Ayurveda Mini Course
Day 3: Discover your Dosha Constitution
This is the final lesson this mini course. You will discover your Dosha Constitution, as well as what Doshas are currently out of balance.
Discover your Constitution
We each contain a unique mixture of all three doshas—our own individual blend of space, air, fire, water, and earth. There is no “good” or “bad” dosha type—only balanced and imbalanced doshas. Each dosha has many gifts and powerful qualities. And when we’re in balance, we’re able to experience the full expression of these gifts.
Below, you will find two quizzes that will help you discover your Dosha Constitution, as well as what Doshas are currently out of balance for you:
Prakruti Quiz
The Prakruti quiz is an inquiry into your basic physical characteristics, as well as your mental and emotional tendencies. When answering the questions, think in terms of which statement or statements have been true for you for most of your life. If you developed an illness in childhood or as an adult, think of how things were for you before that illness.
For objective physical traits, your choice will usually be obvious. Since mental traits and behavior tend to be more subjective, you should answer according to how you have felt and acted most of your life, or at least in the past few years.
Vikruti Quiz
The Vikruti quiz asks about your current state of health. It is most helpful if you answer these questions according to what has been true for you for the past few weeks. You will have three possible answers to choose from: Not at All (1 point), Somewhat/Occasionally (3 points), and Very Often (5 points). When answering questions about medical conditions, if you have never been diagnosed with a medical condition, choose the answer “Not at all.” If you have been diagnosed with a medical condition, choose “Very often.”
When you have completed both quizzes, please add up the scores for both sections and write them down.
TEACHER'S NOTE
I want to reiterate that the two different sections of the quiz help you determine two different things.
- The first part, the Prakruti test, assesses your respective mind-body constitution at conception. This never changes. This is who you are.
- The second part, the Vikruti section, measures your current states of balance and imbalance. The Vikruti score can be different as life goes through its ups and downs.
If you take the Vikruti quiz at different times in your life, you will likely notice that the score will change depending on what is happening in your life at that time.
I find it helpful to take the Vikruti quiz during changes in life (new job, new schedule, etc.), as well as during seasonal changes. It will help you see what doshas you need to balance so that you can get back to your best self.
Celebrate your Dosha Type
As you celebrate your dosha type, keep in mind that an individual will never perfectly match the description of one particular dosha.
For example, you may be a bi-doshic type, with Kapha as your predominant dosha, and strong Vata or Pitta characteristics.
As you become aware of your unique tendencies and qualities, you will understand what you need to cultivate balance.
This will allow you to experience your full potential for radiant health and happiness.
The Ayurvedic Keys to Longevity and Balance
Agni, Ojas, and Ama
In Ayurveda, our health depends on proper digestion. Your digestion can produce vital energy or damaging toxins—it's up to you.
Nutrition is not limited to what goes in our mouths. It involves being conscious of all the steps involved in nourishing ourselves.
In the act of eating, we consume not only the calories, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates of the food, but we are also influenced by our emotional state while we eat, the environment in which we eat, and the manner in which the food is prepared. The same meal can be metabolized by our body in entirely different ways depending on how it is prepared, our frame of mind when we consume it, and even what time of day we eat. In my course, you will learn tips for increasing metabolism.
The strength of our digestion is the most important factor in determining how well the food we eat will be digested, absorbed, and used by our body.
Agni
In Ayurveda, your digestive strength is known as your agni. It's represented by the element of fire, and you can think of it as your internal furnace. When the flame is strong, your digestion is strong—and it gives energy and life force to your entire body. When the flame is weak, your digestion is weak, and you're unable to break down your food and experiences into something your body can metabolize. As a result, you build up harmful toxins throughout your system.
Ojas
The byproduct of strong agni is ojas. Ojas is the subtlest life essence that's extracted from food, emotions, and experiences that have been completely digested. It gives us strength, vitality, and energy, while supporting strong immunity.
