Generally, everyone possesses characteristics from all three categories of body type, although one or two will usually predominate. Approach the chart below honestly. Remember that your evaluation will be coloured by the qualities of your present lifestyle. Six week after making the necessary changes in your diet and daily activities and doing the cleansingas given in the forthcoming pages, reβ-do the Body Type chart. The latter response will be more in keeping with your true constitutional nature.
Directions : Move horizontally across each of the sections set out in the chart below and circle the attributes that you feel most accurately reflect you. Choose at least one from each section. Ask a spouse, parent, or friend to assist you with the Emotional Characteristics portion of the assessment so that your choices will be as objective as possible. Men are advised to seek the assistance of a women β a spouse, a friend, or mother β for both the Physical Characteristics and Emotional Characteristics section of the chart. Then, moving down each of the three columns, count how many characteristics you circled for each body type. Which ever column yields the highest score indicated your Ayurvedic body type. For example, if your scores are 15 for Vata, 12 for Pitta and 5 for Kapha, then your Ayurvedic body type is Vata/Pitta.
Table 12
BODY TYPE CHART: PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Dosha
VATA
PITTA
KAPHA
Body Frame
Thin, irregular, very short or very tall
Medium, proportionate, toned
Heavy, board, evenly proportioned
Weight
Hard to gain, easy to lose
Easy to gain, Easy to lose
Easy to gain, Hard to loose
Skin
Cold, dark or dusky
Warm and reddish, sunburns easily
Cool, fair or oily, tans easily
Hair
Dry, frizzy, thin, dark
thin, fine, reddish, premature, balding or graying
