Virgin Active - Questionnaire
What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is the Indian science of health and healing. It is literally translated as the “science of life” because it is based on the observations of the natural world.

In Ancient Indian civilisation the Vaidyas (traditional healers) observed the natural world to determine what would keep their society healthy. Their conclusion was that everything that we can see, touch, taste, smell and hear is made up of 5 elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space.

Each element has unique qualities and each element is an essential building block in the makeup of the human body.

earth
EARTH

Structure, stability, heavy, slow, cold

- it makes up our bones, muscles and tissues.

space
SPACE

Open, empty, immeasurable, light, subtle

- it’s in our cells. We can’t see it but under the microscope we know it’s there.

water
WATER

Fluid, mutable, soft, cool, cohesive

– it's in our circulation and the glandular system.

air
Air

Changeable, light, dry, subtle, rough

– it's in our lungs and in the process of respiration.

fire
Fire

Hot, intense, transformative, liquefying, sharp

– it's in our digestion and metabolism.

What is Dosha?

The Doshas are the functional elements in the body. You have all 5 elements within your physical structure but in order for each element to function it combines with other elements. Digestion (fire) requires fluid (water). Bones (earth) are made up of cells (space). Breath (air) relies on the circulation of blood and fluid (water) through the heart and lungs.

All the elements combine to lesser and greater degrees to perform the physiological functions of the body. They are interdependent and none exist in isolation.

Dosha

According to Ayurveda, each individual has a unique combination of elements in their physical system. You might have more fire, more air and space, or more water and earth. The amount depends on what you have inherited from your parents and ancestors. Your constitution is formed at the moment of conception and is influenced by the physical, emotional and mental condition of your parents at that time.

The combination of functional elements are called Doshas.
Elements are grouped together according to their similarities.

vata
VATA

Air and Space both subtle, light, immeasurable and intangible.

pitta
PITTA

Fire with a small amount of water share qualities of liquefying, transforming and spreading.

kapha
KAPHA

Water and Earth being both heavy, slow, cold, grounding and soft.

Diving deeper into The Doshas

Your individual constitution is made up of all three doshas in varying degrees. Usually two doshas predominate with a lesser amount of the third. Understanding your tendencies, likes and dislikes and your physical structure will help you determine your dosha and what kind of yoga practice will suit you.

Doshas can change everyday

Your daily mental, physical state and environment will influence your dosha. if you feel that any Yoga classess did not enable the optimise results that you wish to see or feel in your body, we will suggest that you redo the Ayurvedic condition questionnaire to see if your dosha have changed before determining the right Yoga classess for your exercise routine.


Vata align

VATA DOSHA

Physical

Light frame, tall or short, dry, rough skin, tends towards constipation, bones crack and pop, cold hands and feet.

Mental

Creative, artistic, visionary, quick to forget, can get spaced out, ungrounded.

Emotional

Light hearted, friendly, enthusiastic, free, changeable mood, anxious, nervous.

Yoga

Dynamic, airy, creative, movement.

Pitta Clam

PITTA DOSHA

Physical

Medium frame, muscular, red skin, freckles and moles, tend towards rashes and diarrhea, physical heart issues, can suffer from exhaustion and burnout.

Mental

Organised, direct, clear, focused, strong leadership, routine, can get hyper focused and rigid.

Emotional

Charismatic, magnetic, dynamic, inspired, determined, angry, frustrated, controlling.

Yoga

Focused, internal heat, centred, direct, precise.

Kapha Flow

KAPHA DOSHA

Physical

Large frame, flexible joints, soft skin, thick hair, lustrous eyes, tendency to gain weight, increase in phlegm, asthma, colds, poor circulation, slow digestion, physically strong.

Mental

Slow, steady, take time to integrate new knowledge, Good memory, present.

Emotional

Relaxed, patient, forgiving, loving, easy going, a great friend, tend towards depression, hard to let go.

Yoga

Grounding, still, slow, earthy.

Questionnaire

Curious to know your current Ayurvedic condition? Fill in the following questionnaire based on how you are feeling right now and add up the number of points in both sections to find your dominant dosha.

Section 1: Body

VATA
PITTA
KAPHA
Weight
Skin
Hair
Eyes
Joints
Body Total
0
0
0

Section 2: Mind & Emotions

VATA
PITTA
KAPHA
Emotions
Temperament
Speech
Mind
Memory
Mind Total
0
0
0
Body + Mind Total
vitta 0 VATA
pitta 0 PITTA
kapha 0 KAPHA
Your current condition is
Daily Lifestyle Guidelines

Now that you’ve discovered your current condition here are some simple lifestyle guidelines according to Ayurveda that can support you in rebalancing and nurturing your system.

align Most beneficial style to practice for VATA people
VATA
  • Dress warmly and avoid wind by wearing a hat, shawl or scarf.
  • Eat warm nourishing moist meals to lubricate digestion and bring warmth into your system.
  • Sip hot water throughout the day.
  • Practice slow rhythmic breathing at the start and end of your day.
  • Eat your meals at regular times.
  • Nourish your skin with warming oils .
  • Practice yoga either between 6-10am or 6-10pm. This is the Kapha time of the day so it will be nurturing and grounding for your system.
clam Most beneficial style to practice for PITTA people
PITTA
  • Wear light, comfortable, and breathable clothes to stay cool.
  • Avoid spicy foods like chili, garlic and onion.
  • Eat cooling foods that are alkaline including vegetables that grow above the ground.
  • Practice ujjayi breathing during your yoga practice.
  • Massage your skin with cooling coconut oil and practice oil pulling on rising (swishing a small amount of coconut oil around in your mouth for 3 minutes to pull out toxins).
  • Avoid activity in the hot sun and at midday.
  • Practice Yoga before Sunrise between 6-10am or 6-10pm.
Flow Most beneficial style to practice for KAPHA people
KAPHA
  • Choose colours to wear that are stimulating, light and make you feel good.
  • Avoid heavy, oily, fatty foods.
  • Enjoy lighter foods including lots of salads.
  • Choose stimulating spices like onion, chili and garlic.
  • Make sure you get moving everyday whether its walking, biking, running or playing sport.
  • Exercise with friends.
  • Have weekly massages to increase your circulation. Use mustard seed oil for self-massage.
  • Practice yoga before sunrise, during your lunch hour or between 2-6pm.

 

 

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