Prakriti: beyond the labels

What is Prakriti, or dosha type (as it is colloquially called)?

Prakriti refers to your unique constitution, the dosha mix you're born with: the proportion of Vāta, Pitta and Kapha. This distinctive mix determines your physiological and, to an extent, psychological tendencies.

It's also your state of optimal health. Any deviation from this equilibrium that leads to physical or mental discomfort is considered an imbalance. It results from an improper lifestyle, diet, conditioning, environment and, if ignored, can escalate into illness.

Determining your Prakriti is a useful way to make informed health and lifestyle choices. But here's where we start running into trouble.

Problem 1: Identifying your Prakriti isn't as simple as looking in the mirror or taking a personality test

Your natural constitution changes under the influences of stimuli (lifestyle, nutrition, age, seasons, etc.), shifting you away from your optimal equilibrium. This current state of doshas (Vikriti) can mask your Prakriti, making it difficult to pinpoint.

An example. Let's say you have been experiencing digestive issues and low energy for some time. Based on these symptoms, you might assume you have a Vāta constitution, since Vāta types are characterised by irregular digestion and energy fluctuations. So you adopt a Vāta lifestyle.

Later, however, upon assessment by an Āyurvedic practitioner, it is determined that your true Prakriti is actually Pitta-dominant. The earlier discomforts were, in fact, due to an imbalance rather than being reflective of your natural dosha-type.

Misidentifying your Prakriti can lead to misguided adjustments to your diet, routines and habits. Instead of restoring well-being, you can potentially exacerbate imbalances.

This leads me to...

Problem 2: Overly fixating or relying on your Prakriti

Imagine the same scenario, but you never saw an Āyurvedic practitioner. Instead, by operating under the guise of being a Vāta-type, you dismiss your low energy and digestive issues, thinking, "Well, this is to be expected. I'm Vāta-dominant."

Even if you know your natural constitution, a thought like this is where it goes wrong. It turns your Prakriti into an excuse.

Yes, there's a convenience in being able to say, "I'm like this because I'm [such-and-such] dominant". But never put yourself in such a restricting box. While your inherent tendencies make you more prone to certain things, you still have control over your health and well-being.

Your Prakriti in no way limits or guarantees who you are, who you will become, or what you can do.

So where does this leave you?

Should you ignore your Prakriti altogether? No, it is still useful. But focusing on and treating imbalances and their root causes is more important for your well-being. You can have a healthy life without knowing your constitution.

If you do try to figure out your Prakriti, don't rely solely on an online quiz (they oversimplify) or misidentify symptoms as inherent traits. It takes time, observation and effort to sufficiently understand yourself before making an assessment. Where possible, ask a qualified Āyurvedic practitioner to guide you.

Prakriti is a tool for self-awareness. Nothing more, nothing less. I hope you will always embrace the fluidity of your being and your abundant faculty for growth and evolution. You are not a dosha type. You are a person who can notice, adjust, and grow.

This is how I use Āyurveda in the work we do together. Not as a diagnosis or a system to fit yourself into, but as one lens among several for understanding the patterns that shape a life.