About this practice
Understanding Imbalance is a seven-minute wisdom teaching on a crucial Ayurvedic distinction: prakriti versus vikriti. The Charaka Samhita defines prakriti as the constitution determined at birth — your underlying nature. Vikriti is the current state — what the body is doing right now, which may or may not match your prakriti.
The distinction matters practically. A practitioner with Pitta prakriti who is currently exhibiting Vata vikriti (scattered, anxious, dry skin) needs Vata-balancing practice in the short term, even though their constitutional tendency is Pitta. Working only from prakriti without recognising vikriti can produce continued imbalance; working only from vikriti without recognising prakriti can produce short-term relief but long-term constitutional drift.
The teaching introduces the practitioner to recognising current vikriti. Common signs: Vata vikriti = anxiety, racing mind, dry skin, irregular digestion. Pitta vikriti = irritability, sharp criticism, heat, inflammation. Kapha vikriti = sluggishness, mental fog, weight gain, congestion. These signs can appear in any constitution depending on diet, season, lifestyle, and stress.
The practical wisdom is to adjust practice to current vikriti while maintaining awareness of long-term prakriti. Use Vata-balancing when Vata vikriti is present; use Pitta-balancing when Pitta vikriti is present; use Kapha-balancing when Kapha vikriti is present. The InnerVeda body type quiz identifies prakriti; daily self-observation identifies vikriti. Both matter.
Benefits
- Introduces the crucial distinction between prakriti (constitution) and vikriti (current state)
- Explains why practice should match current state rather than only birth constitution
- Develops capacity to recognise current dosha aggravation
- Provides the framework for adaptive daily practice choice
- Foundation for sustainable Ayurvedic practice across changing circumstances
- Seven-minute teaching designed for repeated reference
How to practice
- 1
Sit comfortably. Eyes open or closed.
- 2
Receive the framework: prakriti is constitution at birth; vikriti is current state.
- 3
Vikriti can differ from prakriti depending on diet, season, lifestyle, stress.
- 4
Signs of current vikriti: Vata (anxiety, scatter, dryness), Pitta (irritability, heat, criticism), Kapha (sluggishness, fog, congestion).
- 5
Practice should match current vikriti while remaining aware of underlying prakriti.
- 6
Reflect: what is your current vikriti? Does it match your prakriti, or has something pushed your state?
Practice tips
- Check vikriti daily, especially in the morning. Notice which dosha signs are present.
- Match the day's practice to vikriti rather than only to prakriti.
- If vikriti consistently mismatches prakriti for weeks, broader changes may be needed (diet, sleep, work, environment).
- The body type quiz identifies prakriti; daily self-observation identifies vikriti.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know my vikriti each day?
Brief morning self-check: how does my mind feel today? My body? My digestion? My energy? The signs of each dosha's aggravation are recognisable with practice.
Should I always follow vikriti rather than prakriti?
In the short term, vikriti matters more. In the long term, prakriti matters more. Daily practice should address current vikriti; lifestyle choices should align with prakriti.
What if my vikriti changes throughout the day?
Common. Morning practice for the morning's vikriti; midday reset for any shift; evening practice for the evening's state. The doshic clock provides a baseline expectation; observation provides the actual reading.