Prakriti: your natural constitution in Ayurveda
Prakriti is the pattern of body and mind you tend to have. Here is what it means and how AAVIE uses it.
Prakriti (Sanskrit for “nature” or “natural form”) is the Ayurvedic term for your natural constitution. It describes your usual balance of the three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, and is traditionally understood to stay broadly the same through life. Prakriti is a traditional framework, not a medical diagnosis.
Sanskrit: Prakṛti
What Prakriti describes
Ayurveda looks at body and mind together. Prakriti describes your tendencies: build, appetite, digestion, how you handle heat and cold, sleep, energy and temperament. It is about what is normal for you, not about illness.
The seven Prakriti types
| Type | Tendencies |
|---|---|
| Vata | Light frame, quick mind, variable appetite and energy, dislikes cold. |
| Pitta | Medium build, warm body, sharp focus, strong appetite, dislikes heat. |
| Kapha | Sturdy build, calm and steady, slower digestion, steady energy. |
| Vata-Pitta | A mix of Vata variability and Pitta intensity. |
| Pitta-Kapha | A mix of Pitta drive and Kapha steadiness. |
| Vata-Kapha | A mix of Vata variability and Kapha heaviness. |
| Sama (balanced) | All three doshas in similar proportion. |
These are tendencies, not boxes. Most people are a blend.
How it differs from Vikriti
Prakriti is your baseline. Vikriti is how you are right now. Ayurveda compares the two, because a supplement that suits your baseline may not suit today’s imbalance.
How AAVIE uses Prakriti
The assessment asks questions about your body and mind. Your answers give your report a Prakriti, which sits beside your Vikriti, Agni and Ama signals when your supplement is selected. A Vaidya reviews the result before it ships.
Common misunderstandings
- Prakriti is not a personality test
- It is not a diagnosis
- Your type does not mean you have any condition
- Having one dominant dosha is normal
Common questions
Can my Prakriti change?
Ayurveda treats Prakriti as your stable baseline. What changes with season, stress, food and life stage is your Vikriti.
Is Prakriti scientifically proven?
Prakriti is a traditional Ayurvedic concept. Researchers study it, but it is not a medical diagnosis, and AAVIE does not present it as one.
Related pages
Vikriti
Vikriti is how your doshas are right now. It can differ from your natural constitution, and it can change.
Doshas
Doshas are the three functional energies Ayurveda uses to describe how a body and mind tend to work.
Agni
Agni is the Ayurvedic idea of your digestive and metabolic fire. It is central to how AAVIE looks at you.
Your body isn’t generic. Why should your supplement be?
Download the app, answer questions about your body, and get your report. You pay only if you want the supplement.
Supplements are not a substitute for medical advice.