Are You Pitta, Vata or Kapha?

If you know about the doshas already, feel free to scroll down for the quiz, otherwise let's start with a brief introduction to them.

 

For thousands of years, Ayurveda has offered a timeless way of understanding health and well-being. At its core is the idea that each of us is shaped by three natural forces, called doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. You can think of them as the energies of air and space (Vata), fire and water (Pitta), and earth and water (Kapha).

These aren’t just abstract concepts - they’re alive in you. The doshas influence how your body feels, how your mind works, and even how you show up in the world. One person might be quick-thinking and full of creative bursts (a Vata trait), another might be fiery, focused, and driven (a Pitta quality), while someone else radiates calmness, steadiness, and warmth (the gifts of Kapha). Most of us are a unique mix of all three, with one or two playing a leading role.

 

The beauty of Ayurveda is that by learning about your doshic makeup, you begin to understand yourself on a deeper level. You see why you crave certain foods, why your energy rises and dips the way it does, and even what helps you feel balanced when life feels overwhelming. This awareness can be the first step toward more ease, vitality, and harmony in your everyday life.

 

The quiz below is designed to help you discover which dosha - or blend of doshas - shapes you most. Think of it as a gentle introduction to your own Ayurvedic blueprint.

 

Are you ready to uncover the ancient wisdom within you? Let’s begin your journey with this quick ten question quiz.

Dosha Quiz – Wix Look

1. My body could generally be described as being:

2. My general tendency with weight in life has been:

3. My body temperature is generally:

4. My appetite is generally:

5. Over the day, my energy generally:

6. My tendency with sleep is:

7. I would prefer my day to be:

8. I generally make choices:

9. My stress response is to:

10. My general temperament in life is:

Pitta

MIND - Sharp, intellectual, direct, precise, discerning

BODY - Medium build, warm, muscular

SKIN - Sensitive, flush, acne-prone

HAIR - Tendency towards early greying or thinning

APPETITE - Strong, can eat just about anything, anytime

ROUTINE - Very precise and organized

SHOPPING STYLE - Spends on luxury items

TEMPERAMENT - Passionate, driven, courageous, strong sex drive, good leader

CONVERSATION STYLE - Speaks to convey a point

STRESS RESPONSE - Irritable, tendency to blame others

The Pitta dosha gives you a tendency to be assertive and determined, with a muscular body and a penetrating mind. As long as Pitta is balanced in your mind-body constitution, you will enjoy a strong appetite and digestive powers. You will find it easy to make decisions and work toward your goals.

 

When Pitta becomes imbalanced, heat begins to rise in the body and mind. Heartburn, ulcers, hypertension, and inflammatory conditions reflect excessive accumulation of the fire element. On the level of emotions, too much Pitta manifests as irritability and anger. These symptoms are signals to “chill.” Stop packing in too many things to do in too little time. Reduce your competitive activities, spend time in the inner quiet of meditation, and go for a walk in a natural setting that is soothing and cooling.

 

As you learn more about the qualities of your dosha, you’ll be able to recognize when an imbalance arises in your mind or body and take steps in your daily life to restore overall well-being.

Vata

MIND - Creative, quick, imaginative

BODY - Thin, light frame

SKIN - Dry

HAIR - Dry

APPETITE - Delicate, spontaneous, often miss meals

ROUTINE - Variable, spontaneous

SHOPPING STYLE - Loves to buy

TEMPERAMENT - Welcomes new experiences, excitable, friendly, energetic

CONVERSATION STYLE - Loves to talk

STRESS RESPONSE - Self-blaming tendency

Since Vata is the principle of movement and change, you will tend to always be on the go, with an energetic and creative mind. As long as Vata is in balance, you will be lively and enthusiastic, with a lean body.

 

If Vata becomes imbalanced in your mind-body system, your activity will start to feel out of control. Your mind may race, contributing to anxiety and insomnia. You may start skipping meals, resulting in unintended weight loss, and your digestion may become irregular. If you notice these early symptoms of a Vata imbalance, slow down, take time to meditate, don’t skip meals, and get to bed earlier. A regular lifestyle routine helps ground Vata so you are not carried away into the ethers.

 

As you learn more about the qualities of your dosha, you’ll be able to recognize when an imbalance arises in your mind or body and take steps in your daily life to restore overall well-being.

