Have you ever wondered why you are different? Why you are unique and not like anybody else? I often wondered that too. When I started to study Ayurveda I got some answers to my questions.
Ayurveda believes that everybody has a unique own constitution that is made up out of the five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Ether and Air). Each one of us consists of these five elements but what makes us unique is the percentage of each element in us. If you like, fill in the Questionnaire below to find out what Ayurvedic Constitution you are.
Out of the five elements come three primary energies, which are also called Doshas. The three Doshas are named Vata, Pitta & Kapha.
All of us are made out of the three Doshas but each individual has its own unique constitution that is usually governed by one or two of the Doshas predominantly. This makes each one of us a unique individual. Isn’t that fascinating?
When you fill in the questionaire tick those that apply. Consider how you are normally and not just how you are right now. It might be easier to fill it in together with a friend or family member that knows you well.
|
Vata (Space/Air) |
Pitta (Fire) |
Kapha (Water/Earth)
|
|
| Temperature | ( ) Cold hands and feet. Craves warmth | ( ) Feeling warm or hot, flushing cheeks, loves it cool | ( ) Cool and moist, dislikes damp |
| Sweat | ( ) Minimal | ( ) Profuse (strong or sour smell maybe) | ( ) Moderate |
| Breathing | ( ) Fast, light and shallow | ( ) Deep abdominal, active inhalation | ( ) Deep abdominal, slow and relaxed exhalation |
| Movement | ( ) Light, fast and quick | ( ) Confident, active and controlled | ( ) Slow, heavy, grounded and relaxed |
| Appetite and Digestion | ( ) Variable, scanty, better for small but frequent amounts, don’t mind skipping a meal | ( ) Good, sharp and can be excessive, eats large meals, tendency to overeating | ( ) Moderate hunger, slow digestion, can have sluggish metabolism |
| Taste you prefer | ( ) Sweet and sour, salty, soft soupy warm meals | ( ) Oily and spicy, sour, sweet and hot | ( ) Sweet mostly, fatty, pungent, dry and light |
| Thirst | ( ) Variable | ( ) Quite a lot | ( ) Moderate |
| Sleep | ( ) Light and sensitive, interrupted | ( ) Sound but short | ( ) Deep, heavy and prolonged |
| Dreaming of | ( ) Running, flying, fearful, can dream a lot but often forgets | ( ) Vivid, prophetic, control in dreams | ( ) Calm, quiet dreams, can be of running water |
| Voice and Speech | ( ) high pitched, talkative, fast speech, likes to talk | ( ) Medium pitched, concise and to the point, can be sharp | ( ) Deeper, low pitched, slower and can be more intellectual |
| Physical activity and energy levels | ( ) Very active, fast and restless, gets tired easily | ( ) Active but moderate, focused, manages Energy well | ( ) Steady, balanced Energy levels and good endurance |
| Elimination | ( ) Dry, hard, irregular, often constipated | ( ) Regular, soft, can be loose | ( ) thick and heavy, slow, firm texture |
| Resistance to disease and immunity | ( ) Weak and variable, susceptible to infections | ( ) Medium, prone to allergies and indigestion | ( ) Good, in general strong immunity |
| Emotional tendency | ( ) Fear and Anxieties | ( ) Anger, frustration, irritability, impatience | ( ) Grief, sadness, depression, holding |
| Memory | ( ) Good short term, remote long term | ( ) Good, sharp and quick, not prolong | ( ) Good long term, can take time to learn |
| Mind and thinking | ( ) Very active, superficial, low concentration, lots of ideas, fast mind | ( ) Active, precise, logical and problem solving, focused and controlled, intelligent | ( ) Calm, slow, diplomatic, can not be rushed |
| When threatened reacting | ( ) Fearful and panicking | ( ) angry, aggressive, fighting | ( ) Indifferent, withdraws |
| Work you prefer | ( ) Physical, commercial, creative | ( ) Business and management, intellectual | ( ) Politics and finance, caring |
| Lifestyle | ( ) Very active, erratic, changeable | ( ) busy, well organised and disciplined | ( ) Steady, stable, relaxed |
| Colour you like | ( ) Pink, beige, coral, yellow, white | ( ) Golden, green, metallic, yellow, blue, orange | ( ) Red, white, black |
| Body frame | ( ) Narrow shoulders and hips, tall or short, light bone mass | ( ) Medium, well developed muscular system, balanced and proportioned | ( ) Solid, strong structure with heavy bone mass, broad shoulders and hips, tall, with prominent fatty tissues |
| Weight | ( ) Light, difficulty gaining weight | ( ) Medium, no problem gaining or losing weight | ( ) Heavy, difficult to lose weight |
| Skin | ( ) thin, cold and dry, pale, rough, wrinkles easier, brown to dark | ( ) Soft, oily and warm, lustrous, moles, yellowish | ( ) thick, white, soft and oily or moist, cool, smooth |
| Hair | ( ) Thin, dry, kinky, course, dark brown to black | ( ) Fine, soft and oily, straight, red, early greying, tendency to baldness or loosing of hairs | ( ) Thick, wavy, plentiful, oily, medium brown to light |
| Neck | ( ) Very long, or short, thin | ( ) Average in proportion | ( ) Thick and solid |
| Shape of face | ( ) Long, angular, chin often underdeveloped | ( ) heart shaped, chin often pointed | ( ) Round, full, fatty tissue under chin |
| Nose | ( ) Big or small, narrow, crooked | ( ) Medium, often pointed | ( ) Medium or large, rounded |
| Eyes | ( ) Small, dry and dull, sunken, small pupil, fast blinking, dark brown or grey | ( ) Average, light blue, grey, hazel, lustrous, penetrating | ( ) Large, prominent, attractive, moist, attractive, blue or light brown, thick eyelashes, often enlarged pupils |
| Teeth | ( ) Big or small, irregular, chipped and protruding | ( ) Medium, yellowish, soft gums | ( ) Strong, white, little decay, large |
| Mouth | ( ) Big or small | ( ) Medium | ( ) Large |
| Lips | ( ) Thin, narrow, pale | ( ) Average, well shaped, expressive | ( ) Full, soft and moist, attractive |
| Subtotal Vata: | Subtotal Pitta: | Subtotal Kapha: |
Keeping our Balance
Now that you know what your Ayurvedic Constitution is you will be able to understand what kind of diet and lifestyle suits you.
But there might also be an imbalance. Sometimes internal or external factors like diet, lifestyle or emotional states can effect our constitution and can cause imbalances. When we understand the imbalance we have and know which factors can cause us an imbalance we have a choice to take appropriate action to balance their effects and get back into balance again. If you fill in this questionnaire above again and look at how you are right now, you will find out what your current imbalance is.
Ayurveda is a lot about keeping our balance. It is not that difficult to keep our balance once we know more about Ayurveda.
Sometimes it can be easier to have an Ayurvedic Consultation to find out more about your constitution and your current imbalance. To contact Jamila click here if you like to see her for an Ayurvedic consultation.
More on the right kind of diet and lifestyle for your Constitution here: For Vata, for Pitta and for Kapha.
What is your Ayurvedic Constitution? I would like to hear from you.
Best wishes.
Jamila