All of our bodily functions are fueled by energy and this internal energy is described as dosha. There are 3 doshas, and each has a different influence on your physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
Dosha refers to the universal energy that permeates our very being and exists in all of nature. Every bodily function, from the motion of fluids within the body to the breakdown and absorption of nutrients is powered by energy. This internal energy that powers cellular processes, metabolism, and every thought is described as dosha.
This universal energy force or dosha can be categorized into three dosha types – vata or air, pitta or fire, and kapha or earth. These three doshas are present in all of us with variations in each of the energy levels. This means the balance of doshas is not fixed or universal, but constantly in flux, depending on the time of day, seasons, and environment. Some of us may have higher levels of vata, others could have higher levels or pitta or kapha, and so on. What’s important to keep in mind is that this delicate balance of doshas has a direct impact on your physical, physiological, and emotional wellbeing.
A better understanding of the doshas will therefore give you a good insight into Ayurveda and how to use Ayurvedic solutions to promote better health, whether physical, psychological, or spiritual.
The energy or constitution you were born with, your genetic code so-to-speak, is called Prakruti or Prakriti. The constitution or energy you have been feeling lately or now is called your Vikruti or Vikriti. By comparing your Vikruti with your Prakruti constitutions, you can see where you’ve gone out-of-balance and take steps to balance your dosha levels with a combination of nutritional, exercise, breath work, meditation practice, herbal, and lifestyle changes.
Find your Prakruti
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Type: Q=Question, O=Observation,
Categories: P=Physical, Ph=Physiological, E=Emotional, M=Mental, T=Tendencies
To find out your Prakruti Ayurvedic constitution, answer each question according to what has been true for you throughout your life. If you are struggling with a choice, choose according to what best reflects your healthiest, most vibrant period of life.