discover your dosha
Find out your unique mind-body type and how to restore balance and harmony to your body, mind and life
TAKE THE SURVEYWhat is a dosha?
According to Ayurveda, we are all made up of nature's five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether (or Space).
These elements combine to create “doshas” or dynamic forces known as Vata, Pitta and Kapha. They are similar to body types as we understand in the West but so much more.
- Vata is the combination of Ether (or Space) and Air
- Pitta is the combination of Fire and Water
- Kapha is the combination of Earth and Water
While we each have all of the doshas within us, we tend to have one or two that dominate our constitution creating our unique mind-body type. For example; Vata-Pitta or Vata-Kapha. You might think of it as your unique inner climate.
Your essential nature
There are two things to consider when exploring the doshas: your Prakruti and your Vikriti.
Your Prakruti is your essential nature or the blueprint that you were born with. It was established at your conception and remains consistent throughout your life.
Your Vikriti is your current state of balance or imbalance. The Sanskrit term Vikriti literally means "deviating from Nature". As you move through life it fluctuates according to your lifestyle, environment, stress, your diet, your age, the seasons, and many other factors.
Take the survey
The following survey will help you gain insights as to your Prakruti, or essential nature.
When completing the survey, select the response that most closely describes you throughout your whole life as opposed to now or the recent past. If you’re unsure which response is most you it can be helpful to ask a close family member or friend for their perspective.
For a more thorough assessment, or to determine any current imbalances, we recommend booking an online or face to face Ayurveda Consultation. During this appointment, our Ayurvedic Doctor will also analyse additional characteristics such as your pulse, your speech, your eyes and your tongue and support you with a personalised well-being plan.
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View our collection of organic, handcrafted, herbal tea blends and Ayurveda lifestyle products to help balance your dosha and restore harmony to your body, mind and life.
How does knowing my dosha help me?
When we are familiar with our dosha we are able to make more conscious choices to support our well-being. With time we become more aware of how the doshas play out within us and better at responding to their signals or messages – identifying and correcting imbalances before we get sick.
Ayurveda says that we are all like living books and to understand physical and mental well-being we must read ourselves every day. With time, this practice becomes increasingly natural and insightful. For instance, you might find yourself feeling sluggish or heavy, and feel like your Kapha is out of balance. You can choose to consume Kapha balancing foods, increase your level of physical activity and make an effort to wake up earlier in the morning.
Or perhaps your skin is breaking out, and you find yourself having a shorter fuse or less patience than usual which is a sign of your Pitta being out of whack. Reducing Pitta imbalancing foods, adjusting your yoga style, or incorporating cooling pranayama practise (breathing technique) can help you to restore a sense of equilibrium.
The important thing to keep in mind is that the aim of Ayurveda is not to have equal amounts of each dosha, but rather to be balanced in your own nature. And balance is a state of dynamic equilibrium, as circumstances inside and around us constantly shift and change.
The key to this is cultivating our sense of self-awareness, or a capacity to tune in and observe ourselves. By knowing what and how we’re thinking and feeling throughout the day, we’re more able to respond to our internal and external environment consciously. This is where a regular meditation practise comes in.
Ayurveda Consultations
Meet with our Ayurveda Doctor face-to-face or online for a comprehensive assessment using traditional techniques such as pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, eye diagnosis, face, lips and nails examination to confirm your dosha (mind-body type), any current imbalances and develop a personalised wellbeing plan.
Based on the findings you will be given an individualised plan to follow which may include several approaches to restore balance and harmony to your body, mind and life such as:
- Nutritional suggestions
- Daily routines and lifestyle practices in accordance with the season
- Yoga, meditation and breathing practices
- Therapeutic treatments
- Herbs and herbal oils
- Cleansing techniques and detoxification