Ayurveda, meaning 'science of life', originated in India over 5,000 years ago.

Ayurveda is the art of living in harmony with nature which gives us tools that we can apply to every aspect of our lives. The core principle of ayurveda is balance. Utilizing diet, lifestyle, herbs and bodywork, ayurveda provides ultimate well-being for the body, mind and spirit.

We all have a pre-set balance of the 3 biological elements vata, pitta and kapha.  When these qualities are balanced, health and clarity are the natural outcome. When these elements are out of balance, disease will be present.  Ayurveda seeks to restore health and balance our lifestyles leading us to well-being and longevity.

Where modern medicine treats the symptom of disease, relieving pain but masking the problem, Ayurvedic medicine uses a holistic approach to the cure of disease by identifying the cause of a symptom, treating the cause and eliminating the root problem, preventing the complaint to arise again in the future.

When ayurveda and yoga are combined, healing is greatly enhanced, more powerful and effective. Ayurveda works from the outside in, using diet and herbal medicines. Yoga works from the inside out, using asanas, pranayama and meditation. These 2 therapies work hand in hand to restore balance creating physical health and mental well-being.

The 3 biological elements vata, pitta and kapha are dynamic forces of energy.

Your unique constitution of these 3 doshas is called your prakruti ‘nature’. You are born with your unique prakruti and it never changes throughout life. If any of your doshas were to increase due to conditions such as weather, seasons, stress and dietary choices, then you would be in a state of imbalance.

This is known as your vikrati. If this is the case you need to change your lifestyle to recreate balance for your mind, body and spirit.

Take this Constitutional Analysis Questionnaire to find out which elements are dominant in you...

To determine your unique mind- body constitution, mark the characteristics that best describe you.

Answer the questionnaire, first on how your mind and body function naturally throughout life. For example, if you are usually slim but have recently gained weight, then mark slim as this is your natural state.

If more than one state applies for each characteristic mark both.  Add up what you scored for each constitution to see which dosha dominates in you.

When you are done, take the test again, answer the questionnaire on how you are now. For example, if you have recently been suffering from insomnia but normally sleep ok, mark the appropriate characteristic.

After completing, add your scores and compare to your natural constitution to identify any doshic imbalance.

Physical Frame:

Thin, low weight, delicate, prominent bones (V) __

Medium, balanced weight, well proportioned, muscular (P) __

Large, solid bones, stocky, over weight (K) __

Skin:

Dry, rough, cold, prominent veins (V) __

Smooth, warm, oily, fair, sensitive (P) __

Thick, pale, cool, prone to acne (K) __

Hair:

Dry, frizzy, curly, coarse, brittle with split ends, dark (V) __

Oily, fine, balding, blonde, reddish, grey (P) __

Oily, lustrous, thick,shiny, wavy, brown (K) __

Lips:

Dry, thin, chapped (V) __

Soft, medium, pink (P) __

Large, thick, smooth, firm (K) __

Eyes:

Small, dry, dark (V) __

Medium, sharp, penetrating (P) __

Large, round, calm, loving (K) __

Nose:

Uneven, deviated septum (V) __

Long, pointed, red tip (P) __

Large, proportioned (K) __

Teeth:

Crooked, protruded (V) __

Yellowish, sensitive gums that bleed easily (P) __

Strong, white, straight, even (K) __

Nails:

Rough, brittle, cracked (V) __

Soft, flexible, lustrous, pink (P) __

Strong, whitish, smooth, polished (K) __

Joints:

Stiff, crack easily, prominent (V) __

Loose, sprain easily (P) __

Large, firm, well lubricated (K) __

Strength:

Low, poor endurance (V) __

Medium (P) __

Strong, good endurance (K) __

Appetite:

Variable, erratic, small amounts often (V) __

Strong, excessive (P) __

Slow but steady (K) __

Circulation:

Poor, col hands and feet (V) __

Good (P) __

Moderate (K) __

Sweating:

Very little (V) __

Profusely (P) __

Moderate, consistent (K) __

Elimination:

Dry, hard, constipation (V) __

Soft, oily, loose, diarrhoea (P) __

Regular, oily, heavy, thick, slow (K) __

Physical Activity:

Very active (V) __

Moderate (P) __

Sedentary, slow, lethargic (K) __

Mental Activity:

Very active, restless, alert, easily distracted (V) __

Intense, intelligent, focused, perfectionist (P) __

Calm and slow (K) __

General disposition:

Cheerful, adaptive, spacey, changeable (V) __

Clearheaded, practical, logical, asserted (P) __

Calm, patient, serious, passive (K) __

Emotional disposition: (your dominant negative emotions):

Insecure, anxious, fearful (V) __

Angry, frustrated, irritable, jealous (P) __

Attachment, grief, greed (K) __

Speech:

Fast and frequent (V) __

Direct, assertive, sharp (P) __

Slow and direct (K) __

Temperment:

Nervous (V) __

Highly motivated (P) __

Content generally (K) __

Memory:

Learn fast, forget easily (V) __

Sharp, clear (P) __

Slow to learn, retentive (K) __

Sleep:

Poor disturbed (V) __

Sound (P) __

Excessive, difficulty waking (K) __

Dreams:

Active, fearful (V) __

Passionate, fiery (P) __

Calm, romantic (K) __

Sex Drive:

Frequent, low stamina (V) __

Moderate, passionate (P) __

Variable, good stamina (K) __

Your Results:

Number of Vata: ___

Number of Pitta: ___

Number of Kapha: ___