In Ayurveda, knowing your constitutional predominance, or in other words, your predominant dosha, is essential when choosing a suitable lifestyle that is as appropriate and beneficial as possible, as well as when determining suitable healing methods if a person is affected by illness or imbalance. Correctly identifying one’s Ayurvedic constitutional type (dosha-prakriti) is an important process that requires considering a sufficient number of distinguishing factors. Some of these factors can be readily observed by anyone, whereas others require careful observation and appropriate prior training.
Careful observation of factors that distinguish constitutional types is extremely important in an Ayurvedic constitutional assessment (dosha-prakriti). It also requires accurately correlating and interpreting the observable characteristics of an individual. For this reason, systematic study and experience are necessary to achieve a high degree of accuracy when assessing constitutional type (dosha-prakriti).
One straightforward way to assess constitutional type is to complete a simple Ayurvedic constitution questionnaire, which can help provide a more objective estimate of constitutional type (dosha-prakriti) from the perspective of traditional Ayurvedic knowledge. Such a questionnaire can help us estimate our constitutional predominance by identifying the main manifestations of our predominant dosha. An example of this type of test consists of three lists, each containing 22 statements illustrating different constitutional features and characteristics, corresponding respectively to the three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha.
Each characteristic is assessed by assigning a score from 0 to 6 on the same line as the corresponding statement. To complete this simple assessment, carefully read each description and enter a number from 0 to 6 in the appropriate field according to the following scoring scale:
At the end of each of the three tables, corresponding to the three doshas, the points are added together.
This produces three scores that reflect our assessment of the relative predominance of the three doshas. We then compare the scores to obtain the final estimate of our constitutional type (dosha-prakriti) and the relative predominance of the three doshas in our constitution.
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I do almost everything very quickly, which can make me appear restless or agitated.
I cannot retain things in memory for very long, and I find it difficult to recall them later.
I am full of enthusiasm, initiative, and liveliness by my very nature.
I have a thin, slender body and find it difficult to gain weight.
I learn very quickly and understand new things fairly well.
I have a light gait that may look uncertain, and even when walking leisurely I seem to be in a hurry.
I tend to have serious difficulty making decisions of almost any kind.
I tend to develop intestinal gas easily and often become constipated.
I have poor circulation in my extremities, and I have noticed that my hands and feet are cold.
I tend to become anxious or worried, often for no particular reason.
Unlike most people, I cannot tolerate cold water or cold outdoor temperatures.
I speak very quickly, and people around me therefore consider me very talkative or often say I talk “just for the sake of talking.”
My moods change very easily, and I am highly emotional, changeable, and variable by nature.
I have trouble falling asleep when I am tired and rarely manage to sleep deeply.
My skin tends to be dry, even rough, and sometimes cracks, especially in winter.
My attention is extremely active and seems almost tireless; I have noticed that I have a very vivid imagination and great creativity.
My movements are very quick and I am almost always active; my energy tends to burst forth explosively, often in unexpected surges.
I become aroused very easily, both sexually and emotionally.
Stressful situations can easily upset me, often making me feel afraid, uneasy, or anxious.
When left to follow my own inclinations, I tend to eat or sleep irregularly and without a set routine.
I can learn quickly and remember things easily, but not for long, because I soon forget them.
Because I am naturally almost always active, I particularly need relaxation and balance.
I consider myself highly effective in everything I do, and others recognize me as effective.
In almost everything I do, I tend to be extremely precise, exacting, and systematic.
I concentrate intensely and generally have a persuasive, engaging, and energetic way of taking action.
I feel considerable discomfort and tire easily in very hot weather.
I tend to sweat easily and profusely, even when the surrounding temperature is low.
Even when I do not show it, I have noticed that I can become annoyed, angry, or even furious.
If I skip a daily meal or eat a little later than usual, I immediately experience unpleasant discomfort.
My hair has turned gray prematurely, become thin in places, or I have developed baldness.
I have a very strong appetite, and when I am hungry I can easily eat a fairly large amount of food.
Most people close to me see me as passionate, quick-tempered, stubborn, and impulsive.
I digest food very well and may therefore have infrequent bowel movements without being constipated.
I can lose my temper very easily and quickly become irritable, confrontational, or even angry.
I tend to be a perfectionist even when it comes to the smallest details.
I can become angry quite easily, but I quickly forget what happened afterward.
I greatly enjoy cold foods such as ice cream and am also drawn to chilled nonalcoholic drinks or beverages with ice.
I often feel that the air in a room is too warm rather than too cold.
I cannot tolerate hot foods or very spicy dishes, such as those seasoned with pepper, ginger, or hot paprika.
I am not very tolerant of unpleasant or disagreeable situations.
When I genuinely want to accomplish something beneficial, I am very determined to make almost any effort to reach that goal.
Whenever I speak, I have a particular idea in mind and a very clear purpose, and I am usually very concise.
I tend to be quite critical of other people and am usually just as critical of myself.
When I need to take action, I first need motivation, a challenge, and competition.
My natural inclination is to do almost everything slowly, calmly, and in a relaxed way.
My weight is generally stable, and I find it quite difficult to lose weight; weight loss is slow for me.
I am calm and peaceful almost all the time and am not easily disturbed.
I can go without eating or skip meals easily, without experiencing significant discomfort or a sense of deprivation.
I tend to have excess mucus or phlegm, chronic congestion, asthma, and sinus problems.
I need at least eight hours of sleep to feel fit and comfortable the next workday.
Whether I am tired or not, I sleep deeply and heavily.
I am naturally calm, content, peaceful, and composed, so I do not become angry easily.
I do not learn particularly quickly, but I have an excellent long-term memory.
I tend to become plump and gain weight easily, even when I do not eat much.
Cold, damp weather bothers me, as do cool, humid low-lying areas.
My hair is thick, abundant, coarse, slightly curly, and dark in color.
My skin is smooth, soft, moist or oily, and cool to the touch; my complexion is fair, pale, and clear.
My overall build is large, compact, firm, and solid, making me appear physically strong and sturdy.
These qualities describe me well: serene, peaceful, gentle, loving, and forgiving.
My digestion is weak, and I feel heavy after eating a somewhat substantial meal.
I have great vitality and good physical stamina, and I have noticed that my energy level is generally steady and reliable.
I almost always walk with slow, firm, regular steps, even when I apparently seem to be in a hurry.
I tend to sleep too much and feel groggy and rather slow when I wake up in the morning.
I am very slow and methodical, sometimes even meticulous, in almost everything I do.
I speak very little, slowly and infrequently (sometimes drawing out my words), and I rarely start a conversation unless I have something important to say.
I need strong motivation and appropriate encouragement before taking action.
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