Ayurveda: The Science of Life

Ayurveda is a 5000 year old, ancient and powerful system of healing.  Its focus on treating the whole person to maintain optimal health within the body, the mind and the spirit, is today being hailed, world-wide, as the true and organic method of promoting vibrant health and longevity.

The Doshas: What are they?

Vata, Pitta and Kapha: The Three Doshas

These are the first, fundamental energy fields of the Unified Field referred to in physics. These first three fields (or doshas) are Vata, Pitta and Kapha.  Vata, Pitta and Kapha are subtle but powerful fields that create the structure and function of the physical world including the human body. Ayurveda treats the imbalances found in the human constitutions of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Imbalance in the doshas manifest in imbalances in the body, mind and spirit and restoring balance re-invigorates those same aspects of the individual’s life so that true healing may occur from within.

Some qualities and characteristics of Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Vata governs bodily functions concerned with movement. Vata is especially involved in the movement of electrical activity up and down the nerves and therefore has a major function in the nervous system and brain. The flow of food through the digestive tract and the circulation also are controlled by the function of Vata.

Pitta governs bodily functions concerned with heat, metabolism and energy production. Pitta’s main activities are to control the chemical transformation processes associated with digestion and metabolism.

Kapha governs bodily functions concerned with physical structure and fluid balance. It is mainly concerned with fluid balance and the buildup of the gross structure of the body including fat, tissues and muscles.

These doshas also have the characteristic of being: movement (Vata), transformation (Pitta) and structure (Kapha). We are all made up of unique proportions of Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The ratios of the doshas vary in each individual.  Because of this, Ayurveda sees each person as a special mixture that accounts for our diversity.

Discover Your Dosha

The following simple test will give you a fairly good idea of the levels of your doshas. We have to remember that everyone has all three doshas, but in varying degrees.  After reading each description, mark 0 to 7 in the box provided. Note that values 2 and 5 are not assigned at all (don’t use them).

0	3	6
=Does Not Apply	Applies sometimes	Applies most of the time
1	4	7

Evaluating My Vata

Physical Attributes

1.	My physique is thin-I don’t gain weight easily.
2.	I am quick and active.
3.	My skin is usually dry, more so in winter.
4.	My hands and feet are usually cold.
5.	My energy fluctuates and comes in bursts.
6.	I usually develop gas or constipation.
7.	I usually have difficulty falling asleep or having a sound night’s sleep
8.	I am uncomfortable in cold weather.

Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Attributes

9.	My nature is lively and enthusiastic.
10.	I have difficulty memorizing things and remembering them later.
11.	It is easy for me to learn new things quickly, but I also forget quickly.
12.	I am not good at making decisions.
13.	I am anxious or worrisome by nature.
14.	People think I’m talkative and that I talk quickly.
15.	I am usually emotional by nature and moods fluctuate.
16.	My mind is restless, but also imaginative.
17.	I have irregular eating and sleeping habits.
	Total Veta

Evaluating My Pitta

Physical Attributes

1.	I don’t tolerate hot weather.
2.	I sweat easily.
3.	I can’t tolerate delaying or skipping a meal.
4.	My hair is fine, straight, light, blonde, red, graying early, or balding.
5.	My appetite is very good and I can eat big meals
6.	My bowel movements are regular.  I might have occasional loose stool but not much constipation.
7.	I like cold drinks and such foods as ice cream.
8.	I often feel hot.
9.	Spicy, hot foods upset my stomach.

Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Attributes

10.	I consider myself efficient.
11.	I try to be organized and accurate.
12.	I have a strong will and my friends think I am stubborn.
13.	I am impatient by nature.
14.	I tend to become irritable or angry quite easily.
15.	I try to be meticulous and am a perfectionist by nature.
16.	I get angry easily, but I don’t hold a grudge.
17.	I am usually critical of myself and others.
	Total Pitta

Evaluating My Kapha

Physical Attributes

1.	It is easy for me to gain weight but difficult to lose.
2.	Skipping meals is easy for me and does not cause any problems.
3.	I tend to have congestion, mucus, or sinus problems.
4.	I’m a sound sleeper.
5.	I have thick, oily, dark, wavy hair.
6.	My skin is smooth and soft with an almost pale complexion.
7.	My body frame is large and solid with a heavy bone structure.
8.	My digestion is slow, so I feel full after eating.
9.	I have a steady energy level with good endurance and strong .
10.	I’m sensitive to cool and damp weather.

Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Attributes

11.	I tend to be slow, methodical, and relaxed.
12.	I need to sleep a minimum of eight hours to feel well the next morning.
13.	By nature I am calm and composed.  I don’t get angry easily.
14.	I am not a quick learner but I am good at memorizing things and remembering them later.
15.	Many people consider me affectionate, forgiving, and peaceful.
16.	I usually oversleep and have difficulty waking up the next morning.
17.	I am very reluctant to take on new responsibilities.
	Total Kapha

My total scores are:

Vata	Pitta	Kapha

Write in your Doshas with the high score first, middle score second and low score last.

I am

first,

second,

third.