What Are Doshas? Discover Your Ayurvedic Mind-Body Type

Samantha Leonard
Jan 9
3 min read

Updated: Feb 17

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, offers profound insights into how we

function as individuals and how we can achieve balance in life. Central to this wisdom are the doshas—three unique energies that govern our physical, mental, and emotional makeup. These doshas, known as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, are derived from the five elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth.

Each person has a unique blend of all three doshas, but typically one or two are more dominant. Understanding your dosha can help you make informed choices about diet, lifestyle, and self-care to stay in balance.

Vata: Associated with space and air, Vata governs movement and creativity. When balanced, it brings energy and adaptability; when imbalanced, it can lead to anxiety, restlessness, and digestive issues.

Pitta: Representing fire and water, Pitta governs transformation and metabolism. Balanced Pitta brings focus and vitality, but too much can lead to irritability, overheating, and inflammation.

Kapha: A combination of earth and water, Kapha provides stability and
nourishment. When balanced, Kapha brings calm and endurance; when imbalanced, it can lead to lethargy and congestion.

Ready to discover your dosha? Take this abbreviated quiz!

What’s Your Ayurvedic Dosha?

Below is a complete quiz to help you discover your dominant dosha. Answer each

question honestly, choosing the option (A, B, or C) that best describes you most of the time. At the end, tally up your answers to find your dosha.

1. Body Type

A: Lean and slender, often find it hard to gain weight.
B: Medium, muscular build, gain or lose weight easily.
C: Solid, larger frame, gain weight easily and slowly lose it.

2. Skin

A: Dry, rough, and cool to the touch.
B: Oily, sensitive, and warm.
C: Soft, thick, and smooth.

3. Hair

A: Thin, dry, or frizzy.
B: Fine but prone to greasiness or premature graying.
C: Thick, lustrous, and oily.

4. Sleep Patterns

A: Light sleeper, wake up easily, irregular sleep.
B: Medium sleep, wake up feeling rested.
C: Heavy sleeper, love to sleep and often oversleep.

5. Energy Levels

A: Erratic, bursts of energy followed by exhaustion.
B: Consistently high but prone to burnout.
C: Steady, but often slow-moving.

6. Digestion

A: Irregular appetite, prone to bloating or gas.
B: Strong digestion, often feel hungry, but prone to acidity or heartburn.
C: Slow digestion, often feel heavy after meals.

7. Stress Response

A: Anxiety, overthinking, worry.
B: Irritability, frustration, anger.
C: Withdrawal, lethargy, comfort eating.

8. Weather Preferences

A: Prefer warm weather, dislike cold.
B: Prefer cool weather, dislike heat.
C: Prefer dry, warm weather, dislike dampness.

9. Emotional Tendencies

A: Restless, creative, easily distracted.
B: Determined, goal-oriented, perfectionist.
C: Calm, nurturing, and sometimes resistant to change.

10. Physical Activity

A: Quick and agile, but tire easily.
B: Competitive, focused, enjoy intense exercise.
C: Steady, strong, prefer gentle and endurance-based activities.

Tally Your Results

Count how many A’s, B’s, and C’s you selected.

Mostly A’s: You’re predominantly Vata (Air & Space).
Mostly B’s: You’re predominantly Pitta (Fire & Water).
Mostly C’s: You’re predominantly Kapha (Earth & Water).

Understanding Your Dosha

Vata: Creative, energetic, and flexible, but prone to anxiety and digestive issues when out of balance.
Pitta: Focused, driven, and strong, but can become irritable or overheated under stress.
Kapha: Calm, nurturing, and steady, but may struggle with lethargy or attachment when imbalanced.

By recognizing your dosha, you can make tailored choices about diet, exercise, and lifestyle to achieve greater harmony in your life.

Samantha is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, a Noom Certified Health Coach, and founder of Davidson Yoga Therapy and Health Coaching.

She has held complimentary healthcare positions at The Blanchard Institute, Atrium

Hospital, Levine Cancer Institute, Sanger Heart Clinic, and Davidson College. She has presented for Fortune 500 companies and major Universities, both public and professional audiences, on this thing called yoga therapy and what it can do when it is unpeeled, revealed, and adapted to meet the needs and the abilities of the person doing it.

She leverages her three decades of yoga therapy, and health coaching experience with the following therapeutic models:

Jungian Psychology
Interfaith Perspectives
Spiritual Technologies
Trauma Healing
Polyvagal Somatics
Compassionate Inquiry
Pain Reprocessing Therapy
The Neurosequential Model
Internal Family Systems

All this is to say, there are many doorways to use on the path to healing and self-discovery, and Samantha’s breadth of experience allows for vast creativity on which approach is right for you.

Book your free 30 minute discovery call today!

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