Ayurveda basics
Prakriti and Vikriti: Your Baseline and Your Current State
Prakriti is the constitution you are born with; Vikriti is how you are right now. Here is how Ayurveda tells them apart and why both matter for your day.
In short
- Prakriti is the constitution you are born with; Vikriti is how you are right now.
- Online questionnaires shift when they measure your week instead of your build.
Try this today
Start with today's pattern, through food and routine, before working on baseline traits.
Why your results can change from week to week
If you answer Pitta on Monday and Vata on Friday, the issue isn't Ayurveda. Many online questionnaires mix up who you are with how your week went. After five days of travel, skipped meals and four coffees a day, anyone will look more Vata, whatever their usual build.
Prakriti: the constitution you are born with
Prakriti is the constitution you are born with: your build, your natural pace, your skin and your temperament. It is your home base, and it stays steady through life.
Vikriti: how you are right now
Vikriti is how you are right now, shaped by food, late nights, the season and the week you have had. A naturally steady Kapha person can feel quite Vata after weeks of rushing and cold meals.
The golden rule: start with how you are today
Ayurveda starts with how you are today, not only with your birth type. If a warm Pitta person is feeling dry and restless, more heat and spice will not help. Settle today's pattern first with simple food and routine, then build on your baseline.
Educational only. This guide is not medical advice. Talk to a qualified practitioner or your doctor before changing your routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, managing a health condition, or taking medication.