Your body-type
Pakriti and Vikriti
Discover your innate strengths and vulnerabilities through the following questionnaires.
Your mind-body constitution: Every individual is born with a certain proportion of various energies and elements. This is called one’s “prakriti”. Understanding our constitution makes us aware of our unique strengths and vulnerabilities guiding us to follow an ideal health regime for disease cure and prevention. The following column will give you a brief idea about your body type. Then continue to the self-care tips for details about how to adjust your lifestyle to suit your constitution.
Body type questionnaire simplified
The answers should be based on your tendency throughout your entire life.
| Criteria | Vata | Pitta | Kapha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personality | Light & easy Enthusiastic & vivacious |
Analytical & driven Competitive & challenging |
Loving & caring Supportive & concerned |
| Body frame | Tall or short | Muscular, strong | Large, broad, curved |
| Weight | Slim Loose easily |
Moderate weight Steady |
Heavy build Gains easily |
| Movements / walking | Quick and easy | Fast and measured | Slow and heavy |
| Professions | Teachers, Philosophers, communicators, organisers |
Leading, negotiating, brokers | Nursing, domestic care, cooks |
| Activities | Quick and restless Starts things, may not finish |
Moderate, directed Enjoys completing tasks |
Slow but steady Enjoys repetitive tasks |
| Sleep | Light and short (5-7 hours) |
Medium with colourful dreams | Deep and long 7-9 hours) |
| Dreams | Flying, jumping, climbing | Challenges, fights | Water bodies, food, clouds |
| Appetite and eating | Influenced by external factors. Eats large or very small quantity |
High level. Needs large amounts of food |
Slow and steady Needs moderate amount |
| Mind | Active, imaginative | Analytical, driven | Sensitive, steady |
| Memory | Good short term | Moderate in both | Good long term |
| Learning ability | Quick to learn and forget | Needs to analyse | Slow. Good retention |
| Temperament | Nervous, shy | Determined, motivated | Resilient, conservative |
| Excitability | Quick and temporary | Very quick, can endure | Very slow |
| Talking | Fast, uneven, may miss words | Sharp, provocative, calculated, logical | Slow, resonating, clear |
| Weather preference | Warm, moist weather Spring, autumn |
Cold weather Winter, rain |
Warm, dry weather Summer |
| Flavour preference | Sweet, sour, salty tastes | Bitter, astringent, sweet tastes | Pungent, astringent, bitter |
| Work preference | Communication, planning, forcasting | Marketing, analytical, crisis management | Caring, maintaining, repeated activities |
| Mouth | Spaces in between teeth | Bleeding gums | Rounded teeth |
| Skin | Thin, cool, needs moisturiser | Sensitive, warm, reddish, less hairy. Seeks shade |
Cool, thick, oily Loves sun |
| Hair | Curly, thin or dry. Profuse | Coloured, shiny, thin | Thick, flowing, rich, oily |
| Nose | Thin, crooked | Sharp, pointed | Rounded, big |
| Earlobe | Small, thin | Pointed tips | Fleshy and oily |
| Nail | Rough, dry, brittle, bitten | Soft, pink, strong | Soft, large, white |
| Circulation | Poor circulation | Good circulation | Moderate circulation |
| Urination | Variable timing, small amount | Regular, mildly strong | Pale, milky, large quantities |
| Defecation | Variable timing, hard | Regular, soft | Regular, large quantities |
| Sweating | Depends, usually less | Easy to sweat | Sweats profusely |
| Thirst | Variable | Very often | Seldom |
| Usual emotional imbalances | Anxiety, fear, worry, excessive thoughts –‘can’t switch off’ |
Frustration, anger, vengence, jealousy | Depression, lack of motivation, static, dependant |
| Usual disease tendencies | Aches and pain Weight loss Inadequate circulation Neuromuscular conditions |
Acidity and heartburn Overheating Overflow (e. g: diarrhoea) Digestive problems |
Weight gain Sluggishness Unmotivated Circulatory insufficiencies |
| Total % |
Your present imbalance – Vikruti
| Criteria | Vata imbalance | Pitta imbalance | Kapha imbalance | Healthy state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep | Restless, Interrupted |
