Did you know that our bodies are all a unique combination of each of the 3 Doshas (body types)? Take this Ayurvedic body type quiz to determine your type. An imbalance of the doshas is what results in illness. To sustain an equilibrium, medieval Ayurvedic medical texts bear down on the importance of a proper diet using six major tastes: pungent, salty, sweet, astringent, sour and bitter. If you want to balance your health with the right diet, knowledge of your predominant dosha is critical.
Ayurvedic Body Type Quiz: A Little History
Long ago before the advancement of modern medicine, insightful men from India came up with Ayurveda, traditional therapies, and other practices to uplift wellness. To achieve wellness, the principle of Ayurveda works to equate the three elemental doshas (also known as mind-body types) of Pitta, Vata, and Kapha within the body. These doshas are derived from the five elements- water, earth, fire, ether, and air, but each is predominantly composed of two elements.
Vata = Air + Ether
Pitta = Fire + Water
Kapha = Water + Earth
Why Do Body Types Matter?
It is important that we know our body types for purposes of diagnosis, treatment, and maintenance of optimum health. The three body types reflect qualities of nature. Knowing your unique dosha combination and your constitution can help bring out your congenital intrinsic strengths and disclose your weaknesses and challenges too. It is thus a fundamental step towards self-discovery.
Discover Your Dosha: The Quiz
To take the dosha quiz click HERE.
To reveal your Dosha, this Ayurvedic body type quiz uses information about your basic personality – your nature as a child and your basic principles for most of your life. If, say, you have been sick during childhood or as an adult, think of how your life was before that illness. If you display more than one quality in each characteristic, settle for the one that is most applicable.
Your answer to objective physical characteristics should be obvious. However, mental traits and behavior are usually subjective. Thus, your response will be inclined towards how you have felt and been most of your life or in recent years. The Ayurvedic body type quiz below (take it honestly) will help you determine your dosha type.
1. How would you describe your body stature?
This includes your height, body build, muscle development, and size. Are you tall, short, thin, stout or thick? How would you best describe your body frame? Maybe you have a symmetrical build with fair muscle development.
Vata: tall or short height, narrow bone.
Pitta: strong build, good muscle tone.
Kapha: curvy shape.
2. Weight
What effect do your eating habits have on your body weight? Some people eat more but still don’t put on weight. Is it easy for you to gain or lose weight?
Vata: slim, it’s hard to put on weight.
Pitta: moderate weight, it’s easy to drop weight as well as to put it on.
Kapha: a tendency to be overweight. Weight is quickly gained, and it is very difficult to lose it.
3. Skin complexion (color and texture)
Is your skin dark? Is it rough or smooth?
Vata skin is thin, tans easily, fresh, fine-pored, it doesn’t blush easily, slightly dry, wrinkles early, has dark circles under the eyes.
Pitta skin is delicate, oily in “T” zone, blushes easily, has broken capillaries, has peaches and cream or coppery tone, has whiteheads, changes in pigmentation, freckled, it has allergic reactions.
Kapha skin is thick, well hydrated, ages well, slightly oily or excessively oily, has blackheads, sweats easily, has enlarged pores and cystic acne, puffiness under the eyes, has pale/white tone.
4. Hair
Depending on your dosha type, your hair could be dry, brittle, or fine. Do you have abundant, thick and oily hair?
Vata hair: stiff, curly, dry.
Pitta: thin, mostly straight.
Kapha: thick, shiny, long, can be straight or wavy.
5. Sleep pattern
Some people are light sleepers while others are deep sleepers. Do you awaken easily in the morning? Or do you struggle to get out of bed?
Vata: hard to fall and/or stay asleep.
Pitta: don’t struggle to fall asleep, but don’t stay asleep for long durations.
Kapha: fall and stay asleep without struggling
6. Stress management
Stress is normal in our day-to-day lives. However, we each cope with stress differently. Do you become withdrawn and/or reclusive under stress?
Vata: increased susceptibility to anxiety.
Pitta: a tendency to irritability and anger.
Kapha: fatigue, lack of vigor, slow reaction.
7. Temperament
Are you easy going and accepting or are you lively and enthusiastic by nature?
Vata: melancholic temperament.
Pitta: choleric temperament.
Kapha: phlegmatic temperament.
8. Decision-making
Your ease at decision-making will vary depending on your dosha type. This may also influence how well you handle stress. Are you usually calm and collected or are you tensed at the slightest provocation? The category of Vata dosha is built to process things more quickly. Hence, they are the best at decision-making.