Ama
A weak digestive fire results in toxic residue that accumulates in the body. This harmful residue, known as ama, is an underlying cause of disease.
| SANSKRIT |
PRONUNCIATION |
DEFINITION |
|---|---|---|
| Agni |
ah-gnee |
Digestive fire; the ability to break down food and other information taken in from the environment |
| Ojas | oh-jes |
Subtle life essence and nourishment; produced when digestion is strong |
| Ama |
Ah-mah | Toxic residue left behind when digestion is weak and foods and experiences can't be completely metabolized |
1. First, you take in sensory impressions, food, and experiences.
You're constantly experiencing the world through your five senses, taking in sounds, textures, sights, foods, and smells.
2. You metabolize the world around you through your agni, or digestive fire.
Remember, your agni helps you digest all of your experiences—not just your food.
Agni represents the concept of digestion and is responsible for metabolizing all that we take in—at the macromolecule level and the cellular level. It creates healthy, functional tissues, while also giving us energy and vitality.
Just like a fire in a fireplace, our digestive fire is capable of consuming even the heaviest fuel when it is burning brightly. When our agni is strong and healthy, we are able to extract the greatest level of nourishment from our diet.
3. Strong agni creates ojas.
Ojas is the product of good digestion—nourishment for the mind and body.
The byproduct of healthy digestion is known as ojas, a Sanskrit word that means “vigor.” Ojas is the end product of perfect digestion. It is the pure substance that’s extracted from food, emotions, and experiences that have been completely digested. It is the subtlest life essence and exists at the junction of consciousness and matter, giving us strength and vitality.
Ojas is the subtle luster of skin, the shine of the eyes, and the radiance of good health. Recent research has linked this Ayurvedic concept to proper neurotransmitter function, proper hormonal function, and overall homeostasis of the physiology.
When ojas is strong:
- We may feel rested when we wake up.
- Our tongue is pink and clear.
- Our body feels light, regardless of our weight.
- We feel centered throughout the day.
- Our digestion is strong, without bloating or constipation.
- We feel energized and enthusiastic.
- Our mind is clear.
- Our body has a pleasant smell.
- We rarely get sick.
In short, we all need ojas to create a healthy mind, body, and spirit.
4. Weak agni creates ama.
According to Ayurveda, the accumulation of ama leads to disease.
When the digestive fire is weak or irregular, we are unable to completely digest our food, emotions, experiences, and information. As a result, our body accumulates what is known as ama, or toxic residue.
Ama blocks the free flow of energy and information throughout our body, weakening our immune system and making us feel lethargic and tired. It is undigested—or improperly digested—food residue that lodges itself within the tissues and organs when digestion is poor and agni is low. This shows up as “tissue sludge,” such as excess fat, plaque, and cholesterol that clog the major channels of the body. At the microscopic level, ama is represented by toxic metabolites and chemicals that create inflammation.
Accumulated ama contributes to fatigue, generalized pain throughout the body, depression, susceptibility to infections, a dull appetite, and oversensitive digestion.
Here are some signs that we have accumulated ama in our body/mind:
- Bad breath
- Coated tongue
- Dull appetite
- Delicate digestion
- Heartburn, bloating, or nausea after eating
- Sluggish or irritable elimination
- Generalized pain
- Fatigue
- Mental fog and trouble focusing
- Depression
- Susceptibility to infections
- Difficulty manifesting intentions
- Feeling of heaviness in the body
Ojas & Ama Quiz
Download and complete the Ojas & Ama Quiz below to uncover your current state of digestive health.
Balancing the Doshas
As you will learn in my Ayurveda Health Enrichment course, we use the sense of sight, sound, and smell to balance the mind and emotions. And we use the sense of taste and touch to balance the body.
Meditation and Pranayama practices (breathing exercises) are also powerful tools for balancing the mind, no matter which dosha is out of balance. You'll learn simple meditation and breathing exercises in my course, as well.
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In my full course, you will learn easy, practical ways to find balance and increase ojas through personalized tools for your own unique dosha type.
Access the full course below!
Get my Course for a Happier, Healthier You
Learn how your Dosha type affects your mental and physical health, how to find your own unique state of balance, and learn personalized tools for creating a healthy, holistic lifestyle that works for you!
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