Ayurvedic therapy is based on knowledge of your constitution – of your unique mind-body condition. In Sanskrit, the word for constitution is Prakriti, or ‘first creation’, which relates to your constitution at birth. Ayurveda sees illness as a product of your lifestyle more than an invasion by an outside force, and different constitution types depend on different approaches to maintain a healthy balance. Armed with the knowledge of your constitution type, you can select what’s best for you from the rest of this book.
The sensory inputs of your mother had a great effect on you before you were born. Whether your mother was contented or conflicted, what kind of music(sounds) she was listening to – all these factors can result in an increase of agitation and aggravate vata dosha. Other influences are hereditary traits – both strengths and weaknesses –
along with the age and fitness of your parents. the seasonal influences and the condition of the sperm and ova at the moment of conception also influenced your constitution at the time of your birth.
Evaluating Your Constitution Type
The following sections offer ways to determine your constitution type, or dosha, from three different aspects: physical type, physiological traits, and psychological characteristics. The word dosha actually means ‘fault’ in Sanskrit, because the elements that make up your dosha are constantly subject to change. Therefore they can very easily go out of balance.
The doshic types are:
✓ Vata: Classed as an ectomorph in Western typology, you’re either taller or shorter than average, slim, and not able to put weight on easily. Mentally, you’re very agile and curious but quickly bored. You’re prone to nervous ailments and anxiety.
✓ Pitta: You’re a mesomorph in Western typology, being of medium build. Mentally, you’re very focused and can sustain concentration. You’re prone to inflammatory disorders of all types, such as mouth ulcers, skin rashes, and bouts of anger.
✓ Kapha: You’re closest to an endomorph in Western typology – heavy set, and you easily put on weight that you can’t shift. Mentally, you can deal with stress well but are susceptible to depression. You have a tendency towards lymphatic problems.
Checking Your Physical Type
You can get started determining your doshic profile by looking at your physical traits.
Looking at Physiological Traits
The doshas operate in different ways, with vata acting erratically, pitta in an exaggerated fashion and kapha slowly and sluggishly. Assessing your mental state. The balance of the gunas – the three subtle energies (rajas, tamas and sattva,) that give you certain characteristics or tendencies in your emotional makeup – determines your psychological traits.
Generally, vata is connected to rajas and movement, hence these individuals’ constant desire for change. Sattwa is connected to pitta and associated with the ability to concentrate for long periods. Finally, tamas is connected to
kapha and can make an individual slow and deliberate with a tendency to dislike change.
Determining Your Dosha
Totting up the ticks in each column in each of the tables in this chapter gives you a rough estimation of your doshic make-up. The column with the most ticks is your primary dosha; the one with the second-most number of ticks is your secondary dosha. There are very few pure types, and most people come under what’s known as a dual Prakriti, where two doshas are fairly prominent.
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