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Understanding your Ayurvedic Mind-Body Type

Do you feel out of balance? Do the seasons effect how you feel, think and behave? Consider exploring your Ayurvedic mind-body type, or dosha. According to the tradition of Ayurveda, there are three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Each represents two elements found in our natural environment. Vata is space/air, Pitta is fire/water and Kapha is earth/water. It is believed in Ayurveda, which is an ancient practice that originated in India approximately 5,000 years ago, that a doshic imbalance is the precursor to disease. Click here to learn more about Ayurveda for Beginners.

These three energies are believed to circulate in the body and govern our physical, mental and emotional characteristics. Each person has a dominant dosha even though we each have a combination of all three doshas. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is believed that health is achieved through balancing the three doshas. 

What’s your dominant dosha? Take the quiz below to find out!

This quiz is designed to help you gain awareness about your Ayurvedic body type. Once you know your dominant dosha, you can then take steps to bring your mind-body back into balance. This isn’t a take the quiz once, then balance the excessive dosha and move on. This is a continual practice. As with any balance in life, there are ebbs and flows from day to day. This quiz provides real-time feedback to help you make tweaks or changes where you see fit. 

As you take the quiz, keep in mind the three doshas correlate to seasons: 

WINTER/VATA, SUMMER/PITTA and SPRING/KAPHA.

For the five profile tables: 

  1. Circle the phrase that best describes your qualities for each of the categories in the left-hand column. 
  2. Tally the number of circles for each column on the Subtotal lines at the bottom of each table.
  3. Transfer the subtotals for each profile onto the Totals Table. Add up the Grand Totals for each dosha, and you will get a picture of your Ayurvedic constitutional type. 

For some people one dosha is clearly dominant, while others are a combination of two or all three. It is interesting to note any profiles in which your high score significantly differs from the dosha grand totals. For example, if your grand total shows strong Kapha dominance with Pitta secondary and your Behavioral Profile is overwhelmingly Vata, that would be an area of your life worth examining.

*quiz adapted from Dr. John Douillard www.lifespa.com

Now that you know where your imbalances are, let’s take a look at how you can bring things back into balance. Get specific practices to bring Vata, Pitta, and/or Kapha back into balance. And, consider retaking this quiz monthly, or when you notice the seasons changing. Your score will vary over time. Just a few tweaks can create balance and a better sense of well-being. 

The practice of Ayurveda, and more specifically understanding your doshic imbalances, provides you with valuable information to elevate your health and wellness. Retake this quiz whenever you feel out of balance and consider these simple suggestions.

You deserve to feel your best!

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Ashley Logan is a Certified Integrative Health and Well-Being Coach, mentor, writer and workshop facilitator who guides clients to create actionable strategies that support their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness for optimal health. She is a certified RYT-200 hour yoga instructor and double-certified Integrative Health and Well-Being Coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and Duke Health Integrative Medicine. She embraces her clients' individuality and customizes her coaching modalities to maximize results. She specializes in sustainable behavioral change.

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