Find your Ayurvedic type in 3 minutes
Ayurveda describes three constitutional types, called doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. Most people are a mix, with one or two that lead. This quiz asks twelve short questions: eight about how you have usually been, and four about how you have been lately. You get your likely type, what looks out of balance right now, and three simple things from Preeti's kitchen to try this week.
Preeti Gupta, Ayurvedic Doctor-level certified (NAMACB), uses your constitution (Prakriti) and your current imbalance (Vikriti) to plan every visit at Minute Wonder Ayurveda in San Ramon. This quiz is a starting point for that conversation.
Find your type
Twelve short questions, one at a time. Nothing you choose is saved or sent.
The three types
Vata
Vata types tend to be light, quick and creative. Energy and appetite come in bursts, skin and hair run dry, and the body likes warmth and routine. In Ayurveda, vata is linked to movement, so regular meals, warm cooked food and a steady daily rhythm support it.
When it runs high: dry or irregular digestion, light or interrupted sleep, and a busy or anxious mind.
Try this week:
- Mung bean dal. Cooked with ghee and spices, it is easy to digest. Have a bowl at lunch.
- Ghee, made at home. A spoonful over warm food is the classic grounding fat.
- Cracked wheat dalia. A warm, cooked breakfast with ghee, cumin and ginger.
Pitta
Pitta types tend to be focused, driven and warm. Appetite is strong, digestion is quick and the body runs hot, so heat, skipped meals and pressure are the usual stress points. In Ayurveda, pitta is linked to heat and transformation, so cooling foods and unhurried meals support it.
When it runs high: heat, sharp hunger or acidity, loose or urgent bowels, and a short fuse.
Try this week:
- Barley drink. Cooling and hydrating, with lime and mint. Preeti notes it balances pitta.
- Takra, digestive buttermilk. Room-temperature takra after lunch and dinner. Skip it with a dairy allergy or lactose intolerance.
- Cumin, coriander and fennel tea. Simmer it for 5 to 7 minutes and sip a cup after meals.
Kapha
Kapha types tend to be steady, calm and sturdy. Energy lasts but is slow to start, sleep is deep, and the body holds weight and moisture easily. In Ayurveda, kapha is linked to structure and stability, so light, warm, gently spiced food and daily movement support it.
When it runs high: heaviness, a slow gut, groggy mornings and low motivation.
Try this week:
- Cumin, coriander and fennel tea. Simmer it for 5 to 7 minutes and sip a cup after meals.
- Mung bean dal. Cooked with ghee and spices, it is easy to digest. Have a bowl at lunch.
- Vegetable soup. Light, warm and gently spiced. Have a bowl at lunch.
Nothing you choose is saved or sent.
How to read your result
Your constitution is the pattern you have had most of your life, so it changes slowly if at all. Your current balance is how you have been in the last few weeks, and it shifts with food, sleep, stress and the seasons. The three things to try are aimed at your current balance, and they come from Preeti's recipe pages, so you can start in your own kitchen this week.
If you want it read properly, a First Visit goes through your history, pulse and tongue and ends with a written diet, herbal and lifestyle plan. See pricing.
What is the quiz based on?
It describes habits and patterns in Ayurvedic terms, the same way Preeti begins a First Visit. Nothing you answer is saved or sent.
Can I be more than one type?
Yes. Most people are a mix of two. The quiz shows a second type when your scores are close. Your constitution stays steady through life, while your current balance can lean toward a different type for a season.
What does a First Visit with Preeti cover?
It is a 90-minute consultation for $250. Preeti goes through your concerns, daily routine, diet, digestion, exercise and sleep, reads your pulse and tongue, and gives you a customized diet, herbal and lifestyle plan to start tomorrow. If you would rather talk first, 15 minutes with Preeti is free.