Body Type Test - Determine your dominant Doshas
Understanding your Mind/Body Nature.
According to Ayurveda, each of us inherits a unique proportion of three mind/body principles which creates our specific mental and physical characteristics. These mind/body principles are called doshas. Most of us have one or two doshas which are most lively in our nature, with the remaining one(s) less significant. The three doshas are known as: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
If we have mostly Vata dosha, we tend to be thin, light and quick in our thoughts and actions. Change is a constant part of our lives. When Vata is balanced, we are creative, enthusiastic and lively. But, if Vata becomes excessive, we may develop anxiety, insomnia, or irregular digestion.
If Pitta dosha is most lively in our nature, we trend to be muscular, smart and determined. If Pitta is balanced we are warm, intelligent and a good leader. If out of balance, Pitta can make us critical irritable and aggressive.
If we have mostly Kapha dosha in our nature, we tend to have a heavier frame, think and move more leisurely and are stable. When balanced, Kapha creates calmness, sweetness and loyalty. When excessive, Kapha can cause us to gain weightt, be congested and resist healthy changes.
Using the principles of Ayuveda, we can identify our mind/body nature and use this understanding to make the most nourishing choices. Take a few minutes to complete the following questionnaire, rating each statement as to how well it applies to you over the past year. Fill in each box with a number from 1 to 5, representing how much the statement applies to you:
Not at all. A Little. Somewhat. A Lot. Very much.
There are 3 sections of the test, one for each dosha. At the end of each section, add up the answers for that section. You can use Tab and Shift-Tab to move from question to question, and type the value of your answer (1 to 5) in each box.
Ayurvedic
daily routine
for all Doshas: Morning
Rise early, ideally
by six o’clock.
Empty the bladder
and bowels.
Clean teeth.
Massage with an
ayurvedic oil.
Take a warm
bath or shower.
.Mediate for
20 minutes.
.Exercise for
your body type.
Eat a light breakfast.
Mid-day
Make a lunch the
day’s major meal.
Sit quietly for 5
minutes after eating.
To aid digestion,
walk for 15 minutes.
Evening
Meditate for 20
minutes in the
late afternoon
or before dinner.
Eat a light dinner.
Sit quietly for 5
minutes after eating.
Take a 15-minute
walk to aid
digestion.
Relax with light
recreational activities.
Go to bed early,
ideally by 10 pm.
Section One – Vata
1. I have a quick mind. 2. I learn new information rapidly. 3. I find that I forget things after a short period of time. 4. I am lively and enthusiastic by nature. 5. I am open to trying out new ideas and having new experiences. 6. I tend to move quickly. 7. I get restless if I’m not constantly on the move. 8. I speak quickly and am a lively conversationalist. 9. I tend to be overly sensitive or emotional. 10. Under stress, I tend to worry and become anxious. 11. I tend to have difficulty falling asleep or awaken easily. 12. I tend to be thin and rarely gain weight. 13. My daily schedule of eating meals, going to sleep or awakening tends to vary from day to day. 14. I find myself forgetting to eat, and I can easily lose weight if I’m not careful. 15. I tend to eat quickly, finishing my meals before others at the table. 16. My digestion tends to be irregular with frequent gas or bloating. 17. My feet and hands tend to be cold. 18. I prefer warmer rather than cooler weather. 19. My skin tends to be dry. 20. My hair tends to be on the dry side or kinky.
Section Two - Pitta
1. I am intelligent with a precise and discriminating mind. 2. I generally go over new information repeatedly until I am confident that I have mastered it. 3. I do not like to ask for assistance. 4. I tend to be compulsive and have difficulty stopping once I’ve started a project. 5. I take pride in my work and maintain a high standard. 6. I am a perfectionist and am intolerant of errors. 7. When I begin a new task, I see it through to completion. 8. I tend to be strong-willed and somewhat forceful by nature. 1 2 3 4 5 9. When pressured, I tend to become irritable and impatient. 1 2 3 4 5 10. I can be critical and argumentative. 1 2 3 4 5 11. I have a tendency to lose my temper. 1 2 3 4 5 12. I have a strong appetite and can eat large quantities of food if I choose. 1 2 3 4 5 13. I have a tendency towards indigestion or heartburn. 1 2 3 4 5 14. I commonly have two or more bowel movements per day. 1 2 3 4 5 15. Under stress, I am more likely to get diarrhea than constipation. 1 2 3 4 5 16. I sleep soundly and feel rested with less than eight hours of sleep. 1 2 3 4 5 17. My hair shows early thinning or graying, or a tendency toward a reddish color. 1 2 3 4 5 18. I tend to perspire easily. 1 2 3 4 5 19. I am most comfortable in cooler environments. 1 2 3 4 5 20. My skin is sensitive, sunburns, or breaks out easily. 1 2 3 4 5
Section Three – Kapha
1. I tend to be sweet natured and forgiving. 2. I tend to be loyal and devoted in my relationships. 3. I have a tendency to accumulate things; I don’t like to let go of things even if I don’t expect to use them again. 4. I have difficulty leaving a relationship, even after it is no longer nourishing. 5. I am a good listener. I tend to speak only when I feel I have something important to say. 6. I tend to be calm by nature and seldom lose my temper. 7. I tend to deal with conflict by withdrawing. 8. I tend to be steady and methodical with consistent energy and endurance. 9. I tend to perform activities at a steady and comfortable pace. 10. I like to maintain a routine and I have difficulty changing my pace. 11. I tend to absorb new material slowly. 12. Once I’ve learned something, I tend to have good retention. 13. Given a choice, I prefer to watch rather than participate in an athletic activity. 14. I sleep deeply for eight or more hours each night. 15. I tend to have difficulty getting going in the morning. 16. I have a tendency to have chronic sinus congestion, asthma, or excessive phlegm. 17. My skin is usually soft and smooth. 18. My hair tends to be thick, dark, or wavy. 19. I have a slow digestion and tend to feel heavy after eating. 20. I tend to gain weight easily and have difficulty losing extra pounds.
Go through the three sets of questionsand the type you score highest in is your dosha