Vikriti Quiz: Your Current Dosha Imbalance

Understanding Vikriti: The Key to Restoring Ayurvedic Balance

You have taken the first step by discovering your **Prakriti**, your fundamental, unchanging constitution. But in Ayurveda, health is a dynamic dance, not a static state. This is where the crucial concept of **Vikriti** comes in. If Prakriti is your factory setting, Vikriti is your current operational status. It represents your present-day state of health, reflecting which doshas have moved away from their natural balance due to diet, lifestyle, seasons, stress, or age. A **Vikriti quiz** is the most powerful tool for self-assessment, helping you pinpoint exactly what is "off" so you can take targeted action to return to harmony.

Prakriti vs. Vikriti: Why the Difference Matters

Confusing Prakriti with Vikriti is a common pitfall. A person with a Kapha Prakriti (calm, steady by nature) can develop a severe Vata Vikriti (imbalance), making them feel anxious, scattered, and unable to sleep. Treating them as a Kapha type with heavy, grounding foods would only worsen their current state. Instead, they need to pacify the aggravated Vata. This is why identifying your Vikriti is essential for effective self-care. It allows you to address the root cause of your current symptoms—whether it's fatigue, indigestion, skin issues, or emotional turmoil—and gently guide your system back to its innate state of health.

Signs of a Vata Imbalance (Vata Vikriti)

Vata, the energy of movement composed of Air and Ether, is the easiest dosha to throw out of balance. Its light, dry, and mobile nature makes it highly susceptible to stress, irregular routines, and travel.

• Mental & Emotional Signs: Feeling anxious, worried, restless, or "spaced out." The mind races with thoughts, making it hard to focus or settle down. Insomnia or light, interrupted sleep is very common.
• Digestive Signs: Irregular digestion is a hallmark of high Vata. This often manifests as gas, bloating, gurgling intestines, and a tendency towards constipation with dry, hard stools.
• Physical Signs: Dryness is key. You might notice dry skin, dry hair, and cracking joints. You may feel cold more often, especially in your hands and feet, and experience physical tremors or tics. A general feeling of depletion and low stamina is also common.

Signs of a Pitta Imbalance (Pitta Vikriti)

Pitta, the energy of transformation composed of Fire and Water, becomes aggravated by excess heat, spicy foods, overworking, and intense competition.

• Mental & Emotional Signs: Irritability, impatience, anger, and a critical or judgmental mindset are classic signs of a Pitta imbalance. You may feel overly intense, driven, and unable to "switch off."
• Digestive Signs: A ravenous, "hangry" appetite where missing a meal causes anger. Digestive issues lean towards heat, such as acid reflux, heartburn, and loose stools or diarrhea.
• Physical Signs: Inflammation is the primary physical sign. This can appear as skin rashes, acne, rosacea, or inflammatory conditions in the body. You may feel excessively hot, sweat a lot, and have a strong body odor.

Signs of a Kapha Imbalance (Kapha Vikriti)

Kapha, the energy of structure composed of Earth and Water, gets imbalanced by a sedentary lifestyle, overeating, cold and damp weather, and a lack of stimulation.

• Mental & Emotional Signs: A feeling of lethargy, mental dullness, or brain fog. Emotionally, you may feel unmotivated, overly sentimental, or attached. A resistance to change and a tendency to withdraw are common.
• Digestive Signs: Digestion becomes slow and heavy. Appetite is often low, but there can be cravings for sweet, heavy foods. After eating, you may feel sluggish and tired for a long time.
• Physical Signs: A sense of heaviness in the body and limbs. You might experience fluid retention, sinus congestion, and seasonal allergies. Weight gain is a very common sign of a Kapha imbalance.