Kapha

MIND - Detail-oriented, steady, consistent

BODY - Sturdy, gains weight easily, has trouble losing it

SKIN - Smooth and oily

HAIR - Thick, oily

APPETITE - Loves to eat but has slow digestion

ROUTINE - Methodical and sturdy, resistant to change

SHOPPING STYLE - Saves

TEMPERAMENT - Thoughtful, forgiving, sweet, patient, loving, content, slow-moving

CONVERSATION STYLE - Simple and profound

STRESS RESPONSE - Withdrawn, aversion to dealing with stress

The Kapha dosha gives you a deep sense of stability and inner calm. Your body will tend to be heavyset and strong, and you will enjoy excellent stamina and energy. You do not get easily ruffled and have a fairly laid-back approach to life.

 

When Kapha becomes imbalanced, however, it can manifest in your body as excess weight gain, fluid retention, and allergies. On the level of the mind, excess Kapha can lead to resistance to change and stubbornness. If you have a Kapha imbalance, you will tend to hold on to things, jobs, habits, and relationships long after they are no longer nourishing or necessary. To lighten the heaviness of Kapha, be sure to get regular physical exercise. Eat light, spicy foods, and give away things you have been accumulating that you know you’ll never use.

 

As you learn more about the qualities of your dosha, you’ll be able to recognize when an imbalance arises in your mind or body and take steps in your daily life to restore overall well-being.

Vata and Pitta

VATA CHARACTERISTICS

MIND - Creative, quick, imaginative

BODY - Thin, light frame

SKIN - Dry

HAIR - Dry

APPETITE - Delicate, spontaneous, often miss meals

ROUTINE - Variable, spontaneous

SHOPPING STYLE - Loves to buy

TEMPERAMENT - Welcomes new experiences, excitable, friendly, energetic

CONVERSATION STYLE - Loves to talk

STRESS RESPONSE - Self-blaming tendency

PITTA CHARACTERISTICS

MIND - Sharp, intellectual, direct, precise, discerning

BODY - Medium build, warm, muscular

SKIN - Sensitive, flush, acne-prone

HAIR - Tendency towards early greying or thinning

APPETITE - Strong, can eat just about anything, anytime

ROUTINE - Very precise and organized

SHOPPING STYLE - Spends on luxury items

TEMPERAMENT - Passionate, driven, courageous, strong sex drive, good leader

CONVERSATION STYLE - Speaks to convey a point

STRESS RESPONSE - Irritable, tendency to blame others

Vata-Pitta types will have combined characteristics of both Vata and Pitta dosha. Some may notice more Vata qualities in the mind and more Pitta qualities in the body, while others will notice more Pitta qualities in the mind and more Vata qualities in the body. In general, you will have a relatively thin build with good muscle tone. You will be less likely to approach the extremes of either dosha. That is, you won’t be as prone to anxiety or as physically fragile as a Vata type, or as prone to irritability or inflammation as a Pitta type.

 

You may also have stronger digestion than pure Vata types and greater tolerance for cold, since Pitta improves the circulation. Pure Vata types, who are extremely sensitive to their environment, often fall prey to their intolerance for noise, cold drafts, and physical discomfort, but this is less true of Vata-Pittas. You may also notice you are a little more sensitive, spontaneous or playful than a pure Pitta type.

 

When out of balance, you may experience imbalances in both Vata and Pitta. For example, you may experience a tendency towards fear and anger, the negative emotions of the two doshas that predominate in your constitution. When you’re out of balance and under stress, this combination may cause you to become tense, hard-driving, and insecure. For this reason, it’s important to create a daily balancing routine with practices to release stress and emotional turmoil, including meditation, physical exercise, and restful sleep.

 

As you learn more about the qualities of each dosha, you’ll be able to recognize when an imbalance arises in your mind or body in either one of your dominant doshas and take steps in your daily life to restore overall well-being.