Night sweats | Deep, long Heavy |
Easy to fall asleep Deep sleep is maintained Refreshed when wake up |
| Dreams | Flying, fearful Teeth loss, travel |
Violent, anger Fire, fights |
Melancholy Water, sewrage |
Can’t remember |
| Appetite | Fluctuates Restless after eating |
Excessive Tired after eating |
Weak appetite Sleepy after eating |
Excellent Energised after eating |
| Digestion | Gas, bloating Headaches |
Heartburn, Excessive sweating |
Feel heavy and sluggish Excessive salivation |
No discomfort |
| Energy | Fluctuates | Agitated | Low, sluggish | Excellent, steady |
| Craving | Crisps, fizzy drinks, protein | Sugar, cold water & alcohol | Cheese, potatoes, Deep fried |
Almost never |
| Urine | Clear, scanty With pain |
Strong, odorous Burning sensation |
Milky, excessive Incomplete feeling |
4-5 times daily Normal |
| Defecation | Constipated Unsatisfied |
Diarrhoea Unsatisfied |
Sticky and heavy Unsatisfied |
1-2 times daily Satisfied |
| What do you think about the world? |
Very confusing | Very violent | Hopeless | World is a teacher |
| Total % | Vata | Pitta | Kapha |
Now you have ascertained your mind/body constitution
here are some tips to stay in balance.
Vata lifestyle tips
If you are a predominantly vata constitution it may be helpful to incorporate the following adjustments into your life.
Avoid:
- Irregular eating, sleeping, exercising, working times
- Frequent drastic changes in climate and environment
- Situations that threaten your security and serenity
- Overactivity whether it be work, exercise or socialising
- Excessive intake of stimulants such as caffeine, sugar, alcohol, recreational drugs.
- Too many foods that are either raw, cold, dry, bitter, pungent or astringent.
- Exposure to cold, dry and windy weather
- Fasting or stringent dietary restrictions.
Favour:
- Regulated eating, sleeping, exercising and working hours
- Pleasantly warm and moist climates
- Supportive friends and a calming living and working environment
- Moderation in all things.(including talking, working, exercising)
- Warming essential oils such as musk, wintergreen, lemongrass
- Earthing and energising colours such as brown, maroon, yellow and orange
- Daily meditation, yoga nidra and self massage
- Foods that are cooked, lidoqur, warm, sweet, sour and salty
Pitta lifestyle tips
If you are a predominantly pitta constitution it may be helpful to incorporate the following adjustments into your life.
Avoid:
- Having unrealistic expectations of oneself and others
- Violent or passionate stimuli
- Situations that will make you angry or irritable
- High pressure jobs or situations
- Spicy, oily, salty, acidic, fermented food and alcohol
- Hot, humid weather, water or air (e.g: sun, shower and hairdryer)
- Eating when stressed or in a rush
Favour:
- Cultivate a calm and patient mind-set
- Soothing and peaceful company
- Work that is challenging but not stressful
- Food that is sweet, bitter, astringent, cooling and juicy
- Calming music, cool breezes and water
- Cooling exercise in an uncompetitive spirit such as swimming, dancing, yoga
- Essential oils such as sandalwood, lavender, jasmine, rose and vetivert
- Pastel colours and white
- Simplifying ones lifestyle and desires
Kapha lifestyle tips
If you are a predominantly kapha constitution it may be helpful to incorporate the following adjustments into your life.
Avoid:
- Being sedentary for long periods
- Staying in dissatisfactory circumstances
- Being overly dependant on others for happiness and security
- Overindulging in rich, fatty, sweet, salty or sour foods
- Overeating, oversleeping and underexercising
- Lack of mental stimulation and creative activity
- Cold, moist weather
Favour:
- Vigorous exercise and challenging endeavours
- Sharing abundance and joy with others
- Positive change and risk taking
- Food that is light, low fat, pungent, astringent and bitter
- Skipping meals when not hungry
- Rising in the early morning
- Learning new and stimulating things
- Cinnamon, clove, cedar and juniper essential oils
- Rich and warming colours with patterns