Have you ever taken a dosha quiz in a magazine, online or from a book hoping to discover if you were Vata, Pitta or Kapha? Did you get varying results on truth about dosha quizes that only left you more confused? Recently, I was speaking with a guest at Mekosha, who had previously taken an online dosha quiz. She asked me about her multi-test conundrum. Her results indicated she was either Vata Kapha dual dosha, or Kapha-dominant dosha or perhaps she was even Tri Doshic! What was she to think?

The confusion starts early on as most of us realize that we have all three doshas, just in different amounts. What the test is measuring is not which dosha you are, rather it is measuring your own unique mix of doshas! You should see a little of each or a prominence of one or two doshas, reflecting your Prakruti (constitution).

Pitta derives from the elements of Fire and Water and translates as “that which cooks.” The qualities of Pitta are oily, sharp, hot, light, moving, liquid, and acidic. A Pitta individual will display physical and mental characteristics that reflect these qualities in both a balanced and imbalanced state. The balanced Pitta individual is blessed with a joyful disposition, a sharp intellect, and tremendous courage and drive. As the fire of the mind and body becomes unruly, however, the laughing Pitta quickly becomes the yelling Pitta. Anger, rage, and ego replace Pitta’s positive attributes, leaving an individual who is bitter with life and overbearing towards others.

Vata derives from the elements of Space and Air and translates as “wind” or “that which moves things.” Just as the wind in balance provides movement and expression to the natural world, the balanced Vata individual is active, creative, and gifted with a natural ability to express and communicate. When the wind in a Vata type rages like a hurricane, negative qualities quickly overshadow these positive attributes. Common signs of Vata imbalance include anxiety and bodily disorders related to dryness, such as dry skin and constipation.The qualities of Vata are dry, rough, light, cold, subtle, and mobile. A Vata individual will display physical and mental characteristics that reflect these qualities in both a balanced and an imbalanced state.