Vata and Kapha

VATA CHARACTERISTICS

MIND - Creative, quick, imaginative

BODY - Thin, light frame

SKIN - Dry

HAIR - Dry

APPETITE - Delicate, spontaneous, often miss meals

ROUTINE - Variable, spontaneous

SHOPPING STYLE - Loves to buy

TEMPERAMENT - Welcomes new experiences, excitable, friendly, energetic

CONVERSATION STYLE - Loves to talk

STRESS RESPONSE - Self-blaming tendency

KAPHA CHARACTERISTICS

MIND - Detail-oriented, steady, consistent

BODY - Sturdy, gains weight easily, has trouble losing it

SKIN - Smooth and oily

HAIR - Thick, oily

APPETITE - Loves to eat but has slow digestion

ROUTINE - Methodical and sturdy, resistant to change

SHOPPING STYLE - Saves

TEMPERAMENT - Thoughtful, forgiving, sweet, patient, loving, content, slow-moving

CONVERSATION STYLE - Simple and profound

STRESS RESPONSE - Withdrawn, aversion to dealing with stress

As a Vata-Kapha you will notice characteristics of both Vata and Kapha dominant in your nature. This type often has a hard time identifying itself because Vata and Kapha tend to be opposites. Some may notice more Vata qualities in the mind and more Kapha qualities in the body, while others will notice more Kapha qualities in the mind and more Vata qualities in the body.

 

As a Vata-Kapha type, you may have a thinner Vata frame combined with Kapha’s relaxed, easygoing manner – something no pure Vata ever displays. You may alternatively have Kapha’s solid build and Vata’s creative nature and need for movement - something no pure Kapha typically feels. Since both the Vata and Kapha dosha are cold, you may strongly dislike cool or cold weather. These cold doshas may also cause you to experience irregular or slow digestion.

 

Unlike Vatas, who are always in motion, Vata-Kaphas project a sense of inner and outer stability. Under stress you may show Vata’s alarmed reactions, or perhaps Kapha’s tendency to withdraw. You may also be quick and efficient when action is called for, yet have Kapha’s tendency to procrastinate when you’re not under an immediate deadline. Meditation, following a regular routine, exercise, and other mind-body practices will help you keep your doshas in balance.

 

As you learn more about the qualities of each dosha, you’ll be able to recognize when an imbalance arises in your mind or body in either one of your dominant doshas and take steps in your daily life to restore overall well-being.

Pitta and Kapha

PITTA CHARACTERISTICS

MIND - Sharp, intellectual, direct, precise, discerning

BODY - Medium build, warm, muscular

SKIN - Sensitive, flush, acne-prone

HAIR - Tendency towards early greying or thinning

APPETITE - Strong, can eat just about anything, anytime

ROUTINE - Very precise and organized

SHOPPING STYLE - Spends on luxury items

TEMPERAMENT - Passionate, driven, courageous, strong sex drive, good leader

CONVERSATION STYLE - Speaks to convey a point

STRESS RESPONSE - Irritable, tendency to blame others

KAPHA CHARACTERISTICS

MIND - Detail-oriented, steady, consistent

BODY - Sturdy, gains weight easily, has trouble losing it

SKIN - Smooth and oily

HAIR - Thick, oily

APPETITE - Loves to eat but has slow digestion

ROUTINE - Methodical and sturdy, resistant to change

SHOPPING STYLE - Saves

TEMPERAMENT - Thoughtful, forgiving, sweet, patient, loving, content, slow-moving

CONVERSATION STYLE - Simple and profound

STRESS RESPONSE - Withdrawn, aversion to dealing with stress

As a Pitta-Kapha you will notice characteristics of both Pitta and Kapha dominant in your nature. Kapha is such a strong structural element that it lends its thick, heavier physique to your two-dosha type. As a Pitta-Kapha, you may have Pitta’s intense manner and Kapha’s solid body, or perhaps Kapha’s calm demeanor and Pitta’s muscular body tone. This is a particularly good body type for athletes since it combines Pitta’s drive and energy with Kapha’s endurance. You may find it hard to miss a meal.

 

The combination of a strong Pitta digestion and Kapha’s stability generally fosters excellent physical health. Your personality may demonstrate Kapha stability and Pitta focus, complete with a tendency towards anger and criticism that is far different from the serenity of a pure Kapha. You can keep both doshas balanced in the mind and the body with a daily routine that includes meditation, optimal nutrition, and spending time in nature.

 

As you learn more about the qualities of each dosha, you’ll be able to recognize when an imbalance arises in your mind or body in either one of your dominant doshas and take steps in your daily life to restore overall well-being.