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The Body-Type Questionnaire
The body-type questionnaire that follows should be filled in to help ascertain your predominant
Ayurvedic dosha or body-type. Tick any attributes, abilities, conditions and states of mind or afflictions
that apply to you. If you are unsure about any of the questions you may wish to consult a friend who
knows you well and can perhaps be more objective. In reality the questionnaire is more likely to reveal
the particular doshas that are out of balance within your physiology. This is especially so if the bottom
half of the Vata, Pitta or Kapha questionnaire pages are ticked in preference to, or as well as, the top half.
For a more thorough understanding or your body-type it is best to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner who
will also read your pulse.
The questionnaire will also help you understand the traits and physical and mental characteristics of each
body-type. Each of us has a unique body-type, usually with one type (dosha) very prominent and one
close behind. Thus, a person with many Vata traits (lots of boxes ticked), fewer Pitta traits (less boxes
ticked) and very few Kapha traits (few boxes ticked) would be deemed a Vata/Pitta body-type. In this
example it could also be that the Vata traits show up mainly in the physical characteristics of the person
(right side of page) and the Pitta traits show up mainly in the mental or emotion side of the person (left
side of page). Each and every one of us has characterises of all three doshas in our physiology but one or
two of the doshas usually show up more predominantly.
Vata is composed of the elements of ether and air and governs the principle of movement and
communication in our physiology. Pitta is composed of the elements of fire and water and governs the
principle of energy and transformation in our physiology. It allows us to digest, absorb and assimilate
food, liquid and ideas. Kapha is composed of the elements of water and earth and governs the principle of
cohesion or structure. It is the ‘glue’ that holds or binds our physiology together.
It is our unique combination and percentage of each dosha; vata, pitta and kapha, that governs how we
interact with the rest of the relative universe. Our unique body-type gives us absolute individuality and
once we intimately understand, not only our own but other peoples, body-types we naturally behave more
tolerantly and become more gentle, more forgiving and less critical both of ourselves and others. With
this understanding comes not only the will and courage to adapt to our own strengths and weaknesses but
the ability to keep them in balance and functioning optimally.
Once you have filled in the body-type questionnaire and ascertained your unique Ayurvedic body-type
you can then follow the recommendations that follow to help stay balanced and healthy. If you have
ticked many of the boxes on the lower part of the vata, pitta or kapha questionnaire pages this indicates an
imbalance in that particular dosha. Even if this is not your predominant dosha (most ticks) you should
nevertheless balance this dosha first by following the recommendations for balancing that dosha.
Vata body type
Understanding Vata, Pitta & Kapha
Vata, pitta and Kapha are known as doshas in Ayurveda; they are the underlying principles that govern
the nature, transformation and structure of the physical universe. Each dosha is composed of two of the
five elements (ether, air, fire, water and earth) and it is the specific combination of these elements that
determines each doshas characteristic qualities and ultimately their overall effect in nature. Every object
in the natural world is composed of the elements of vata, pitta and kapha and it is the relative proportion
of each dosha or element that determines its uniqueness and differentiates it from another objects.
Vata is composed of the elements of air and space and its qualities are light, subtle, moving, cold, dry,
hard and rough. Vata governs movement in the mind and body. Pitta is composed of the elements of fire
and water and its qualities are hot, acidic, sour and sharp. Pitta governs transformation in the mind and
body, whether it’s the digestion, assimilation and metabolism of food and water into energy or the
digestion and assimilation of thoughts and ideas into actions. Kapha is composed of the elements of
earth and water and its qualities are heavy, cold, slow, binding, sticky and smooth. Kapha is responsible
for the density and structure of our body.
A person with a predominance of Vata dosha walks more quickly, has a lighter build and has colder and
dryer skin than someone with a predominance of Pitta or Kapha dosha in their constitution. Vata-type
people also tend to have very quick, agile minds and can be very creative. However, if their constitution
goes out of balance through excessive movement or irregularity they can suffer from feelings of
restlessness, boredom, fear, stress and anxiety. This may manifest in the body as poor circulation, cold
hands and feet, constipation and dry skin.
A person with more Pitta in their constitution has a hotter, fierier, more dynamic personality. They have
lots of energy, high ambitions, sharp intellects and good leadership qualities. However, if they go out of
balance and their innate ‘fire’ becomes too high they can quickly become angry, stressed and frustrated.
They generally have a strong digestive fire and immune system but when they slip out of balance they can
develop rashes, ulcers, acid stomachs and heart problems.
A person with a predominance of Kapha dosha in their constitution is generally slower, heavier, calmer
and more grounded than either Pitta or Vata. They are caring, loving, forgiving individuals with a placid,
easy-going nature. They have strong, solid bodies but can suffer from weight gain, lethargy and heaviness
when they are out of balance.
With an understanding of the qualities inherent in the elements that combine to make up the three doshas
we are able to keep the doshas in balance in our own bodies and thereby remain healthy, happy and free
from dis-ease. Any excessive increase in any of the qualities present in our doshic make-up will tend to
aggravate that dosha and will lead to imbalance. To decrease a quality we need to increase its opposite
quality. Thus, is we are a predominantly Vata body-type and we become excessively cold or are exposed
to noisy, busy environments with excess movement we will soon become imbalanced and un-grounded.
If we immediately introduce the opposite qualities of warmth or calmness and quietness we will soon
bring ourselves back into a grounded, more balanced state. Similarly, for a Pitta person, who has a
predominance of heat, the opposing quality of coldness will bring them back into balance. A Kapha
person, who has a predominance of heaviness, will be balanced by the opposing quality of lightness.
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