How to Identify Your Ayurvedic Dosha

Welcome back, Happy Army!

We are gonna get a little deeper into Ayurveda and what that actually entails. What is Ayurveda? What are doshas? How does this connect to the five elements?

And most importantly: how does this effect me?

All fair questions! Let’s get into it!

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of holistic health, recognizes that each person has a unique combination of energies called doshas that govern their physical, mental, and emotional characteristics.

These doshas – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha – influence our physical attributes, preferences, and susceptibilities.

By understanding your dominant dosha, you can tailor your lifestyle, diet, and wellness practices to achieve balance and well-being.

In this post, we'll guide you through the process of identifying your dosha according to Ayurveda.

We're gonna talk about:

• Understanding the 3 Doshas

• How to do a self-assessment

• Where to find the best Dosha questionnaires

• Consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner

• Dosha imbalances

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Understanding the Three Doshas

• Vata Dosha

Vata is associated with the elements of air and ether (space).

People with a dominant Vata dosha tend to be creative, adaptable, and enthusiastic. They might also experience traits like restlessness, dry skin, and sensitivity to cold.

Vata individuals are often quick thinkers and prone to fluctuations in energy levels.

• Pitta Dosha

Pitta is linked to the elements of fire and water.

Those with a prominent Pitta dosha are usually focused, driven, and goal-oriented. They might exhibit qualities such as strong digestion, a tendency to feel warm, and a competitive nature.

Pitta individuals have a medium build and might experience excess heat in the body.

• Kapha Dosha

Kapha is associated with the elements of earth and water.

Individuals with a dominant Kapha dosha tend to be grounded, nurturing, and calm. They may have a sturdy physique, a tendency to gain weight easily, and a strong immune system.

Kapha individuals are often drawn to routine and can experience emotional attachment. 

The one-stop guide to understanding your dosha and how to adjust your life accordingly is The Hot Belly Diet by Dr. Suhas G. Kshirsagar. It’s packed with insights and even has a quiz to help you start a 30-day reset tailored to your body type! Perfect for kicking off 2025 with renewed energy.

Everyone has all three doshas, so it's not like you are either one or the other. What we are mainly focusing on is what you have more of. Most people have one prominent dosha, but for some it may be two.

For example, I am predominantly vata-pitta dosha type. So while I am prone to having dry skin and a sensitivity to the cold (and I'm pretty adaptable and creative), I also have the determination and goal-orientedness of a pitta person (and sometimes even the temper!)

So now that we have the basic understanding of how doshas work, let's work on identifying yours!

Identifying Your Dosha: A Simple Guide

• Self-Assessment

The first step is to observe your physical, mental, and emotional tendencies. This helps to really understand our current baseline.

Pay attention to qualities like body structure, digestion, energy levels, skin type, sleep patterns, and emotional responses.

Note any tendencies that align with Vata, Pitta, or Kapha characteristics. Not only is it good for us to simply be aware of our bodies, but we would also need this information for the other ways of assessment.

• Dosha Questionnaires

Various online resources offer dosha questionnaires that guide you through a series of questions related to your physical and psychological traits. These questionnaires can provide a lot insights into your dominant dosha.

There are a few I like, but the one that I love is for sure this quiz from Ayurveda.com. If you’re on a time crunch I like this quiz from the Art of Living Retreat Center website, too!

• Consult an Ayurvedic Practitioner

While the online quizzes are great, they may not be completely accurate.

For a comprensive and 100% accurate reading, consider consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner. They can evaluate your constitution (prakriti) and current state (vikriti) through in-depth analyses of your physical, mental, and emotional attributes.

Seeing an Ayurvedic doctor is a very unique experience. Their assessments often involve checking your hair, nails, tongue, and even pulse-reading to get the most accurate results. You can't go wrong with this option.

• Dosha Imbalance

As I mentioned before, everyone is a unique combination of these three doshas, but one or two doshas may dominate. When these doshas start getting imbalanced, we start facing a multitude of issues.

Some of these symptoms may be depression, anxiety, high tempers, intense weight gain or weight loss, lack of stability, sluggishness, digestion problems, and so many more.

These imbalances can occur due to lifestyle, diet, or other external factors.

By identifying your primary dosha, you'd be able to understand these imbalances, and thus regain harmony again.

The main way to address imbalances in Ayurveda (other than yoga) is through proper diet, but it's all about finding the right foods for you. Check out my other blog posts on nourishing foods for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha body types for a more detailed description of what foods are right for your dosha.

Last Thoughts!

Understanding your dosha is a fascinating journey toward understanding your innate constitution and making choices that promote well-being and balance.

By recognizing the energies that influence your physical and mental characteristics, you can tailor your lifestyle, diet, and self-care practices to align with your unique nature.

That's it for now! Sending positive vibes your way, and happy exploring!