Prakrti - A Body-Type Questionnaire

Of course the best place to start when learning anything is with ourselves. Our doshic makeup is called our Prakrti. Prakrti means ‘nature’.

You may have seen a questionnaire like the one below before, if you have been interested in Ayurveda for a while. It is a Prakrti questionnaire. A prakrti questionnaire is designed to highlight the Guna/qualities within your body/mind. It also tells us how your body uses Prana when it is in good health and gives a very good idea of what you are like, generally, physically, mentally and emotionally. Every person in the world has a unique body make up (a bit like each snowflake is different) and it is your job to keep the body as close to its natural state as possible as you move through your life. You will notice now that the questions are worded to give an idea of the general Guna/qualities apparent within your body and mind.

Remember to fill out the questionnaire below based on how your body is the majority of the time AND when it is healthy. We will do another questionnaire later called a Vkriti Questionnaire. This later questionnaire will be designed to pick up how far your body/mind has moved away from its natural healthy state.

If all of the answers are sometimes true, please tick only the first answer. If none of the answers are appropriate, please tick none of the boxes. If two of the answers match your view of yourself, please tick both.

QUESTIONNAIRE

I am:

• flexible, optimistic

• ambitious, practical, intense

• calm, peaceful, solicitous

I consider myself:

• lively, intuitive

• motivated, perceptive, warm

• resilient, content, loyal, slow

Acquaintances describe me as:

• enthusiastic, changeable

• friendly, independent, courageous, discriminating

• deliberate, relaxed, compassionate

My memory can be described:

• quick to remember and forget

• average, clear, distinct

• slow to remember, slow to forget

My thinking style is:

• restless, quick

• organized, efficient, accurate

• slow, methodical, exacting

I process information:

• quickly

• medium speed

• slowly

My creativity level is:

• filled with ideas, tend to follow through poorly

• inventive with good follow through

• best in field of business

Under stress I:

• anxious, insecure, sigh and hyperventilate

• aggressive, angry, irritated, get headaches and nausea

• lethargic, dull, go into denial

My dreams at night are of:

• activity, run, fly, frights

• violence, anger, fire, passion, sun

• romance, sentimental, snow, water

My speech is:

• fast, talkative, excessive, imaginative

• precise, convincing, clear, detailed, organized

• slow, monotone, melodic, soothing, moments of silence

My voice is:

• high pitched, fast, dissonant, weeping

• medium pitched, sharp, laughing

• low pitched, melodious, slow, pleasant

My lifestyle can be described as:

• highly active

• active

• rather inactive

My spending is:

• wasteful, can’t save, spend impulsively/frivolously

• moderate, can’t save, spend on luxury

• thrifty, accumulative, high spend on food (eat out, entertain, luxury food items)

My sex drive is:

• changeable, either high or low gear

• moderate, passionate, domineering

• infrequent, cyclic, constant, devoted, loyal

I:

• dislike - cold, wind, dry, like heat

• dislike - heat, strong sun, perspire easily, like winter

• dislike - cool, damp, tolerate extremes

My decision making process could be described as:

• unsure

• quick and decisive

• deliberate

Emotionally I can be described as: