Occasionally, it can be challenging for Vata to stay grounded because they tend to get lost in the ethers, their head, or their thoughts. Ether is cold, which is why Vata can be a great planner & detail-oriented but can also come off as cold-hearted. They can be afraid to feel, shut down quickly & could be consumed by “what if” worries & fear.

Air that becomes mobile creates wind & if there’s enough mobility, it can even create a tornado. You may be or know people who run a million miles a minute, but they can never seem to sit still. They are simply the embodiment of a hummingbird fluttering around so fast you can barely catch a glimpse of them. Vata is the adventurer, the traveler & will move from place to place, job to job, or idea to idea. They can be very flexible & have the ability to go with the wind in life, but this can become a problem if they forget their path & get lost in the crowd.

Vatas are dynamic, quick, and flexible thinkers. They have a big-picture perspective but can get bored quickly, mainly if they are in one place for too long or are working on tasks that are not challenging enough. Vatas are great at networking as they can move around quickly and enjoy talking fast. They are planners who come up with ideas but have difficulty following through.

Physically, Vatas are lean and slender, with a narrow frame. They usually have small, blue, or grey eyes, frizzy or curly hair that is dry, crooked noses, thin lips, and narrow tongues. Vatas have an easy time eating whatever they want but have difficulty gaining weight or muscle tone. They can be extremely tall or short and are always on the go, needing to keep moving. They often shake their legs, get fidgety while sitting, and may experience random muscle twitches when anxious. Vata individuals are susceptible to teeth grinding, insomnia, and low blood pressure.

Vata is responsible for movement and circulation in the body. Vata is located in various parts, including the colon, small intestine, lungs, heart, nerves, pelvis, hips, and brain. Vata governs the thyroid, pituitary, and pineal glands and is controlled by the throat, third eye, and crown chakras. If the body falls out of balance, it will collect in these areas.

PITTA

Qualities:

Oily
Sharp
Hot
Light
Mobile
Liquid

Pittas possess a sharp intellect and are transformative, courageous, and action-oriented. They are composed of fire and water, which makes them hot, oily, and mobile. However, excessive sweating, indigestion, heartburn, and skin inflammation are common issues that Pittas face due to their overactive metabolism. They can also be critical, impatient, and judgmental towards themselves and others. Pittas are known for their hard work and dedication but are also prone to burnout.

Fire is a powerful force that can provide light, heat, and vitality but can also destroy and alter a landscape. Pittas are intelligent, confident, and proactive individuals, thanks to the fire within them that generates energy and facilitates transformation. However, their perfectionist tendencies and intense personalities can sometimes lead to anger, inflammation, headaches, and irritability. To avoid burnout, Pittas must take breaks and give themselves time to rest and recover.

Water, on the other hand, is a soothing element that provides nourishment and balance. It brings about adaptability, purification, transformation, and circulation. However, too much fire can cause water to boil and evaporate. Similarly, Pittas can come off as overbearing and forceful due to their strong personalities, even though they can also be soft, emotional, and calm. Water creates fluidity and helps absorb nutrients, but it can also be destructive if not appropriately balanced.

Pitta personalities are ambitious, hard-working, focused, and effective leaders. They are usually well-organized and love having a schedule. They are direct when communicating and executing projects. Although Pittas only share their genuine emotions with trusted individuals, they can be considered influential leaders due to their ability to manage personalities, plan accordingly, and efficiently execute goals. However, Pittas tend to wait until they are with a safe person to express their emotions. They are the doers who make things happen but often have trouble knowing when to take a break and rest.

Physically, Pittas are muscular and strong with a medium build. They usually have almond-shaped, light brown, hazel, green eyes, sharp noses, strawberry-blonde, or red hair. They are naturally competitive and need to exercise regularly to release excess energy. They tend to experience inflammation and pain due to their intense physical activity. Overheating, excessive sweating, and irritated skin are some of the common physical symptoms that Pittas experience.

Pitta is responsible for digestion, metabolism, nutrient absorption, and transformation in the body. It is located in various parts, including the stomach, gallbladder, liver, and spleen. Pitta governs the muscles, fat cells, and skin and is ruled by the solar plexus and heart charkas. If the body falls out of balance, it will collect in these areas.

KAPHA

Qualities:

Heavy
Slow
Cold
Oily
Smooth
Solid
Soft
Stable
Cloudy

Kaphas are a physical manifestation of the energy of structure, cohesiveness, grounding, and stability. Kapha is characterized as slow, calm, oily, smooth, dense, soft, stable, and cloudy, composed of water and earth. Kaphas typically have an under-active metabolism, low blood pressure, edema, chronic congestion, and fatigue. Usually, Kaphas can feel overly sensitive, have poor self-esteem, and tend to play the victim. These types of people tend to prioritize the needs of others over their own, often leaving their cups empty.

In balance, Kapha is caring, compassionate, the mother of the group, and cool, calm, and collected. They have dewy skin, curvy bodies, and thick, healthy hair. Kapha types tend to be the people who mediate between creatives (vata) and doers (pitta), even though they need their energy and drive to balance them out.

Earth provides structure and stability, giving all the elements a home. We rely on the Earth within us to govern strength, patience, fertility, and security. The Earth represents balance, health, durability, growth, and reliability. That’s why Kaphas are kind, giving, and maternal. Earth is dense, which is why Kapha can be stubborn and a stickler for the rules, but they can also come off as unconcerned, act like a victim, and have depression and grief. Kaphas need to take time to take care of themselves since they are so focused on filling everyone else's cups at their own expense.

Water flows and nourishes, but if too much fire is present, it will boil and evaporate. We rely on water to balance out the fire and bring adaptability, change, purification, transformation, and circulation, as well as to create fluidity for nutrients to be absorbed. The element of water is soothing and sensual, but it can also be destructive, which is why Kaphas can come off as soft, emotional, and calm yet solid and deliberate.

Kapha is one of the three Ayurvedic doshas characterized by stability, groundedness, and nurturing qualities. Mentally, Kapha types are known for their compassion and empathy, making them the go-to people when times are tough. They have firm beliefs but are incredibly laid-back, which makes them easy to be around. Kapha types are considered the support system for others since they are excellent listeners and validate people's feelings.

Physically, Kaphas have a muscular and heavy-set build, with broad shoulders and a robust bone structure. They have big, expressive brown eyes, wavy hair, typically blonde, brown, or black, and a round nose. Kaphas are naturally compassionate and prioritize the needs of others before their own.

However, Kaphas struggle with edema and swelling due to their tendency to retain water. They also regularly oversleep, which can lead to feelings of lethargy and sluggishness. When Kapha falls out of balance, it can accumulate in various areas of the body: lungs, stomach, pancreas, the white matter of your brain, the cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, joints, lymph, sinuses, nose and tongue, and including the root and sacral chakras. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain a balanced lifestyle to keep the Kapha dosha in check.