Welcome to the Dosha Quiz!

What is your Dosha? According to Ayurveda, each of us has a unique mix of the five elements which combine into three mind/body principles to give us our specific mental and physical characteristics. These three principles are called "doshas"---- Vata (ether and air), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (water and earth).  We each have all three doshas in our physiology, just in different proportions. So your dosha is unique and personal; it is like your fingerprint.

To determine your unique Dosha, copy the following quiz into an email window. Choose one answer per question quickly (without much thought), mark it with an X and send it to drpace@lotusnaturalhealthclinic.com. Your dosha type will be sent back within 48 hours.

My least favorite kind of weather is:

Cold weather

Hot weather

Damp weather

My hands and feet tend to be cold

My hands are usually warm

My hands are usually cool

My weight is below average for my build

My weight is average for my build

My weight is above average for my build

I tend to lose weight easily

I maintain my weight easily

I gain weight easily

My skin tends to be dry and rough, specially in winter

My skin is soft and ruddy

My skin is moist and oily

My hair tends to be dry

My hair is fine, thin, reddish or prematurely gray

My hair is thick and wavy

I walk quickly, more quickly than others

I have a determined walk, just to get where I am going

My walk is slow and steady, a more leisurely pace

I like to be active, on the go – it is often hard to sit still

I enjoy physical activities with a purpose, especially competitive activities

I like leisurely activities best

On a daily basis, my appetite varies

On a daily basis I am uncomfortable skipping meals

On a daily basis, I like to eat but can skip meals easily

I tend to eat quickly, I have a delicate digestion

I have a strong digestion, I can eat almost anything

I eat and digest slowly

I get worn out easily

I am fairly strong and can handle various physical activities

I have good stamina and a steady energy level

I am fairly flexible

I am fairly muscular

I am fairly solid and big boned

When conflicts arise, I can be anxious and restless

When conflicts arise, I can become intense and irritable

When conflicts arise, I can get lazy or depressed

My moods change quickly

My moods change slowly

My moods are mostly steady

Under stress, I am easily excited

Under stress, I can be angry or critical

I am pretty easy going, it takes a lot to stress me out

I am creative, imaginative

I am intelligent, efficient, perfectionist

I am caring, calm, patient

I have lots of ideas and change my mind about things easily

I gather lots of facts before forming an opinion

I am stubborn, I make up my mind quickly and don’t change my mind often

I have a short attention span

I am detail oriented and can focus for long periods of time

I am a big picture person and can focus for long periods of time

I learn quickly and forget quickly

I have a good general memory

I learn slowly and have good long term memory

I am good at getting things started but not finished

I am very organized and will see a project through from start to finish

I need help getting things started and am good at getting things accomplished

I tend to make and change friends often

Most of my friends are work related and change when I change jobs

My friendships are long lasting, sincere

I like to shop and often spend too much money

I don’t like to spend money except on special items

I prefer not to spend at all, I am good at saving money

I have difficulty falling, or staying asleep

I sleep well for an average length of time

I generally sleep long and sound and have difficulty waking up

I have lots of dreams but can’t remember them specifically

I can remember most of my dreams, I often dream in color

I only remember dreams when they are intense or significant

Vata Dosha:

Vata is made up of the two elements space and air.

The most revered ayurvedic text, the Charaka Samhita, defines the characteristics of Vata dosha: dry and rough, cool, light--lacking weight, very tiny, penetrating molecules, always moving, broad, unlimited, unbounded.

People with more Vata in their constitutions tend to be thin, with a slender frame and prominent joints, delicate skin that is naturally dry, and dry voluminous hair. They are quick and lively in thought, speech and action, and make friends easily. There is an element of airiness to their step, a quality of lightness in their laughter. Change is usually their second name. They are light sleepers and gravitate towards warm environments. Creativity and enthusiasm are hallmarks of balanced Vata.

If your "prakriti" or original constitution has more Vata in it, you will exhibit many of the characteristics and qualities of Vata when you are in balance than people who have more Pitta or Kapha in their make-up. And that's natural. But if the qualities become extreme, or more pronounced than usual at a given time, then the Vata in you has in all likelihood become aggravated or imbalanced, and needs to be brought back into balance. And if a predominantly Kapha or Pitta person starts exhibiting many Vata qualities, that indicates a Vata imbalance in that Kapha or Pitta body type. In both cases, it is then time to follow a Vata-balancing diet and lifestyle to help restore the level of Vata in the physiology to its normal proportion.

Factors that can cause Vata dosha to increase in the physiology include a diet that contains too many dry or raw foods, over-consumption of ice-cold beverages, exposure to cold dry winds, a variable daily routine, too much travel, and mental overexertion.

Signs that you need to balance Vata

• Are you constantly worried, anxious, overwhelmed, fretful?
• Do you feel tired but find yourself unable to slow down and relax?
• Do you find it difficult to settle down and fall asleep at night? Is your sleep restless when you do manage to fall asleep?
• Is your skin feeling dryer than usual, stretched taut or flaking?
• Is your hair more brittle, with split ends happening oftener?
• Are your lips raw and chapped? Is your throat constantly dry?
• Is your digestion irregular? Do you experience problems with abdominal gas?
• Do you feel like you cannot sit still, that you need to be constantly moving?
• Do you feel "spaced out"? Is it harder to remember things for more than a short period of time? Is your attention span shorter than usual? Is it harder to focus?
• Do your bowel movements occur less than once daily?

 If you answered yes to many of the questions above, following a Vata-balancing diet and  lifestyle can help restore balance to Vata.

Pitta Dosha:

Pitta is made up of the two elements fire and water.

The most revered ayurvedic text, the Charaka Samhita, defines the characteristics of Pitta dosha: hot and a little unctuous, sharp, burning, liquid and acidic, always flowing in an unbounded manner, pungent and sharp. Pitta contains fire, but it also contains water. It is the source of the flame, but not the flame itself. Compare Pitta to gasoline--it is not hot to the touch, but it can be the source of flames.

People with more Pitta in their constitutions tend to be of medium proportions, with a frame that is neither petite nor heavy, warm skin that is very fair or ruddy and may be sensitive, and fine hair that tends towards premature graying or thinning. They are sharp and determined in thought, speech and action. There is an element of purpose to their step, an intensity to their voice. Ambition is usually their second name. They are moderate sleepers and gravitate towards cooler environments. Self-confidence and an entrepreneurial spirit are hallmarks of balanced Pitta.

Kapha Dosha:

Kapha is made up of the two elements water and earth.

The most revered ayurvedic text, the Charaka Samhita, defines the characteristics of Kapha dosha: heavy--both water and earth are heavy elements,--- cold, soft, unctuous, offering lubrication, sweet, stability, offering immunity, and slippery.

People with more Kapha in their constitutions tend to be of larger proportions, with a robust frame and padded joints, thick smooth skin that may tend towards oiliness, and rich, wavy hair. They are stable and calm in thought, speech and action, and are easy-going and supportive in relationships. There is an element of steadiness to their step, a quality of serenity in their smile. Loyalty is usually their second name. They are long, heavy sleepers and uncomfortable in damp, clammy environments. Calm and sweetness of disposition are hallmarks of balanced Kapha.