From the MASSAGE Magazine article, “What’s Your Dosha?” by Cynthia Copple, in the November 2009 issue. Article summary: India’s ancient system of healing, Ayurveda, provides a template for self-care through its focus on three main constitutions, or doshas.
by Cynthia Copple
For each category in each row, put an “X” in the column of the quality you feel describes you most. Put a mark next to the column which describes you best as you are (or were) when feeling most healthy (your nature), not when you are ill or unbalanced. You may choose one or two in each row; if you choose three, don’t mark it at all and go on to the next row.
| KAPHA | PITTA | VATA | |
| BODY TYPE | Sturdy, solid, muscular, very tall or very short | Moderate, soft, slight belly, may put on weight | Slim, wiry, moves a lot, weight tends to stay the same |
| APPETITE | Low, slight | Strong hunger | Up and down |
| DIGESTION | Slow, eats less | Fast, eats a lot | Variable |
| SLEEP | Long, more than 8 hours | Moderate, 7-8 hours, sound | Less, 6 hours or less, erratic |
| EVACUATION | Regular, sluggish, tendency toward constipation | With ease, 1-2 times a day, tendency toward diarrhea, light color feces | Irregular, sometimes constipated, hard, dark feces |
| ENERGY | Slow, steady | High, passionate, may burn out | Changeable |
| WORK HABITS | Likes regularity, slow and complete, may procrastinate, good long-term memory | Like to organize, managerial, ambitious, strong “gut reactions,” fast comprehension, likes learning | Creative, likes variety and change, lots of ideas, good short-term memory |
| EMOTIONS | Compassionate, level | Passionate, strong will | Spirited, changeable |
Total up each column