Have you ever wondered why your relative can eat beans without indigestion, but the opposite happens for you? Have you ever wondered why some people can tolerate spicy food and others can’t? Or why some people gain weight even when eating “healthy”? Knowing what your ‘dosha’ is will not only shed light on all of these unanswered questions, it will help you start to balance your dosha; which, when imbalanced, is the real cause of disease in the body, mind, and emotions. Thus, a healthy disease-free body begins with discovering your dosha!



First, you need to understand the three types of doshas and what they are even!



The doshas are the 3 biological energies that rule our bodies and the nature around us (Ayurveda explains them as made up of the 5 elements). Every human being needs all doshas for proper function of the body and mind. Simultaneously, each person has a unique prakriti, or constitution which dominates their body and mind. The prakriti is the very nature of a person, determined by constitutions of the parents, the gestational period of the baby, and nature’s characteristics at the time of birth.

So why does knowing your prakriti matter?



Because If you know your constitution, you can know how to balance the energies in your body to maintain optimal health and prevent disease. Remember, there isn't just ONE healthy diet or lifestyle for all human beings, health is individualized! That is the uniqueness and power of Ayurveda. You can find out your constitution (dosha) here.

When we have a diet, herbs, and lifestyle tailor-made for our dosha, everything starts to fall in place. We can truly experience the peak health of our unique self!

For example, today if someone has diabetes, there will be set medication given to them that ALL diabetes patients follow. If that same patient went to an Ayurvedic doctor, they may be given a totally different healing regimen and herbs to take than the next patient who also has diabetes. This is because Ayurveda looks at what is imbalanced in the individual; it looks to address the cause of disease, not just treat the symptoms. Only by evaluating the constitution of a patient's body (prakriti) along with their current imbalance (vikriti), treatment can be properly given. And at Ananda Ayurveda that’s exactly what we offer - an opportunity for you to evaluate what YOUR unique constitution is!

Discover your unique constitution and get a personalized one-on-one assessment here to find out EXACTLY what your unique body type is and how to optimize your health!

Now, what are the 3 doshas that rule our bodies.. and can you tell which one you are?

VATA
Vata dosha is comprised of the air and space elements. It is the energy of movement, responsible for all activity and motion of the body. A Vata predominant person tends to be physically slender, very tall or short, have dry skin, highly active, and can’t sit still for too long. Personality wise, Vatas tend to be extremely enthusiastic, creative, and imaginative, but can tend towards emotional ups and downs, indecisiveness, and confusion. Vata prakriti people tend to have issues with digestion, constipation, joint pain, weakness, and anxiety.

PITTA
Pitta dosha is comprised of the fire and water elements. It is the energy of transformation, responsible for changing food materials into our body tissues. A Pitta predominant person tends to have a moderate and muscular build, rosy and oily skin, and feel warm to the touch. Personality wise, they tend to be very competitive, driven, intelligent, leaders, and charismatic, but tend towards anger, aggression, agitation, and cunningness. Pitta prakriti people tend to have issues with inflammation, skin and eye problems, acidity, and overheating.

KAPHA
Kapha dosha is comprised of the earth and water elements. It is the energy of stability, responsible for the nourishment and vitality of the body. A Kapha predominant person tends to be more heavy set, gains weight easily, and has oily and lustrous skin and hair. Personality wise, they tend to be nurturing, passive, and calm, but tend towards tiredness, laziness, and depression. Kapha prakriti people tend to have issues with emotional imbalance, obesity, circulation, mucus, and respiratory health.

Firstly, if you don’t relate to just one of these, that’s completely normal! Most people are a combination of 2 doshas.

Interested in discovering what your dosha is? One of the easiest ways to start is by taking our FREE online quiz to discover your dosha. Our quiz will give you an overview of your dosha and what herbs may be best for your body type! 

Of course, the most accurate and helpful way to understand your dosha in-depth is to get personally evaluated by an Ayurvedic health counselor. So if you’re interested in a more personalized assessment to receive a diet, herb, and lifestyle plan individually designed for you, book a consultation here!