Vata: problematic decision-making.
Pitta: fast and decisive decision-making.
Kapha: carefully thought out decision-making.
9. Your energy type
Different doshas exhibit different energies around them. You will observe that some people are more lively, talkative, or active than others.
Vata: energetic, creative, active.
Pitta: ambitious, brave, confident.
Kapha: calm, slow, lazy, confident.
The 3 Dosha Types in Detail
Below is a description, in summary, of the three dosha types. Compare it against your responses in the Ayurvedic body type quiz above to find out your dosha type.
Vata Dosha
People of this Dosha type have a lean or delicate body build with fine hair and dry skin. Generally, Vata is very vibrant and energetic. They also have very inventive and creative minds. However, their mood can be quite unpredictable at times.
Although Vata Doshas are quick learners, their long-term memory is not that good. Since they are flexible at decision-making, they will seldom be stressed or anxious. Vata dosha is usually live around people and quick to speak. But, they can be lighthearted at times.
Vata Dosha is good at multi-tasking, but they can also be very sensitive. They also find it hard to fall and/or stay asleep.
Pitta Dosha
These ones have a relatively medium build with fair muscle development. They have a passion for leadership and are not afraid to speak up and take charge. Pitta dosha tends to be quite protective when provoked and is fierce opponents.
However, they have a knack for building connections and make very good friends. Pitta dosha is often honest and straight to the point. Although they may seem intimidating, Pitta dosha is very social beings.
They can be quite determined and don’t give up easily. They have bursts of energy to take on challenges. Their sleep patterns are moderate. Although they don’t struggle to fall asleep, they can’t stay asleep for long durations.
Kapha Dosha
Thick bones and solid stature can identify Kapha Dosha. They are usually calm, collected and slow to anger, and therefore, not easily provoked. They are loving and caring, and this makes them good acquaintances.
However, Kapha Dosha is often conservative and learn slowly with a high level of retention. They fall and stay asleep without struggling. Although they move slowly, they are very purposeful and enterprising people.
Most people will relate freely to Kapha Dosha due to their easygoing personality. They can be shy, however, and even depressed if it is too much.
Now I know My Dosha Type, What’s Next?
We believe that after taking the Ayurvedic Body Type Quiz you figured out your Dosha type. Now try to adjust your diet and maintain a lifestyle that matches your dosha type.
The following are General guidelines for each Dosha type.
Tips For Vata Dosha
- Maintain healthy habits, eat and go to bed at the same time.
- Get enough rest and choose warm, nutritious and easy to digest food. Sweet berries, fruits, beans, rice, and all kinds of nuts will serve as an excellent choice for Vata Dosha.
- The intensity of exercise should be average. Yoga, Tai Chi, hiking and swimming are equally good. Avoid stressful and extreme (at the limit of your capabilities) training.
Tips For Pitta Dosha
- It is important to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
- Avoid fried and spicy food.
- Eliminate alcohol, nicotine, workaholism and overheating.
- Eat fresh vegetables, sweet and juicy fruit and berries, such as cherries, mangoes, cucumbers, watermelons and avocados.
- Eat more salads with dark greens, such as arugula, dandelion, and kale.
- Avoid conflict.
- Cultivate virtues such as honesty, morality, kindness, generosity, and self-control.
Tips For Kapha Dosha
- Since Kapha is prone to slowness, depression and weight gain, daily activity should become a solid foundation for you.
- It is recommended to stay at home less and try to look for new activities.
- Be receptive to useful changes and aware of the actions that increase vital activity.
- Choose light, warm food with spices.
- Ginger tea with lemon is good for Kapha Dosha people.
- Avoid harmful heavy oils and refined carbs.
- Eat a sufficient amount of spices such as black pepper, ginger, cumin, chili, and more dark bitter greens.
In Conclusion
Learning your ayurvedic body type is not only essential in sustaining good health but also nurturing your body’s inner intelligence. This understanding will guide you in making the sanest decision matters your health and wellbeing. Ayurveda appreciates that your body and mind are inextricably integrated. For every activity that the brain processes, the body produces a corresponding reaction. For instance, a flux of neurotransmitters and hormones is triggered in the central nervous system by happy thoughts such as love and compassion. I hope the above Ayurvedic body type quiz has cleared your doubts.