Prakruti and Vikruti
According to the Ayurvedic healing system, our mind-body constitution or dosha is determined at the moment of conception. Thus we are each born with a unique combination of the Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas that stays the same for the rest of our life. This is known as prakruti – a Sanskrit term that means “nature” or “the first creation.”
Your prakruti is your base point and it determines what will keep you in harmony with your nature and what will cause you to get out of balance and become sick. Trying to change your prakruti would be like trying to change your stature from short and stocky to tall and thin, or changing the color of your eyes or the texture of your hair.
In contrast, vikruti is the current state of imbalance in an individual’s doshas. When a person comes for a mind-body medical consultation at The Chopra Center, the doctors focus on his or her vikruti rather than prakruti, because they want to find out what current underlying imbalances need to be addressed. In Ayurveda, the foundation for good health is maintaining balance in the body and mind and living in tune with one’s unique mind-body constitution. Assessing one’s vikruti provides vital information about what kinds of changes in lifestyle, diet, and other areas are needed to return the body to state of balance and wellbeing.
Take the dosha quiz and learn more about your vikruti here.
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