Knowing your personal mind-body-constitution is crucial to make Ayurveda work for you since its effectiveness is based on treating people individually. You see, every person is influenced by all three Doshas, but they manifest differently in everyone of us.
This Ayurveda Test will give you a hint about your "Prakriti" (also called Prakruti in many places) — your birth constitution that doesn't change throughout your life. It is made up from your parents' disposition and determines your main physical characteristics and emotional behaviour. So knowing your ayurvedic type will help you figuring out a diet and lifestyle that are perfect for you personally and how to find the remedies that work for you.
It will also help you understanding yourself better; why you are the way you are and act the way you act.
However online tests can never give you perfectly accurate results, so once you know your Doshas keep observing yourself to deepen your knowledge about your Prakriti.
HINT: You can select/deselect more than one answer by using the Control-Key (Win) or Apple-Key (Mac).
| Vata | Pitta | Kapha | |
|---|---|---|---|
| physical constitution | |||
| frame | thin, lanky, boney and taller or shorter than average | average build and size, weight centered in middle | heavy, stocky, broad and either very tall or very short |
| weight | low, difficulties in gaining weight | moderate, no difficulties in gaining or loosing weight | heavy, difficulties in loosing weight |
| appetite | unpredictable, irregular, variable | strong, cannot skip meals and will have to eat again after 3 or 4 hours | constant but can skip meals easily and tolerate hunger and thirst |
| amount of food | very variable, sometime much sometimes less | comparatively more, can eat large quantities at once | comparatively less |
| skin texture | thin and dry, cool to touch, rough | smooth and warm, oily T-zone | thick and moist/greasy, cold |
| complexion | dark, tans easily | fair with freckles, moles, prone to sunburn | pale and hardly tans |
| hair | dry, brittle and curly/frizzy | soft, straight and fine | thick and weavy, tends to get greasy |
| eyes | small and dry, blink a lot | penetrating gaze, reddish sclerae | large and moist, white sclerae |
| lips | thin and dry, often chapped | pink and soft | full and smooth |
| teeth | crooked, irregular with receding gums | yellowish, gums easily bleed | large, white and straight |
| fingers & nails | delicate, small and long fingers with chipped nails | regular fingers with pink and soft nails | wide, angular fingers with large and hard nails |
| voice | low volume, hoarse and cracking | loud and sharp | pleasant, harmonious, low pitch |
| body temperature | less than normal; cold feet and hands | more than normal; palms, feet and face warm or hot | normal, palms and feet cool |
| persipation | scanty with little odour | intense during physical activities or when it gets hot, sharp smell | constant and moderate, sweet smell |
| sleep | light sleeper, awakes easily and may have difficulties falling asleep | sleeps deep and even, hardly needs more than 8 hours sleep | long and sound sleeper, has difficulties awakening even after long hours of sleep |
| walk | fast with a light step | average speed, determined step | slow pace, steady step |
| weather | prefers warm climates, dislikes windy dry and cold days | prefers cooler climates, dislikes heat | adaptable to most climates but can't stant cold and rainy days |
| mental constitution | |||
| temperament | lively and enthusiastic, likes to change | purposeful and intense, likes to convince | easy going and accepting, likes to support |
| social | independant but insecure, nervous in new situations | outgoing, assertive, accessible, leader nature | follower, good listener, accommodating, lots of friends |
| negative traits | uncertain and jumpy | furious and bossy | greedy and possessive |
| under stress | becomes anxious and worried | becomes irritable and aggressive | becomes withdrawn and passive |
| talk | very talkative; fast, diffused speaking | talkative, good speaker, good at arguments | slow, steady speaker, limited speech, cautious |
| memory | short attention span, forgets things easily | moderate, remembers details clearly and forgets rather slowly | excellent long-term memory, hardly forgets anything |
| learning type | mainly verbal, might have difficulties in truly understanding | lots of visual imagery, learns efficiently | feelings and emotions involved, usually grasping late but ultimately understandig well |
| dreams | flying, searching, restless, prone to nightmares | fighting, violent, passionate and colorful | few, sentimental, romantic, watery, sad |
| love | falls in and out of love easily | intense, passionate love affairs | long term relationships full of affection and love |
| creativity | distinct and detailed ideas in many areas | inventive in technical or scientific areas | creative when dealing with business things |
| decisions | making decisions often feels like a problematic and difficult process | makes decisions quickly and determined | take their time to think things through |
| interests | travelling, dancing, arts | sports, politics, luxury | business, food, literature |
| finances | spends easily, doesn't save much and often feels poor | spends money on certain chosen things, luxury | saves money, spends freely on food and entertainment |
| activity | hyperactive, restless | active, enjoys exercise and competition | somewhat lethargic |
| sex drive | extreme or none at all | passionate and dominating | constant and loyal |
| beliefs | erratic, rebel, changing | determined, strong principles | permanent, don't change easily |
| lifestyle | erratic, free and unattached | bustling, well planned | regular, gets into a rut easily |
Vata types are generally thin with a slender frame and tend to extremes (e.g. are particularly small or tall) or irregularities, sleep lightly and thrive in warm climates. Often they are restlessly active, burn their energy quickly and can be brought out of balance quite easily.
Pitta people enjoy physical activity and have a strong appetite—often for sweets and cold drinks—and hardly gain or loose much weight. They quickly absorb information, know how to use them and have a good memory for things that are important to accomplish their goals.
Kapha people have a good stamina, sleep long and sound and detest cold, damp environments. In general they are of calm and gentle nature, well balanced, steady in mind and act deliberately.