What's my dosa type?
BBA 2.0 Let's Get Woo, takes the last 18 months of life changes/new experiences/self-care and adds a layer of, well, WOO.
Oh, the wide world of Doshas. Okay, it's probably not that expansive to most of us because western folks don't know what a dosha is, much less what it's about.
Your dosha is comprised of 5 elements grouped together to create doshas: ether + air (Vata), fire + water (Pitta), and water + earth (Kapha). Everyone has a specific dosha, or combinations of elemental characteristics, that makes us unique. Have you ever wondered why certain things work for certain people and then you try them and it fails so hard? That's probably because your dosha is different than theirs and requires different support.
So, you might be saying to yourself that the elements are cute and all, but what do they actually MEAN? I’m glad you asked.
We will get into the nitty gritty as we go, but for now, here is a CliffsNotes version of the doshas to give you a quick reference.
Vata (air+ether)
Animal: Bird
Characteristics: constantly in motion, expressive, runs cold and dry, bone structure tends to be delicate and light, easily distracted, wiry, creative, artistic, talkative, difficulty staying grounded
Superpower: Creation
Pitta (fire+water)
Animal: Lion
Characteristics: hot, sharp, runs warm, goal oriented, connecting, powerful, innovative, medium build, born leader, clear-minded, driven, consuming, fast, difficulty pacing themselves
Superpower: Transformation
Kapha (water+earth)
Animal: Elephant
Characteristics: stable, comforting, steady, easy pace, loyal, kind, joyful countenance, luscious hair, solid bone structure with large joints, enjoys being a homebody, difficulty letting things go
Superpower: Stabilization
A few people will be tridoshic, but most of us will have one or two doshas that emerge in dominance. ALL of us have some characteristics of each dosha because, according to the Ayurvedic tradition, we are comprised entirely of the five elements.
Okay step one. What’s my dosha?
When Carrie said, “take your dosha quiz,” I was like, “is that some kind of food? Because if yes, the answer is yes.”
Not food.
However, I hear there is food involved.
Carrie: Food is a great tool to support your particular dosha. It's also damn fun.
Anyway, off I went to the Chopra Center to take my dosha quiz.
Speaking of my boo, Deepak: My mom asked me if he created Ayurveda. He did not. He's BFFs with Oprah, which is a golden ticket to all things self-help. He didn't invent The Science of LIfe, but he did an effective job of bringing to the West.
Some of these questions are hard.
An example:
Under Stress:
A. I become anxious and/or worried.
B. I become irritable and/or aggressive.
C. I become withdrawn and/or reclusive.
D. All of the above? NOT AN OPTION.
I’m like kind of A and kind of B, but I went with B because when my husband and I talk about our house and moving I act like an ass. I think that qualifies as “irritable and/or aggressive.”
Complexion:
A. My skin is dry, rough or thin.
B. My skin is warm, reddish in color and prone to irritation.
C. My skin is, thick, moist, and smooth
D. My skin is old and wrinkling faster than I can buy $80 face cream. ALSO NOT AN OPTION.
Carrie: Good news! Ayurveda is anti-aging and will work way better than an $80 face cream. I mean, have you seen Deepak?
I actually have seen Deepak. Is it weird to think he’s hot?
The quiz took me all of about three minutes, and that was just because I started to panic and thought “if I answer this inaccurately WHAT WILL HAPPEN? This is just step one. I can’t ruin everything already.”
Carrie: This is a very Pitta response.
My results: Pitta.
Apparently all of the Pitta. I scored an 80 there — a 10 in Vata and 20 in Kapha.
Carrie: Oh, hey! You're Pitta. Duh.
Description of a typical Pitta:
Mind: Sharp, intellectual, direct, precise, discerning (these seem like good things?)
Body: Medium build, warm, muscular (I mean, sometimes?)
Skin: Sensitive, flush, acne-prone (great, thanks Captain Obvious)
Hair: Tendency towards early graying or thinning
Appetite: Strong, can eat just about anything, anytime (LOL DUH)
Routine: Very precise and organized
Temperament: Passionate, driven, courageous, strong sex drive, good leader (just sayin’)
Conversation Style: Speaks to convey a point (the point is you should listen to me)
Shopping Style: Spends on luxury items (guilty as charged)
Stress Response: Irritable, tendency to blame others (...)
Yep. Pretty much all of that.
Further:
The Pitta dosha is predominant in your basic nature, giving you a tendency to be assertive and determined, with a muscular body and a penetrating mind. As long as Pitta is balanced in your mind-body constitution, you will enjoy a strong appetite and digestive powers.
When Pitta becomes imbalanced, heat begins to rise in the body and mind. Heartburn, ulcers, hypertension, and inflammatory conditions reflect excessive accumulation of the fire element. On the level of emotions, too much Pitta manifests as irritability and anger. These symptoms are signals to “chill.” Stop packing in too many things to do in too little time. Reduce your competitive activities, spend time in the inner quiet of meditation,and go for a walk in a natural setting that is soothing and cooling.
“Stop packing in too many things to do in too little time.”
(Carrie: Is there any other way? This is how Pittas do.)
HAHA Depak Chopra Center, you are hilarious.
This dosha quiz is kind of like reading about my zodiac sign.
Strengths: Creative, passionate, generous, warm-hearted, cheerful, humorous
Weaknesses: Arrogant, stubborn, self-centered, lazy, inflexible
Leo likes: Theater, taking holidays, being admired, expensive things, bright colors, fun with friends
You don’t say.
Carrie: Fiery fire with a side of fire.
Every time people are like “astrology isn’t real,” I’m like “HAVE YOU MET ME?” There has never been a more Leo Leo in the history of Leos.
SO yeah, this is all the proof I need to know that the ancient Rishis (aka badass yogi, straight up seers) knew what was up.
I’m not sure what it means to be Pitta, but I’m sure Carrie is going to tell me pretty soon.
Carrie: Full disclosure here, the Rishis actually sat on a hill and meditated for a loooong time and came back down the hill with the knowledge they called Ayurveda. If this seems far-fetched, well, 6,000 years ago it was the norm. We take it all with a grain of sustainably harvested, pink Himalayan salt.
What’s your dosha? Take the quiz to find out!
