I'm An Ayurvedic Practitioner & This Is The Dosha Question I Get All The Time

"What's the difference between my doshic constitution and my dosha that's out of balance?" As an Ayurvedic practitioner, this is the No. 1 question I get from clients.

Many of them have taken dosha quizzes and felt that sense of validation reading over their type, thinking, Yes, that is totally me. Then, after diving deeper, they've been confused to notice that some of the symptoms their body is experiencing do not align with the type they initially identified with.

I like to think of a doshic constitution as similar to a natal birth chart you'd receive in an astrology reading.

It is a unique makeup of all three of the dosha types—vata, pitta, and kapha—given as a percentage (or pie chart) that reflects the energies and qualities that make up who you are as a person.

These energies are expressed through your physical structure, physiology, and personality. They do not change.

For example, an Ayurvedic counselor could assess you as 56% vata, 28% kapha, and 16% pitta. This means vata is dominant in your nature. You've noticed many of the vata qualities and energies present within you for the majority of your life. You still have pitta and kapha energies, but they are less dominant in your nature.

This percentage, and the way it is expressed, is completely unique to you. Even if someone else has the exact same percentage breakdown, the way that the doshas present themselves through that person will look different from the way they present themselves through you.

I like to think of a doshic imbalance as a transit reading in astrology. This is a reading of where the grahas (moon, sun, and planets) are in the sky right now and how they might be influencing how you feel.

Similarly, a doshic imbalance describes where there is an excess of a specific dosha in your life based on your current experiences. This is not expressed as a percentage or pie chart but rather can be thought of as more of a bar chart.

Using the example above, this same client can be 56% vata, 28% kapha, and 16% pitta by nature. However, their doshic imbalance could be an excess of pitta.

This person could be working a job that requires long hours, harbor anger at their parents for encouraging them to pursue a role that isn't in line with their dharmic path, and be drawn to foods and lifestyle activities that are fiery by nature. These are some of many influences that could increase the amount of fire within the individual, resulting in an excess of pitta.

The role of the counselor is to assist the client in pacifying the pitta so that their natural doshic constitution can be restored.

Though this distinction can be confusing at first, putting it into practice can be really simple and intuitive. The secret is shifting your awareness to recognize how you feel throughout the day.

With this simple routine, you can tap into your own healing power and practice Ayurveda at its most fundamental level. Let it be simple, and let it be fun! The more you practice, the more trust you cultivate in yourself.

Happy practicing.