• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Ayurveda Elements

  • Ayurveda
  • Articles
  • Self Care
  • Body-type Quiz
  • Retreats
  • Contact Us
    • Resources

Body-type Quiz

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

Ayure LLC © 2023 | +1.855.537.3594