In the practice of Ayurveda we try to bring people back into balance and at the same time let their true nature shine through.
Deepak Chopra
Expand Awareness to Know Thyself
Dosha Described
The Perfect Health Ayurvedic Lifestyle program is deeply rooted in you getting to know yourself. Through expanded awareness, learning and experience, you begin to notice how your body and mind are influenced by the elemental forces of nature. In Sanskrit, these forces are known as the mahabhutas. The five building blocks of nature make up everything in ourselves and our environment, including our food. The composition of these elements within our bodymind creates our biological constitution or dosha which becomes expressed as our unique personality, tendencies, and physical nature.
The dosha represents the proportion of the principles of vata, pitta and kapha naturally present in our mind-body system. With an understanding of the principles or qualities that make up the three doshes, we begin to understand their influence on our well-being. We become empowered with knowledge to influence our health with daily actions that can alter our bodymind's response to life. We develop a sense for which of these principles may need balancing at this time.
We all have qualities of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, but most of us have a higher proportion of a particular dosha. During specific classes and private consultation, the dosha quiz is offered and interpreted by our educator. The Dosha quiz is known to be available on other websites, too. Reach out to JoEtta if taking this quiz and having it interpretated is desired by you: joetta@dietforbalancedhealth.com .
Build your lifestyle actions using the properties of these five elements.
Prakruti and Vikruti Explained
Understanding Prakruti and Vikruti
The Prakruti section of the quiz is an inquiry into the proportion of each of the three principles—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—within your unique mind-body constitution. Your score in this section reflects your basic nature. These characteristics tend to change slowly over your lifetime.
Prakruti is your individual constitution, determined at conception.
Your Prakruti is made up of all three doshas, but typically one or two predominate.
The principle (vata, pitta or kapha) that received the highest score in the Prakruti section is the most predominant force in your overall mind-body make-up. The principle that received the next highest score is the secondary force in your constitution. The lowest scoring principle, while still an active force in your mind-body physiology, is the least dominant in your particular constitution.
The Vikruti section of the quiz provides a snapshot of your current mind-body state.
This is your Vikruti, or current state of balance and imbalance.
It is influenced by your experiences and choices.
In the Vikruti section, the mind principle (dosha) with the highest points is the one primarily governing your mind and emotions at this time. The body principle (dosha) that scored the highest points is the one primarily governing your body at this time.
This means that you will want to focus on balancing the dosha that has the highest mind score, as well as the dosha that has the highest body score. With continued engagement of our programs, you will learn we use the sense of sight, sound, and smell to balance the mind. And we use the sense of taste and touch to balance the body.
Meditation is also a powerful tool for balancing the mind, no matter which dosha is out of balance. Start your meditation practice, now. Engage with us through meditation: Access our recorded meditations here.
Food has a powerful influence over our body. Reach out to our educator if you are interested in taking our How to Achieve Healthy Digestion through Expanded Awareness program: joetta@dietforbalancedhealth.com.
Learn more about this lifestyle program here.
Credit: Chopra - Perfect Health: Ayurvedic Lifestyle Certification Program Teacher's Handbook.
Expanded awareness of the self is the greatest agent of change.
Qualities of VATA, PITTA and KAPHA
vata - MOVEMENT - AIR and Space
KAPHA - Form/Protection - earth and water
PITTA - Transformation - Fire with Water
This vata infographic helps you to understand the principles that make up this dosha governing all movement. The qualities of air and space shape the characteristics of vata. The elemental qualities when balanced and imbalanced are shown. Noticing the expression of the state of vata balance helps you to select influencing lifestyle actions appropriately.
PITTA - Transformation - Fire with Water
KAPHA - Form/Protection - earth and water
PITTA - Transformation - Fire with Water
This pitta infographic helps you to understand the principles that make up this dosha governing all transformation. The qualities of fire with water shape the characteristics of pitta. The elemental qualities when balanced and imbalanced are shown. Noticing the expression of the state of pitta balance helps you to select influencing lifestyle actions appropriately.
KAPHA - Form/Protection - earth and water
KAPHA - Form/Protection - earth and water
KAPHA - Form/Protection - earth and water
This kapha infographic helps you to understand the principles that make up this dosha governing all structure and lubrication. The qualities of earth and water shape the characteristics of kapha. The elemental qualities when balanced and imbalanced are shown. Noticing the expression of the state of kapha balance helps you to select influencing lifestyle actions appropriately.